Know the Lingo

401(k) – A 401(k) Plan is an employer-sponsored (or employer-funded) retirement plan where the investment is covered by the employee with a potential match from the employer. Employees pay into their own 401(k) plan through paycheck deductions and employers may match their contributions as additional money to be received upon retirement. Whatever is put into that 401(k) amount during the length of employment is then paid out in monthly payments to the employee once they retire. See Retired.

 Accreditation: Accreditation is the recognition that an institution maintains standard requisites for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions of higher learning or to achieve credentials for professional practice.

The goal of accreditations is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality.

Accuplacer: The purpose of Accuplacer tests is to provide you with useful information about your academic skills in math, English, and reading. The results of the assessment, in conjunction with your academic background, goals, and interests, are used by academic advisors to determine your course selection. You cannot “pass” or “fail” the placement tests, but it is very important that you do your very best on these tests so that you will have an accurate measure of your academic skills.

ACT Aspire: The ACT Aspire (formerly called pre-ACT, ACT Plan, or ACT Explore) is an online testing system for students in grades 3-8 as well as early high school. These tests assess English, math, reading, science and writing contents for all grades. The assessment is used to highlight progress towards ACT College Readiness Standards and Benchmarks and is aligned to what students are learning in school.

Admissions & Scholarship Index: Admissions and scholarship decisions can be based on an index of GPA and ACT scores at some of our institutions of higher education. The score may also be used for placement. For more information please contact the institution of your choice to determine if this is applicable.

Advanced Placement Program (AP): The advanced placement program is a service of the College Board that provides high schools with course descriptions in college subjects and Advanced Placement Examinations in those subjects. High schools teach the courses and give the examinations to interested students. Those who pass the exams are eligible for advanced placement or college credit.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS) – This is a software tool used by some organizations to automate applicant screenings when they’re looking to fill a job opening. ATS uses predetermined criteria to flag or reject resumes and help simplify the employer’s process of looking through applications. Typically, ATS is used by companies or organizations that hire a larger number of employees or receive many applications for highly desirable positions.

Applied Associate Degree (A.A.S.): An A.A.S. is a two-year program that provides broader knowledge in fields ranging from Biomanufacturing and Computer Information Systems to Dental Hygiene and Digital Media. The in-depth knowledge and skills acquired in an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree prepares students for employment in a career track with advancement opportunities.

Apprenticeship – An Apprenticeship is paid and supervised on-the-job training that helps an individual (apprentice) pursue a trade or profession. The on-the-job training is provided by an employer and is supplemented with classroom training that can be at a high school, community college, technical training school, online, or even with an employer. Apprenticeships are available to individuals 16 and older and can range in length from 1 to 6 years. Upon completion of an apprenticeship, the apprentice will earn credentials to enter the field as a professional and receive an increase in pay. Registered apprenticeships are programs nationally recognized by the US Department of Labor with standards that both apprentices and employers have to follow.

Associate Degree (A.A., A.S.): An associate degree is a two-year program that provides the academic foundation for transfer to a four-year bachelor’s degree program. The associate of Arts (A.A.) and the associate of Science (A.S.) cover the curriculum taught in the first two years of a four-year program of study.

Baby Boomer – Baby Boomers are the demographic group of individuals born after World War 2, roughly from 1946 to 1964. This group is largely already retired or retiring from the workforce.

Bachelor’s Degree/baccalaureate (B.A., B.S.): A bachelor’s degree is achieved through a four-year program that provides in-depth, specialized knowledge in a major field of study.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees prepare students for employment in fields from Accounting to Theatre, or for further studies.

Benefits – Employee Benefits are provided to employees in addition to wages or salary by the employer. Not all employees receive benefits or the same benefits and not all employers offer benefits. Benefits may include medical insurance, paid time off, mileage reimbursement, stipends, 401(k), pension, stock options, or others.

Blue Collar – Blue Collar is a term used to describe types of jobs that typically involve manual labor or working conditions that do not involve working in an office or at a desk. The opposite of blue collar would be “white collar.”

Career – Careers are the whole or sum of your work and skills learned over time. A career can also be your professional aspiration. For example, if you had jobs as a nail tech, hair stylist, and skin care, you can say your career is in beauty, or if you are working in an apprenticeship towards becoming a carpenter, your career would be carpentry or “a carpenter.”

Career Objective – A Career Objective is a section near the top of a resume that states what you are trying to accomplish with the new position and employer as well as why you should be considered. The career objective section is optional and dependent on the type of resume format you use, but if you choose to use a career objective, you will not need a professional summary since one is used in place of the other.

Certificate: A certificate is generally a one-year program that leads directly to entry-level employment in a specific occupation such as aviation pilot, diesel mechanic, or respiratory therapist.

Chronological Resume – A Chronological Resume is the most common format of a resume where an applicant lists their work history from most recent to least recent. In their work history, they list their responsibilities and accomplishments under each position they held. Chronological resumes may also include a header, education, professional summaries, career objectives, and summary of skills.

Community College: A community college is a two-year college that serves the residents of a local or regional area. Most of these colleges admit all or most of the students who apply. Some programs, such as Nursing, may be more selective. Students receive an associate degree after two years of successful full-time study. Additionally, many technical programs of study are taught at these colleges. Many students who enter general education programs (equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree program) transfer to a four-year college or university.

Concurrent Enrollment/Dual Enrollment (CE, DE): The concurrent enrollment/dual enrollment program makes college courses available to eligible high school students during their junior and senior years. Students earn both high school credit and regular college credit which is recorded on a college transcript.

Contract Employee – These employees or workers are brought on by an employer specifically for projects or for a fixed duration of time. These employees agree to terms and wages on a contract and may be re-hired after the contract is complete for another contract or as full-time/part-time employees, but that is not guaranteed. Contract employees are also called independent contractors.

Cover Letter – A Cover Letter is a supplemental document that employers may request with your resume. A cover letter is under one page long (2-5 paragraphs) and is a brief explanation of who you are as a professional and your reason for applying to this job, as well as providing context to your resume. For more info, check out this resource on the basic structure of a cover letter.

Credit Hour: A credit hour is a unit used to measure the amount of schoolwork a student has enrolled for or completed.

DEI / Diversity Equality and Inclusion – DEI is a policy adopted by companies that encourage the value of diverse voices, backgrounds, and beliefs through a sense of belonging in the workplace. DEI also advocates for impartial and fair access to resources, support, platforms, and opportunities in the workplace for all employees, regardless of title, background, physical ability, age, beliefs, gender, race, etc.

Demonstrated Need (sometimes called Need): The difference between your expected family contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA and the total cost of attendance for an institution. It is used in determining eligibility for some federal financial and state aid programs. Aid that requires need is sometimes called need-based aid.

Direct Costs: Institution costs that are students pay. Direct costs may include:

• Charges for one academic year of tuition and fees.
• Housing – If you are not living on-campus, this includes residence hall charges. If you are living off-campus, your direct costs are an estimate of rent and utilities.
• Food – Includes the cost of a meal plan and/or an estimate of the costs of food prepared at home (only direct if buying a meal plan. Even then, it can be a mix—since food can be bought off-campus to supplement a meal plan).

Employment Gap – An Employment Gap is the amount of time between jobs. Employment gaps are expected with layoffs, life events, or personal decisions, but can be concerning on resumes if the employment gap lasts longer than a year. If they would like, job seekers can explain employment gaps on a cover letter or in an interview.

Enrollment Status: A classification based on the number of credit hours you are taking during a term; for example, your enrollment status may be full-time or half-time. Most financial aid and scholarship offers require a student to be enrolled in a minimum number of credits so be sure you know what is required for you to receive each different type of aid.

Entrance Counseling: Explains the obligations you agree to meet as a condition of borrowing a federal loan. In most cases, this is only required to be completed the first time you receive a loan and does not need to be completed each year. It is completed electronically using your FSA ID at Student Aid.Gov. Entrance Counseling is required to be completed by students before they can receive their federal student loan funds.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC): An eligibility index the institution will use to determine how much need-based financial aid you would receive if you were to attend their institution. The EFC is calculated according to a formula specified in law and is based upon the information provided by the student and their family on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have an unusual financial situation that is not reflected in the FAFSA, you should talk to the Financial Aid Office at the institution you plan to attend.

Experience –The competence and capabilities a job seeker has for future employment gained from prior employment and work responsibilities. Experience can also extend to education, training, volunteer positions, job shadows, and more.

FERPA: The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act is a federal privacy law that gives parents certain protections with regard to their children’s education records, such as report cards, transcripts, disciplinary records, contact and family information, and class schedules. Parents have the right to review their child’s education records and to request changes under limited circumstances. To protect a child’s privacy, the law generally requires schools to ask for written consent before disclosing their personally identifiable information to individuals other than the child.

When a student turns 18 years old or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, all rights afforded to the parents under FERPA transfer to the student (“eligible student”). However, FERPA provides ways in which a school may – but is not required to – share information from an eligible student’s education records with parents, without the student’s consent.

Financial Aid: Financial aid is money awarded to students to help them pay for education. Aid is given as loans, grants, scholarships, or work-study. Some forms of financial aid are required to be repaid after graduation.

Financial Aid Offer Notification: The document you receive from an institution that explains the financial aid your institution is offering to you. The notification is often sent electronically through your institution’s e-mail. The information includes the types and amounts of financial aid offered, what you are expected to do to receive the offered aid and a deadline for accepting the aid. You may select what aid you want to accept or decline. You are not required to accept all the offered aid. Unless you are planning to attend just one term, this notice will list the financial aid offered for an academic year.  If you are planning on attending just one term, notify your financial aid office and they can adjust your aid accordingly.

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a free financial aid application form used to determine eligibility for need-based federal financial aid. Applications are accepted after January 1. Early application is strongly encouraged. Students should apply during their senior year. Visit www.FAFSA.gov.

Financial Aid Office: An institution office that serves as a resource for students who need help paying for institution costs. Financial aid staff can help you to apply for and receive grants, loans, scholarships and work-study employment. The office may also offer programs to help you establish a budget and manage your money.

FSA ID: A username and password that gives you access to the U.S. Department of Education’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature when completing electronic documents. It is needed to file the FAFSA, complete federal loan entrance counseling, and sign a federal loan master promissory note. You only need to get one FSA ID that can be used for multiple years. If parent information is required on the FAFSA a parent must also get their own FSA ID to sign the FAFSA. It can be obtained at this site. 

Full-Time –When an employee is hired to work at least 40 hours per week. These employees typically have a set weekly schedule and are eligible for benefits packages.

Functional Resume – A functional resume lists qualifications for a job applicant by focusing on skills or areas of expertise, instead of listing work history in chronological order. The body or main section of a functional resume will support skills or areas of expertise with bullet points of professional accomplishments and previous responsibilities. Functional resumes are useful for applicants who have significant gaps in their work history, are changing careers, or re-entering the workforce. These resumes may also include a header, education, professional summaries, and career objectives.

Gen X – Gen Xers or Generation X are the demographic group of individuals born in the mid-late 1960s to early 1980s (~1965 to ~1980). This group has been well-established in the workforce and nearing retirement going into the 2020s.

Gen Z – Gen Zers or Generation Z are the demographic group of individuals born in the late 1990s to early 2010s (~1997 to ~2012). This group is entering the workforce in the 2020s.

Grant: A grant is a form of financial aid that does not have to be repaid or earned by working. Grants are usually based on financial need; however, academic merit may also be considered.

Higher Education: Higher education, also called postsecondary education, is a term that refers to colleges, universities, and any education beyond high school that leads to a certificate or a college degree.

Hourly –An hourly employee is compensated or paid wages for each hour worked. Hourly employees may also be able to receive overtime pay (additional pay) for any hours beyond 40 in a week if they are non-exempt (which is usually the case). The opposite of an hourly employee is a salaried employee.

Human Resources / HR – Human Resources is the department within an organization that is responsible for recruiting, hiring, and training new employees in addition to other duties like overseeing benefits, payroll, and company policy. Typically, when an applicant is submitting a resume, human resources will be the main contact from the employer side.

Hybrid Resume – A Hybrid Resume is a combination of a functional resume and a chronological resume. It lists the highlighted skills and achievements in one section and work experience from most recent to least recent in another section. Hybrid resumes may also include a header, education, professional summaries, and career objectives.

Hybrid Work (Remote and On-site) – A mix of remote and on-site work where an employee is asked to be present some days and able to work remotely/virtually others.

Independent Student: A student who does not have to include parent information on the FAFSA. To be an independent student, you must meet one of the following:

• Be at least 24 years old
• Married
• A graduate/ professional student
• A veteran
• A member of the armed forces
• An orphan
• A ward of the court
• Someone with legal dependents (not a spouse)
• An emancipated minor
• Someone who is or at risk of being homeless.

If you do not meet any of these but have an unusual home situation you should contact the Financial Aid Office at the institution you plan to attend and explain your situation.

Indirect Costs: Expenses that you may or may not incur. Indirect costs may include:

• Transportation and parking costs.
• Miscellaneous costs such as personal hygiene, laundry, and reasonable entertainment.
• Other costs specific to certain student circumstances related to attendance, such as dependent care during periods of class attendance or study, expenses related to disabilities, study abroad, educational loan fees, a computer, health insurance and others
• Food – Although many institutions offer meal plans, you can usually choose whether or not to participate and many students buy food outside of meal plans to supplement them.
• Books and supplies – These are indirect costs since you can control how much you pay for books and other supplies. You can rent books, buy them new or used or in some cases, borrow from the library.

International Baccalaureate (IB): An international baccalaureate is a program offered in some schools that provides academically challenging courses. IB Diploma students take courses in six subjects and complete a “core” that includes community service and an extended essay.

High schools teach the courses, but the broad curriculum is provided by International Baccalaureate and students around the world take the same final exams. Courses can last one or two years, and a passing grade on the final exams or the attainment of an IB diploma can make a student eligible for college credit, advanced placement in college classes, or other benefits.

Internship – An internship is either part-time or full-time work that is predetermined to begin and end on given dates. Internships can be unpaid and available to students or recent graduates as a means to help them learn about a career interest or profession. Internships are short-term and take place during summer breaks or semesters/terms, but can last a year or more. After completing an internship, an employer may choose to offer the intern a full-time position.

Interpersonal / Soft Skill – Soft Skills are a combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, character or personality traits, attitudes, and mindsets which are desirable in all professions. While employers look for candidates with the training and education needed to perform a specific job (hard skills), they’re also interested in hiring employees who have developed soft skills that are important to getting work completed in a team environment.

Job Hopping – Job Hopping is a term used to describe an applicant who has a history of working for a short period with one employer before moving to another employer (mostly because of personal choice). Job hopping is becoming more common, but can create hesitancy for an employer to hire someone based on their history of changing companies. If you are a job seeker concerned about being seen as a job hopper, you can use a functional resume and explain your job changes in your cover letter or in interviews.

Job Market – The Job Market or labor market is where employers and employees search for one another. The job market can operate with a supply and demand relationship between employers and employees and sometimes you may hear terms like competitive job market (where employees are competing for openings) or a healthy job market (where there is a favorable balance of employees to job openings).

Letter of Recommendation – An email, written letter, or form that a reference (see Reference) will provide an applicant or directly to an employer, advocating as to why an applicant should be considered or hired. Some employers may request a letter of recommendation for applicants.

Loan: A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest, so be sure you understand your options and responsibilities.

Loan Deferment: A temporary postponement of payment on a loan that is allowed while the student is attending an institution and enrolled at least half-time. The federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans and the Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans allow payments on the loans to be deferred until six months after the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time.

Master Promissory Note (MPN): A legal document that contains the Borrower’s Rights and Responsibilities and Terms and Conditions for repayment. It is required to be completed by the student before they can receive their federal student loan funds. In most cases, this is only required to be completed the first time you receive a federal loan and does not need to be completed each year.  It is completed electronically using your FSA ID at this site

Merit-based Aid: Merit-based aid is financial aid that is dependent on academic, artistic, or athletic merit. This type of aid does not require demonstration of financial need.

Millennial – Millennials or Generation Y are the demographic group of individuals born in the early 1980s to mid-1990s (~1981 to ~1996). This group has been well-established in the workforce going into the 2020s.

Need-based Aid: Need-based aid is financial aid that is dependent on the demonstration of financial need. Most sources of financial aid that are provided by the government are need-based.

On-site – Considered the “traditional” workplace environment, where employees would all physically work in the same office, on the same campus, or on the same site. The opposite of this would be remote or virtual work.

Open Admissions: Open admission is a college admissions policy of admitting virtually all applicants with high school diplomas or its equivalent. Conventional academic qualifications, such as high school subjects taken, high school grades, and admissions test scores are not used to limit enrollment but can affect placement.

Overtime – In the US, Overtime is the amount of hours worked over 40 hours in a week for non-salaried employees. Overtime pay is the rate of pay for each overtime hour and is at least time and one-half (or 1.5x) of their regular wage rate. For example, if an employee earning $12/hr works 50 hours in a week with overtime pay that is set at time and one-half, they will receive ($12 x 40) for the regular week + ($18 x 10) for the ten overtime hours.

Paid Time Off / PTO – Paid Time Off or PTO is a benefit provided by employers. PTO is where employees can use accrued hours for personal time off (not working) while still receiving, and not missing, regular pay on those days of absence. PTO is accrued by employees each pay period. Not every employee is eligible for PTO and PTO is different for each employer as well as how much PTO an employee receives per year.

Part-Time – Part-Time is when an employee is hired to work less than 40 hours per week. This allows an employee some flexibility to work a second job or focus on other responsibilities; however, the scheduled work days may not always be consistent from week to week. Typically, part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.

Pell Grant: A Pell grant is money awarded directly to students by the federal government. Only undergraduate students may receive federal Pell Grants. To apply for a federal Pell Grant and other federal financial aid, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.FAFSA.gov.

Pension – A Pension is an employer-sponsored (or employer-funded) retirement plan where the investment is covered by the employer. If the employee meets the minimum number of years of employment at the company required to receive the full amount (AKA be “vested”), then the pension is paid out to an employee on a monthly basis after retirement. Employees may also make additional contributions in some cases. See Retired.

PSAT: The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It’s a standardized test that provides first-hand practice for the SAT. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access and career planning tools.

Priority Date: The date when your application must be received by a certain date to be given the strongest consideration. The application may be for institution admission, student housing or financial aid. Since financial aid is often limited, submitting your application by the priority date is important to be eligible for all types of funds you could be awarded. However, there are still some financial aid funds available after this date.

Private Sector – Jobs or companies where the owner(s) is not related or connected with the government.

Professional Etiquette – Professional etiquette is an accepted form of conduct and communication that employers, colleagues, and others uphold to create an agreeable and productive environment. When you interview for a position, message through email, and interact with others, professional etiquette is expected, and having a good grasp of it can greatly help your career goals.

Professional Summary – A Professional Summary is an optional section near the top of a resume that introduces you to the reader (employer) through a brief synopsis or summary of your qualifications (work history, skills, etc.). The professional summary section is optional and dependent on the type of resume format you use, but if you choose to use a professional summary, you will not need a career objective since one is used in place of the other.

Public Sector – Jobs where the government is seen as the employer and payer.

Qualifications – Qualifications are a combination of your education, training, experience, skills, and personal attributes that make you a candidate or eligible for a position. Hiring managers or employers list qualifications on job postings to find candidates they think would be ideal for that position. Most of the time, applicants do not have all qualifications asked in a job posting, but can still apply or explain how they have a similar qualification in the cover letter or an interview.

References – Individuals who will offer a professional recommendation to an employer on behalf of a job seeker. A job seeker should confirm with individuals whether they can be a reference so they can prepare what to say if they are contacted by an employer and speak highly of the applicant. References are professional connections and can be a job seeker’s prior co-workers, bosses, coaches, landlords, professors, teachers, and volunteer supervisors.

Responsibilities – Responsibilities are the duties, tasks, projects, goals, or work assigned to or taken on by an employee. In a sense, responsibilities are why you are hired for the position and what you are expected to complete. You will list responsibilities that you had with previous employers on your resume and talk about your responsibilities when you interview.

Retired – The age or point when an individual withdraws from the workforce and their profession. The traditional age for retirement in the US is 65, but more people are retiring later in their life to continue earning a regular income. Social Security and other benefits collected in the US over an individual’s working career will help offset the costs of retirement and not working. For military service members, the term retirement is when an individual has been in the military for 20 years or more and is separating to become a civilian.

Remote – Also known as virtual work, work from home, or WFH. This is where individuals are able to work outside of a traditional office environment shared with coworkers, most likely working on their computer, from home.

“Right to Work” State – A Right to Work State is a state that has passed legislation to allow residents or employees in the state to work without being forced to join a union or pay union fees. Idaho is a right to work state.

Role –A role is another term generally interchangeable with position, title, or occupation. A role is the purpose that an employee has at a company or organization.

Rolling Admissions: Rolling admissions is a procedure by which the college evaluates applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applicants are screened as soon as they submit all application materials. The college may consider applications on a weekly or monthly schedule. Applicants receive a notice of the decision a short time after application.

Salary – A salaried employee has a pre-determined annual amount of compensation and works around 40 hours per week (full-time), but may be expected to work over 40 hours without additional compensation (overtime pay). To offset the discrepancy in hours worked, salaried employees usually receive higher yearly compensation than hourly employees from wages and benefits.

Scholarship: A scholarship is a form of financial aid that does not have to be repaid or earned through employment. Scholarship usually refers to an award based on academic merit; however, scholarships are also awarded for performing community service, leadership, talent, etc. Financial need may also be required.

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test): The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets students show colleges what they know and how they can apply that knowledge. It tests knowledge in reading, writing, and math subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms. Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school. Colleges and universities require students to take this test or the ACT prior to applying for admission.

Seasonal Employee – Seasonal Employees are similar to temporary employees, but they are usually hired for specific events when staffing needs are higher than the remainder of the year, like November and December holidays, summer breaks, agriculture harvesting, etc. Seasonal openings are not as selective for hiring as long as employees can perform basic functions to help the employer when needed.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): The SAP measures your progress toward your degree so you can continue receiving your scholarships and other financial aid. It is usually measured by grade point average, number of credits successfully completed, and total credits earned. This process may vary across institutions so it is important you know the institution’s requirements.

Semester: A semester is a term used for an academic calendar period of about 16-18 weeks that makes up half of the usual academic year for schools that use that system.

Sick Time / Sick Days – Sick Time is when an employee is absent from work in order to recover, rehabilitate, or avoid getting others in the workplace ill. Sick time is accrued by an employee and is usually separate from paid time off, but some employers may combine paid time off and sick time into one bank of hours accrued where an employee will pull from.

Small Business – This is a term used to describe a company in the private sector that has annual revenue or employee size below a certain threshold. For example, a small manufacturer may have less than 500 employees and a small agriculture company may make less than $750,000 in annual revenue. Most businesses or employers in the US are considered small businesses. Small businesses vary and have different resources available in the hiring process compared to larger companies.

Social Security – When working in the US, workers can receive federal insurance from the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Program, more commonly known as Social Security. Social Security is financial compensation paid out by the US Government to qualified individuals through retirement or disability benefits. In order to receive Social Security retirement benefits, workers must have paid taxes from their income towards the Social Security system for at least 10 years and will be eligible once they are 62 years old. For retirees, social security benefits will be paid to them monthly to offset the cost of not working.

Student Aid Report (SAR): The report sent to your family after you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that tells you how you answered each question on the FAFSA and your calculated expected family contribution (EFC). The information is automatically sent to all institutions you listed on the FAFSA. You should review these results and correct any information incorrectly reported on a FAFSA question.

Subsidized Loan: A subsidized loan is a need-based loan, such as a Direct Subsidized Stafford. The federal government pays the interest on subsidized loans during the borrower’s in-school, grace, and deferment periods.

Technical / Hard Skill – Hard Skills are job-specific abilities or knowledge learned through education, hands-on experience, or training. Hard skills might be things like knowing HTML for coding, taking and recording a patient’s vital signs, or completing a lab test. The opposite of technical skills is soft skills also known as interpersonal or people skills.

Technical College: Technical colleges prepare skilled workers in specific occupations that generally do not require a bachelors or more advanced degree. Technical college students can earn certificates that prepare them directly for employment in a few months to a little more than a year.

Temporary Employee – Temporary Employees are hired to work with a company or employer for a set amount of time. These employees may be filling in vacancies from employees on leave or help meet the staffing needs of employers, but they are not permanent positions. Some temporary employees may be hired on as part-time or full-time employees after completing their term, but it is not guaranteed.

Term: A period of time determined by the institution for a set of classes. For many institutions, a term is also referred to as a semester. There are usually two terms in an academic year, but degree programs of less than two years may have more than two terms in an academic year. Financial aid is usually disbursed to a student by term.

Transcript: A transcript is an official copy of a student’s educational record.

Tuition: Tuition is the charge for attending a college or university class.

Underemployed – Underemployed is a term used for an individual who is employed, but working in low-paying jobs or who is working in a part-time job but would rather be full-time. Underemployed can also mean when an employee is working a job below their skill set. Essentially, underemployed is when an individual is underutilized or not working at their full capacity.

Unemployed – Unemployed is a term used for an individual who is employable and actively looking for work, but not working or unable to find employment. Unemployment reports are measures of individuals who are unemployed.

Unions – Unions are organizations of workers who collaborate to have a collective voice and make negotiated decisions with employers about conditions, wages, benefits, and other aspects of their work or industry.

University: A university is an institution of higher learning that offers both undergraduate (associate and bachelor’s) and graduate (master’s and doctoral) programs. Universities vary considerably in programs offered and in size. Compared to colleges, universities are usually larger, offer more courses and majors, and have more research facilities. Universities may be divided into a number of “colleges,” such as the College of Education or the College of Business. Each college has several departments and offers different majors.

Verification: A federal process to confirm the accuracy of selected data on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many times, students are just selected randomly so you should not feel you are in trouble for what you put on the FAFSA. To complete the process, the Financial Aid Office at your institution will ask you to provide certain documents for review. Once the information is received by the institution, they will compare it to your FAFSA and make any necessary corrections for you.

About 30% of FAFSA filers are selected so if you are selected you are not alone. Do not let this process stop you from receiving financial aid. Just submit the requested information to the Financial Aid Office and they will help you through the process.

Hint: Use the IRS data retrieval tool when completing the FAFSA and it may prevent you from being selected to complete the verification process.

White Collar – White Collar is a term used to describe types of jobs that involve working behind a desk or in conditions that do not involve physical or manual labor. The opposite of white collar is blue collar.

Work From Home / WFH – Also known as Remote. Where professionals are able to work outside of a traditional office environment shared with coworkers, most likely working on their computers from home.

Work Study: Work study is a federally funded part-time employment program for undergraduate and graduate students. Eligibility is based on financial need. The earnings help students meet a portion of their educational expenses. The federal government subsidizes a portion of the student’s salary. This makes it cheaper for employers to hire students who have demonstrated financial need.

Workforce – The Workforce or labor force is the demographic group of people who are interested in working, available to work, and are either employed, unemployed, or underemployed. Students, stay-at-home parents, and retirees are not considered part of the workforce if they are not actively working or searching for work.

Workplace Culture – Also known as company culture, corporate culture, or organizational culture, workplace culture is the general environment of your company’s combined history, goals, beliefs, actions, attitudes, and expectations. Workplace Culture both influences employee behavior and is influenced by employee behavior.