A quick guide to job jargon
Been reading up on jobs? Found some words or phrases you’re not sure about? Don't worry, we'll break down those buzzwords!
Listen, nobody expects you to know every bit of job-related jargon. To help with anything you’re not sure of, we've pulled together a few things you might come across and what they mean.
16 top job buzzwords
- Full-time: A job that typically needs you to work 35 hours or more per week.
- Part-time: A job that typically needs you to work less than 35 hours per week.
- Zero hours or Zero hours contracts: A job where your hours aren’t guaranteed. They can vary from week to week.
- Job share: A job that’s shared between two people. Each person works a reduced number of hours.
- Temporary: A job that lasts for a fixed period of time. For example, this could be for a few weeks or months.
- Contract: A legally binding agreement between you and your employer. It sets out the terms of your employment like job title, salary and hours of work.
- Apprenticeship: A training programme that combines learning with real-life, on-the-job experience.
- Internship: A short-term work experience programme that gives you the chance to gain skills in a particular field.
- Income Tax: Tax you pay on your earnings.
- National Insurance: This is paid on your employment earnings or self-employment profits. It contributes towards certain government benefits and your government pension.
- PAYE: Short for ‘Pay As You Earn’. Most people who are employed pay their income tax this way. Your income tax and National Insurance contributions are taken from your wages by your employer and paid on your behalf.
- Statutory sick pay: A payment made by the government if you’re unable to work due to illness.
- Statutory holiday pay: A payment made by your employers for the public holidays you’re entitled to take.
- Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships: These are the different levels of apprenticeship in Scotland. Learn more on apprenticeships.scot.
- National Living Wage: The minimum wage that must be paid to workers aged 23 and older.
- National Minimum Wage: The minimum wage that must be paid to workers aged 22 or younger. This runs in bands, with different levels for people aged 21 to 22, 18 to 20, under 18 and people working as part of an apprenticeship.
Find out more about the National Minimum Wage and Statutory Sick Pay from Gov.uk.
