Definition

A natural aptitude or skill, or in HR and recruiting speak, any human being with a pulse and relevant keywords on their resume. Corporate talent acquisition teams have elevated the hunt for 'top talent' to an art form involving bizarre interview questions and salary ranges that mysteriously depend on 'experience level.' The term makes employees sound like performing artists, which is fitting given how much acting is required in open-plan offices.

Example Usage

We're looking for exceptional talent who can work independently, thrive in ambiguity, and accept below-market compensation because we have a ping-pong table.

Source: Common HR terminology

Related Terms

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pay transparency

The practice of openly sharing salary ranges, compensation formulas, or actual employee pay—radical honesty that supposedly reduces wage gaps but makes everyone uncomfortable at company parties.

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attendance

The official record of who actually showed up versus who claimed their alarm didn't go off. A metric obsessively tracked by schools, HR departments, and managers who believe physical presence equals productivity. Poor attendance can lead to disciplinary action, while perfect attendance often earns you a certificate nobody really cares about.

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knowledge transfer

The process of documenting and sharing expertise from one employee to others, typically when someone leaves. It's the scramble to extract 20 years of wisdom into a PowerPoint deck during someone's last two weeks.

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lump sum increase

A one-time payment rather than a permanent salary increase, letting companies reward employees without committing to higher ongoing costs. It's like getting a bonus disguised as a raise—exciting today, forgotten tomorrow.

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cliff vesting

A vesting schedule where retirement or equity benefits become fully available all at once after a specific period, rather than gradually. You get nothing, nothing, nothing, then suddenly everything.

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turnover rate

The percentage of employees who leave during a given period, the metric that determines whether HR gets bonuses or blame. It's gaming season when departments argue over whether layoffs count as 'voluntary attrition.'

👥 Human Resources

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