Career
Partnership
A business that has two or more co-owners
Sole proprietor
A person who is the exclusive owner of a business.
Independent contractor
A self-employed person who provides goods, services, or labor to others
Stipend
A set payment amount for a fixed time period of work
Elevator Pitch
A 30-second personal summary with a request
Imposter Syndrome
A feeling of not belonging or not being good enough, especially for people with marginalized identities
Salary
A fixed amount that you are paid over a period of time, regardless of how many hours you work
I-9 Form
A form that employees complete when starting a new job to verify their employment status
Professional Organization
A group of people who share similar career or background who meet to build professional skills and connections
Gig Economy
A labor market where the majority of people have short-term jobs or gigs such as freelancing and temp jobs rather than long-term employment
Cover Letter
A letter that you send with your resume to explain your qualifications and interest in a particular job opportunity
Informational Interview
A meeting to learn about the real-life experience of someone working in a field or company that interests you
Apprenticeship
A paid career-training program where students learn on the job in addition to some classroom instruction
Employee
A person who works for another in return for financial or other compensation.
Trade School
A school that prepares students to enter a specific career directly after training, usually in less than 2 years
Freelance worker
A self-employed person who often takes on one type of contracted work from different companies. They are considered an “independent contractor”.
Gig worker
A self-employed person, often working jobs that are in the service industry, temporary, or contracted through a larger company. They are considered an “independent contractor”.
Wage
A set amount you are paid for every hour that you work; also called hourly pay
Resume
A short document describing your education, work history, and skills, that is used to apply for a job
A social network site for building professional connections and job searching
Intern
A student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience in a particular field
W-4 Form
A tax form that employees complete when starting a new job
Direct deposit
Payment that is automatically deposited into an employee’s bank account, rather than receiving a paper paycheck
Soft Skills
Personality traits and interpersonal skills that are needed to communicate and work with others
Transferable skills
Skills that can be applied in multiple professional contexts
Hard Skills
Specific knowledge or abilities that let you tackle job-specific duties that you learn through courses, vocational training, and on the job
Benefits (ie job benefits)
The extras an employer provides employees in addition to pay such as health insurance or paid time off
Minimum Wage
The lowest wage per hour that a worker may be paid, as mandated by federal, and sometimes state, law
Networking
The process of meeting new business contacts and building professional relationships to further your career
Full-time work
Work that averages at least 30 hours per week
Part-time work
Work that averages less than 30 hours per week