UK Recruitment Glossary
DBS Check
In recruiter context
Three levels: Basic (any role, shows unspent convictions), Standard (specific roles, includes spent convictions for relevant offences), and Enhanced (childcare, healthcare, legal, certain financial roles, includes police soft-intelligence). The candidate fills out the form, pays the fee (often reimbursed), submits ID, and the certificate is mailed to the candidate's home address — not the employer. The candidate then shows the certificate to the employer. Don't lie on the form; the database catches discrepancies and a wrong answer is itself disqualifying. Spent convictions don't appear on Basic checks unless the role is specifically exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Related terms
Death-in-Service Benefit
A lump-sum payment to a UK employee's beneficiaries (typically 2-4x annual salary) if they die while…
Recruiter (in-house vs agency)
A person who finds, screens, and shortlists candidates for hiring managers.
Cover Letter
A short letter accompanying your CV that explains why you want this specific role.
Outplacement
Employer-funded career support — CV help, interview coaching, search platforms — for employees being…