UK Recruitment Glossary
Employee Referral
In recruiter context
The single highest-converting application route in UK hiring. Referred candidates are typically 5-10x more likely to get an interview and 3-5x more likely to get the offer than direct applicants. Most employers run formal referral schemes with bonuses (£500-£3,000 for placements, more for senior roles). The referrer doesn't need to know you well — they just need to vouch that you're worth the recruiter's time. The cleanest way to ask: a one-line LinkedIn message naming the role, why you're interested, and 'would you be willing to refer me internally?' Don't pretend the relationship is closer than it is.
Related terms
Job Offer
A formal proposal of employment from an employer, usually issued verbally first then confirmed in wr…
EOR (Employer of Record)
A third-party company that legally employs you in your country while you work for a different (often…
Counter-Offer
When you resign and your current employer offers a raise, promotion, or new title to make you stay.
P45
The UK form your employer gives you when you leave, summarising your pay and tax for the current tax…