UK Recruitment Glossary
Job Offer
In recruiter context
A verbal offer is real but flimsy — a written offer letter is what you negotiate against. Most UK offers are conditional on satisfactory references, right-to-work checks, and sometimes DBS or credit checks. The employer can withdraw a conditional offer if those checks fail; withdrawing an unconditional offer for no reason is harder and can expose them to discrimination claims. Don't resign your current role until you have the written offer in hand and the conditions are met. I've seen verbal offers evaporate when budget got cut between offer and contract.
Related terms
PIP (Performance Improvement Plan)
A formal documented plan with targets a struggling employee must hit in a fixed window.
Furlough
A temporary leave of absence with reduced or zero pay, where the employee remains employed.
Retained Search
An executive recruitment model where the employer pays the search firm an upfront fee, regardless of…
Flexible Working
A statutory UK right to request changes to your working hours, pattern, or location — from day one o…