UK Recruitment Glossary
Upskilling
In recruiter context
Different from reskilling (which is for changing field). Upskilling is the sustainable career move: a software engineer learning system design to move from senior to staff; a marketing manager learning SQL to take on growth responsibilities; a finance analyst learning Python to move toward FP&A. The most effective upskilling is targeted — pick the one or two skills that will genuinely move your role forward, ignore the rest. Free resources (YouTube, official docs, open-source projects) outperform paid bootcamps for most upskilling needs. Document your upskilling on your CV with evidence (a project, a certification, a measurable improvement) — a course completion alone signals nothing.
Related terms
Cold Application
Applying to a job without any prior contact, referral, or recruiter conversation.
Open to Work (LinkedIn)
A LinkedIn feature that signals to recruiters that you are looking for a new role.
CV (Curriculum Vitae)
The UK and most of Europe call it a CV; the US mostly calls it a resume.
Behavioural Interview
An interview style built on past-experience questions like "Tell me about a time you..."