UK Recruitment Glossary
Variable Pay
In recruiter context
Different roles have different variable pay structures. Sales: typically 50/50 base/commission with quota-based commission. Banking: 100-200% bonus targets at senior levels. Tech: equity grants vesting over 4 years. Senior commercial: 20-30% target bonus tied to KPIs. Crucial considerations when evaluating offers: actual achievement rate vs target (some companies pay 60% of target on average), bonus discretion (contractual vs discretionary), clawback clauses, vesting schedules. Variable pay calculated correctly often dwarfs base salary at senior levels.
Related terms
Total Reward
The full value of compensation including base salary, bonus, equity, pension, benefits, and non-mone…
Exit Interview
A meeting with HR or your manager during your notice period to discuss why you're leaving.
DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)
An umbrella term for hiring practices that broaden candidate pools and reduce bias.
Notice Period
The time you must work after resigning before your employment officially ends.