Glossary
The language of the search.
A clear glossary of executive search, hiring, compensation, and talent terms — from talent mapping and gardening leave to golden hellos and total compensation.
Search & process
4 terms Talent mapping Talent mapping is the practice of researching and charting the best people for a role or function across a market — before any of them are approached — so a company has a live picture of who's out there, where, and how reachable. RPO (recruitment process outsourcing) RPO — recruitment process outsourcing — is when a company hands all or part of its hiring to an external provider that runs it as an ongoing, often embedded service, rather than a one-off search. Reference check A reference check is the verification of a candidate's track record, character, and claims by speaking to people who have worked with them — usually late in a process, before an offer. Shortlist A shortlist is the small group of the most suitable candidates selected from a wider pool and presented to a company to interview — the output of the research and assessment stage of a search.
Hiring & terms
5 terms Gardening leave Gardening leave is a period during a notice period when a departing employee is kept away from work — still paid, but not active — to protect confidential information and relationships before they join a competitor. Non-compete clause A non-compete clause is a contract term restricting an employee from joining a competitor or starting a rival business for a set period after leaving. Its enforceability varies widely by country and jurisdiction. Notice period A notice period is the time an employee must keep working — or remain employed — between resigning and actually leaving, set by their contract and often longer for senior roles. Succession planning Succession planning is the process of identifying and preparing future leaders to step into critical roles before they fall vacant — so a departure doesn't leave a gap the business can't fill. Employer branding Employer branding is a company's reputation as a place to work — how current and potential employees perceive it. A strong employer brand makes it easier to attract and keep talent.
Compensation
5 terms Golden hello A golden hello is a signing bonus paid to a senior hire on joining — often to compensate for bonuses or equity they forfeit by leaving their previous employer. Total compensation Total compensation is the full value of what an employee receives — base salary plus bonus, equity, benefits, and any other rewards — not just the headline salary. Equity compensation Equity compensation is pay in the form of ownership — shares, stock options, or similar — giving an employee a stake in the company's future value rather than only cash today. Signing bonus A signing bonus is a one-off payment made to a new hire on joining — used to attract a candidate, or to offset compensation they forfeit by leaving their current role. Counteroffer A counteroffer is a revised proposal — usually more pay, a promotion, or improved terms — made by a current employer to keep an employee who has resigned or received an external offer.
Talent & career
4 terms C-suite The C-suite is a company's most senior executives — the 'chief' officers such as the CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, and CTO — who set strategy and own the company's outcomes. Fractional executive A fractional executive is a senior leader who works part-time or on contract across one or more companies — a fractional CFO or CMO, for example — giving a business C-suite expertise without a full-time hire. Talent pipeline A talent pipeline is a pool of qualified, pre-identified candidates a company can draw on for future roles — so hiring starts from a warm list rather than from scratch. Boomerang employee A boomerang employee is someone who leaves a company and later returns — bringing outside experience back to a business that already knows them.