The 10 Most Common Abbreviations on Job Ads — Revealed

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Having trouble with abbreviations on job ads, I mean advertisements?

You must have wished at least once in your life that you don’t have to go through all the trouble searching for their meanings.

This would have saved you the time and effort that you can allocate for other more crucial tasks, right?

Worry no more, for this post bears the answers to your query.

 

What are some of the most common abbreviations on job ads?

Job ads often contain abbreviations like “WFH” which stands for “work from home,” “ASAP” for “as soon as possible,” “Mktg.” for “marketing,” “biz dev” for “business development,” “DBA” for “doing business as,” “PR” for public relations” and “VA” for “virtual assistant.”

 

10 Most Common Abbreviations on Job Ads

The word “abbreviation” is derived from the Latin term “brevis,” which simply means “short.” 

Based on conventional understanding, “abbreviation” is the process of reducing words or phrases to make communication almost instantaneous.

Apart from that, abbreviations are also used to conceal confidential information, especially during the war.

At present, these linguistic devices are used far too often for a more convenient informational processing, not to mention saving textual space.

Although the ones who use abbreviations know what they stand for like the back of their hand, some people may not be too familiar with such terminologies. 

So, here are ten abbreviations most commonly used in job advertisements.

 

1. ASAP

“ASAP” stands for “as soon as possible,” which is used to convey a sense of urgency. It mostly functions as an adverb in sentences.

When a job ad states that an organization is looking for a person who can work “ASAP,” it suggests that the person is needed immediately.

This also means that the recruitment process is expected to go quickly because the employer is placed in a situation where it cannot leave any room for delays.

Hence, there is a higher chance of getting hired if you happen to be a good fit for the position.

You can also increase your luck by submitting your application shortly after the job vacancy gets posted. 

 

2. BA/BS

“BA” stands for “Bachelor of Arts,” while “BS” means “Bachelor of Science.” These abbreviations are commonly found under the qualifications section of a job ad.

If the employer is looking for someone with a BA or BS degree, it means that they are looking for someone who has completed tertiary education.

Having a college degree means that one should have generally completed a four-year course, regardless of whether it’s under Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.

“Bachelor of Arts” differs from “Bachelors of Science” in such a way that the former requires more courses in humanities, whereas the latter needs to take more science or mathematics-based subjects.

 

3 Biz Dev

“Biz dev” is the truncated version of “business development,” which is commonly used as a career category, as in Craigslist job postings.

Business development is also often paired with the “sales” category, and most occupations you can find under these two categories are positions like sales representative, warehouse worker, telemarketers, etc.

You may also expect qualifications like creative, analytical, communication, and negotiation skills when searching for jobs under biz dev or sales category. 

 

4. DBA

“DBA” is an acronym for “doing business as,” a classification assigned to businesses that operate under alternative business names.

Most organizations deliberately resort to registering their businesses as DBAs to protect either their consumers or business partners.

Filing for a “DBA” is a common option for organizations especially those belonging to sole proprietorship or partnership business types.

DBA is also known as a fictitious business name that can be registered through the local city, county, or state.

So, don’t be alarmed in case you see one in job ads.

 

5. Govt. or Gov’t.

The word “government” can be abbreviated either as “govt.” or “gov’t,” which may also appear in job advertisement websites as a job category.

Under this, you can expect available positions in the military, city council, and police department.

Administrative positions such as clerks, budget technicians, accountants, program analysts, and attorney assistants may also appear if you click on this category.

 

6. HR

“HR” or “human resource” is a common career category in job ads. It may also appear in the actual job post in the company’s contact details.

The human resource department mainly handles the recruitment processes, and thus, a representative’s name is often listed as the personnel-in-charge in job ads.

An applicant’s cover letter and resumé should be forwarded to a recruitment staff, and hence, the staff’s contact details and position are also listed in the job post.

And, if you’re planning to hunt for a job in the HR department, you may also navigate on job listings under this career category.

 

7. Mktg.

“Mktg.” stands for “marketing” which can also be found as a job category or a position title.

Marketing refers to activities relating to the promotion of products and services, such as advertising and prospecting.

Job positions under the “marketing” category include marketing coordinator, marketing assistant, social media strategist, lead generation specialist, and market research analyst.

So, people who have gained degrees in Marketing and Sales, Digital Marketing, and Marketing Research are likely going to apply for such roles.

 

8. PR

“PR” or “public relations” is the practice of planning and executing strategic communications between an organization and the public.

It is related to marketing in such a way that it aims to boost a beneficial relationship between the organization and its key stakeholders.

Job positions in PR include investor relations assistants, communications consultants, public relations analysts, and multimedia content specialists.

Without PR-related organizational practices, companies would fail to influence and build relationships with their consumers and other significant audiences.

 

9. WFH

Another most common abbreviation we see on job ads at present is “WFH” which stands for “work from home.”

Jobs entailing a WFH arrangement means that the worker is not required to work in a physical office or site.

Instead, the worker needs, or at least has the option, to work from remote areas, for example, at home, in coffee shops, or co-working spaces.

Work-from-home jobs include online tutorials, virtual assistance, customer service, transcription, writing, web development, data entry, online therapy, et cetera.

If you’re someone who wants to avoid traffic jams and colleague distractions, a WFH arrangement would be quite a great option.

 

10. VA

Lastly, “VA” stands for “virtual assistant,” a job position mostly chosen by self-employed people who are into doing administrative tasks remotely.

Virtual assistance entails tasks like scheduling client appointments, making and responding to e-mails or phone calls, and booking travel accommodations.

As these are the major responsibilities of a VA, he or she also needs to have good communication, research, and computing skills.

VAs are getting more and more popular in the digital age, as many start-up business owners need to take transactional tasks off their workflow processes.

This particular job role does not strictly require a university degree. Instead, skills and expertise are mainly opted by employers looking for VAs.

 

Frequently Asked Questions on “The Most Common Abbreviations on Job Ads”

 

What are some of the most common abbreviations on professional titles?

The most commonly abbreviated professional titles are “Dr.” which stands for “Doctor,” “Arch.” for “Architect,” “IDr.” for “Interior Designer,” and “Engr.” for “Engineer.”

 

What are the short forms for “employee” and “employer”?

“Employee” is abbreviated either as “empl.” or “EE” Whereas, “employer” is abbreviated as “ee’r.” or “ER.” 

 

What are some common workplace abbreviations?

The most common workplace abbreviations include “B2B” which stands for “business to business,” “corp.” for “corporation,” “inc.” for incorporated, “CFO” for “chief financial officer,” and “GL” for “general ledger.”

Conclusion

Abbreviations are generally useful on the users’ side, however, they might confuse general audiences.

As this is the reality, we had better be considerate enough with using such linguistic devices so as not to intimidate and drive away people who may not be too familiar with them.

Hence, constant contextual sensitivity is pivotal in attaining better communication practices, as well as more sustainable organizational operations.