AI Hiring Glossary: Key Terms for Frontline Recruiting

Artificial intelligence is transforming how organizations hire frontline talent and screen candidates. Our AI Hiring Glossary explains the essential terms, tools, and concepts of modern recruitment, from AI assistants and automated screening to predictive analytics and conversational AI.
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Mastering these terms is the first step for HR leaders and recruiters to achieve streamlined workflows, deliver a superior candidate experience, and consistently make smarter, data-backed hiring choices.

Agentic AI

A type of AI that can autonomously make decisions or take actions to achieve goals within defined parameters, often used to drive automated hiring workflows while following human oversight.

AI Agent (AIA)

An AI system that autonomously performs tasks from start to finish. In hiring, it can manage candidate screening, interview scheduling, and follow-ups, reducing manual recruiter workload.

AI Hiring Assistant

An AI-powered virtual assistant that helps employers hire frontline workers by automating candidate conversations, screening, interview scheduling, and follow-ups.

AI-Powered Sourcing

Using AI to automatically locate, evaluate, and surface potential candidates from multiple channels and platforms.

AI Screening

The process where AI evaluates applicants against predefined criteria to determine if they meet the basic requirements for a role.

AI Note Taker

An AI tool that automatically captures and summarizes notes from candidate interviews, ensuring accurate records and reducing manual documentation.

Automated Screening

Technology that automatically checks whether applicants meet essential criteria such as location, availability, certifications, or work authorization.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Software used to manage job postings, applications, candidate data, and hiring decisions in one place.

Bias Mitigation

Design practices that reduce unfair or discriminatory outcomes in AI-assisted hiring.

Candidate Database Matching

AI or software compares applicants against existing candidate records to identify the best matches for open roles.

Candidate Engagement

Ongoing interaction and communication between an employer and candidates throughout the hiring process.

Candidate Experience

The ease, speed, and convenience of the application and hiring process for job seekers.

Candidate Drop-off

When a candidate stops responding or leaves the hiring process before completion.

Candidate Rediscovery (CRD)

Re-engaging past applicants from existing databases who may now be strong matches for new roles.

Compliance-Friendly Hiring

Hiring practices and technology that support fair hiring, data privacy, and labor law requirements.

Conversational AI

AI systems that interact with candidates via text or voice to collect information, answer questions, or guide them through hiring steps.

Fit Scoring (FS)

A metric used to evaluate how well a candidate matches a job’s skills, qualifications, and cultural fit, helping recruiters prioritize top candidates.

Frontline Hiring

Hiring for hourly, shift-based, and on-site roles like retail associates, restaurant staff, warehouse workers, drivers, and caregivers.

High-Volume Hiring

Recruiting large numbers of employees in a short period, often for similar frontline roles.

Human-in-the-Loop (HITL)

A hiring approach where human recruiters maintain oversight and intervene when automation is not appropriate.

Intelligent Sourcing (IS)

Using AI to identify and engage potential candidates across multiple platforms and databases for faster, higher-quality hiring.

Interview Scheduling Automation

Automatically books interviews based on recruiter or manager availability without back-and-forth communication.

Multichannel Sourcing (MCS)

Using multiple platforms (job boards, social media, referrals) to find candidates. AI tools can automate identification and engagement.

Multilingual Hiring

Supporting candidates in multiple languages throughout the hiring process to reach a broader workforce.

No-Show Rate

Percentage of candidates who fail to attend scheduled interviews or their first shift.

Predictive Analytics (PA)

Using historical data and AI to forecast hiring outcomes, such as candidate success, time-to-hire, or turnover risk.

Responsible AI / Ethical AI

AI systems designed to ensure fairness, compliance, and transparency in automated hiring decisions.

Resume Parsing / CV Parsing

Technology that extracts structured data from resumes to enable automated searching, matching, and scoring of candidates.

Shift-Based Roles

Jobs requiring employees to work specific shifts, rotating schedules, or variable hours.

Time to Fill (TTF)

The total time to fill a job opening from role approval to candidate acceptance.

Time-to-Hire (TTH)

The total time it takes to move a candidate from application to hire, measuring efficiency of AI-assisted workflows.

Same-Day Hire

Completing the hiring process within the same day a candidate applies.

Volume Hiring Automation

Using AI and automation to efficiently manage and hire large numbers of frontline workers at scale.

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