VOCABULARY
TOEIC Human Resources Vocabulary
60 essential TOEIC vocabulary words for the Human Resources category, each with a definition and an example sentence. These words appear frequently in Parts 3, 4, and 7.
Category: Human Resources60 Key Terms
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Mastering Human Resources vocabulary is crucial because these themes span across multiple parts of the test. Recognizing the context immediately improves both your listening and reading speed.
Key Terms
| Word | Meaning | Example | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| recruit | To find and hire new employees | We need to recruit three new engineers. | Easy |
| compensation | The total pay and benefits an employee receives | The compensation package is very competitive. | Medium |
| appraisal | A formal assessment of an employee's performance | Performance appraisals are scheduled for December. | Hard |
| applicant | A person who formally requests a job | Over two hundred applicants responded to the posting. | Easy |
| candidate | A person being considered for a position | Three candidates were invited for a second interview. | Easy |
| resume | A summary of a person's education and work history | Attach your resume and a cover letter. | Easy |
| credentials | Qualifications that prove a person's ability | Her credentials in software security are impressive. | Medium |
| vacancy | A position that is available to be filled | There is currently a vacancy in the accounting department. | Medium |
| promotion | A move to a more senior position | He received a promotion after two years. | Easy |
| supervisor | A person who directs the work of others | Report any absence to your immediate supervisor. | Easy |
| personnel | The people employed by an organization | All personnel must complete the security training. | Medium |
| orientation | An introductory program for new employees | New-hire orientation lasts two days. | Medium |
| probation | A trial period at the start of employment | The six-month probation period ends in July. | Medium |
| benefits | Non-salary rewards such as insurance and leave | Benefits include health coverage and a pension plan. | Easy |
| payroll | The list of employees and the wages paid to them | Payroll is processed on the last Friday of the month. | Medium |
| retention | Keeping employees at a company over time | Flexible hours improved staff retention. | Medium |
| turnover | The rate at which employees leave and are replaced | High turnover in the call centre concerned management. | Hard |
| resign | To formally leave a job | She resigned to take a position abroad. | Easy |
| severance | Money paid to an employee who is let go | The severance package covers three months of salary. | Hard |
| layoff | The dismissal of employees for business reasons | The layoffs affected twelve people in production. | Medium |
| workforce | All the people who work for an organization | Half the workforce now works remotely. | Medium |
| morale | The confidence and enthusiasm of a group | The new break room noticeably improved morale. | Hard |
| mentor | An experienced person who advises a colleague | Every new analyst is assigned a mentor. | Medium |
| seniority | Status earned through length of service | Vacation days increase with seniority. | Hard |
| eligible | Meeting the conditions required to qualify | Employees are eligible for the plan after ninety days. | Medium |
| reference | A statement about a person's character or ability | Please provide two professional references. | Easy |
| shortlist | A reduced list of the strongest candidates | Four names made the shortlist. | Medium |
| onboarding | The process of integrating a new employee | Onboarding now takes place entirely online. | Medium |
| incentive pay | Extra pay awarded for meeting targets | Incentive pay is tied to quarterly results. | Medium |
| grievance | A formal complaint from an employee | The grievance was resolved through mediation. | Hard |
| reinstate | To restore someone to a former position | The employee was reinstated after the review. | Hard |
| delegation | The act of assigning responsibility to others | Effective delegation frees managers for planning. | Medium |
| workload | The amount of work assigned to a person | The new hire reduced everyone's workload. | Easy |
| attrition | A gradual reduction in staff through resignations | Positions were eliminated through natural attrition. | Hard |
| stipend | A fixed regular payment, often for expenses | Interns receive a monthly stipend. | Hard |
| accommodate | To adjust conditions to meet someone's needs | The office was modified to accommodate wheelchair users. | Medium |
| commend | To formally praise someone | The director commended the team for its response. | Hard |
| tenure | The length of time a person holds a position | During her tenure, exports doubled. | Hard |
| recruitment drive | An organized campaign to hire many people | The recruitment drive filled forty positions. | Medium |
| job description | A written statement of a role's duties | The job description lists five core responsibilities. | Easy |
| staffing | The process of providing an organization with workers | Staffing levels are reviewed at the start of each quarter. | Medium |
| headcount | The total number of people a company employs | Headcount grew from ninety to one hundred and forty. | Medium |
| qualifications | The skills, training, or credentials a role requires | Applicants must list their qualifications on the form. | Easy |
| overtime | Hours worked beyond the normal schedule, usually paid at a higher rate | Overtime must be approved by a supervisor in advance. | Easy |
| recruiter | A person whose job is to find and hire candidates | A recruiter will contact shortlisted applicants this week. | Easy |
| internship | A temporary training position, often for students | The summer internship lasts ten weeks. | Easy |
| retirement | The point at which a person permanently stops working | He announced his retirement after thirty years with the firm. | Easy |
| timesheet | A record of the hours an employee has worked | Submit your timesheet by noon on Friday. | Easy |
| subordinate | An employee who reports to someone of higher rank | Each manager meets their subordinates once a month. | Medium |
| relocation | A move to a different place of work, often company-funded | The package covers relocation costs for the whole family. | Medium |
| dismissal | The act of removing an employee from a job | Repeated lateness can be grounds for dismissal. | Medium |
| notice period | The time an employee must work between resigning and leaving | Her contract specifies a one-month notice period. | Medium |
| union | An organization that represents workers in negotiations | The union and management reached an agreement on wages. | Medium |
| pension | A regular payment made to a person after they retire | The company contributes five percent to each employee's pension. | Medium |
| deduction | An amount subtracted from pay, such as tax or insurance | The deduction for health coverage appears on every pay slip. | Medium |
| competency | A skill or ability a role requires, used to assess performance | The review measures six core competencies. | Medium |
| downsizing | Reducing the number of employees to cut costs | Downsizing eliminated two management layers. | Medium |
| sabbatical | An extended period of paid or unpaid leave from work | After seven years, staff may apply for a sabbatical. | Hard |
| apprenticeship | A period of on-the-job training in a skilled trade | The apprenticeship combines paid work with classroom study. | Hard |
| aptitude | A natural ability to learn or do something well | Candidates sit an aptitude test before the interview. | Hard |
Frequently asked questions
Why is Human Resources vocabulary important for TOEIC?
A significant portion of TOEIC test questions are set in Human Resources contexts. Knowing these terms allows you to understand the situation immediately without guessing.
What is the best way to study these words?
Study the words within their example sentences rather than in isolation, and pay attention to their collocations — the words that frequently appear alongside them.
How long does it take to learn these 60 words?
At 10 words per day, one pass through this list takes about 6 days. Reviewing the same words the next day and again a week later is what makes them stick.
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