Recruitment technology comes with a lot of jargon, especially around AI and data privacy. This glossary explains the terms recruiters are most likely to come across, without the vendor-speak. Use it as a quick reference when evaluating recruitment tools or trying to understand what a vendor actually means.
Want to see how these ideas work in practice? Take a look at EdgeTal and see how it approaches privacy-first recruitment technology.
Core Recruitment Technology Terms
- Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Software that manages job adverts, applications, candidate status and the recruitment pipeline. - Recruiting CRM
Software focused on building and managing candidate relationships and talent pools over time. - Talent Acquisition
The wider process of finding, attracting, assessing and hiring candidates. - Talent Management System
Software covering a broader employee lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, development and performance. - Recruitment Agency Software
Tools designed around agency workflows such as candidate sourcing, placements and client management. - Candidate Sourcing
The process of finding potential candidates through applications, databases, searches or outreach. - CV Screening / Candidate Screening
Reviewing candidates against the requirements of a role, manually or with software.
AI and Matching Technology Terms
- AI Recruiter / AI Recruiting Tool / AI Hiring Software
Broad terms for software that uses AI to support tasks such as sourcing, screening or candidate matching. - Semantic Search
Search that matches meaning rather than only exact words, helping recruiters find relevant candidates with different wording on their CV. - Keyword Matching
Search based on exact words or phrases. It can miss candidates who describe relevant experience differently. - On-Device AI
AI processing that happens directly on a phone or computer rather than on a remote server. - Cloud AI
AI processing that takes place on remote servers, meaning data may leave the recruiter's device. - Edge AI
A broader term for AI processing that happens close to where the data is generated, including on-device AI. - Private LLM
A large language model running in a controlled environment rather than relying on a public cloud AI service. - Prompt Injection
An attack where hidden instructions in content, such as a CV, attempt to influence an AI system's output.
Privacy and GDPR Terms
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
The EU's main data protection law governing how organisations handle personal data.
GDPR Compliant
A claim made by a vendor rather than an official certification, so recruiters should check what the software actually does with personal data.
Privacy by Design / Data Protection by Design
Building privacy and data protection into a system from the beginning rather than adding them afterwards.
Special Category Data
Sensitive personal data receiving additional protection under GDPR, including health, biometric and certain information about beliefs or identity.
Individuals' Rights Under GDPR
Rights people have over their personal data, including rights relating to access, correction and deletion.
Automated Decision Making (GDPR Article 22)
Rules covering certain decisions made solely through automated processing that have significant effects on individuals.
Data Residency
Where data is physically stored.
Data Sovereignty
The idea that data is subject to the laws of the jurisdiction where it is located or processed.
Cross-Border Data Transfer
The movement of personal data between countries or jurisdictions, which may require specific legal safeguards.
Article 28 Agreement
A GDPR-required agreement covering how a processor handles personal data on behalf of a controller.
Sub-Processor
A third party used by a vendor to process data, such as a cloud or AI service provider.
GDPR Breach
A failure involving the protection or lawful handling of personal data.
Compliance and Risk Terms
EU AI Act, High-Risk Classification
Certain AI systems used in employment and recruitment are classified as high-risk under the EU AI Act and face additional requirements.
Vendor Due Diligence
Checking a vendor's claims, architecture and data-handling practices before adopting its software.
How EdgeTal Fits Into This Vocabulary
EdgeTal uses several of these technologies: on-device AI, a private LLM and semantic search. Candidate data stays on the recruiter's device rather than being sent to a cloud server for AI processing.
This can reduce some data-transfer and third-party processing concerns, while recruiters still need appropriate processes around GDPR, human oversight and candidate rights.
Conclusion
Recruitment technology is changing quickly, and understanding the terminology makes it easier to evaluate what a tool actually does. The more familiar you are with these terms, the easier it is to ask the right questions before adopting new software.
FAQs
What is recruitment technology?
Recruitment technology is software used to support tasks such as sourcing, screening, candidate management and hiring.
What is an AI recruiting tool?
An AI recruiting tool uses artificial intelligence to assist with tasks such as candidate sourcing, screening or matching.
What is the difference between an ATS and a recruiting CRM?
An ATS mainly manages active recruitment pipelines, while a recruiting CRM focuses more on maintaining candidate relationships and talent pools.
What is on-device AI?
On-device AI processes data directly on the device instead of sending it to a remote server.
Is GDPR compliant an official certification?
No. "GDPR compliant" is not an official certification, so recruiters should check how a vendor actually handles personal data.