Way before technology became a thing, job descriptions only consisted of simple English tools, responsibilities, and skills that people could understand easily. Now, considering the truckload of skills and talent in tech, there are a lot of terms related to these skills and they are included in job descriptions because it is believed that a person with the skill should understand what it is about. However, the truth is, even you, as a tech enthusiast who belong to the field may likely face a bit of difficulty on several occasions. So, the inability to decide technical jargon is not peculiar to non-engineers and no-code tech workers alone. Remember, no one is an island of knowledge.
What are tech-specific jargons?
Starting with the word “Jargon” – refers to certain words or terms used by a profession/field difficult for other people to understand. So, talking about tech-specific jargons; these words are used mainly in tech and unless you belong to the field, you may not be able to interpret or comprehend them. Sometimes, even people who work in tech can have a hard time as there is a new term everyday.
So, this is not to say that tech people have an idea of every single tech-related term, they struggle too. Now, imagine having to come across any jargon while searching for a job, It may be discouraging to apply (even when you may be qualified) because you are not sure of what the term(s) means.
Are tech jargon important in job descriptions?
Considering whether people will understand them or not, we may be tempted to say that they are not necessary. But, they really are, especially for tech job descriptions. Tech jargon in job descriptions indicates that an organization understands the field and is heavy on hiring for the particular role. This attracts top tech talent who are looking for the position. Also, tech jargon conveys specific tech skills and requirements, and many times, the best way to go about it is to add them in job descriptions to be sure that only applicants who know the drill can apply. Furthermore, jargon can serve as keywords in job postings just to ensure that the job posting appears in relevant searches.
What types of professions use tech jargon?
Almost all jobs within the technology sector have jargon related to their skills. Some of these professions include:
- Data Analyst
- Data Engineers
- Data Scientists
- Software Developers
- Cybersecurity experts
- Game Developers
- Graphics Designers
- Product Designers
- Machine Learning Engineers
- Devops Engineers
- Network Engineers
- Technical writers
- Blockchain Developers
- Quality Assurance Testers
- Quality Assurance Engineers
- Mobile App Developers
- Scrum Masters
- Product Managers
- Robotic Engineers
- Ethical Hackers
- Business Analysts
- System Analysts
- IT project managers.
There are a lot more and each of them has special terms and technical jargon used for their everyday work.
Important tech terms for you!
If you are into tech or you work a no-code role in a tech company, here are likely terms you may cross across and their meanings:
- Deployment
When a new version of the application/code gets published.
- Bug
A situation where a code is not working as expected, so it causes the application or website to stop working as well.
- API
An interface that lets the user interfaces save data and process commands for an application
- Build Pipeline
A digital element that houses codes that are built and tested until they are published into an application.
- Feature Flag
A change in the code base that allows a team to pick between turning feature access on or off for a selected number of users.
- Github
A tool that allows engineers to publish and download their codes.
- Unit Testing
Automated tests are written by an engineer to confirm that an application works perfectly and as expected.
- Server
An element that contains the code for a website or application and process users’ request using different types of browsers.
- Release
When a new version of a website or app is launched for users.
- GIT
A control tool used to save and merge different versions of the same code base.
There are many others and these are just a few. Also, chances are new terms will emerge as technology itself evolves.
Simple Ways to Decode Tech jargons
If you are checking through a job description because you are looking to apply for the job and you are not familiar with the tech terms, here are simple ways to go about it:
Read the Job title Again
There is so much possibility that you have been going through a job description that is not for you. For example, a content writer is different from a UX writer. But, if the “writer” word caught your attention and you didn’t read the job title through, you may want to read it again. This is to say that, sometimes, some technical words appear as jargon because you are engaging in the wrong job posting. Of course, for a UX writing role, there will be a couple of tech terms in sight compared to a content writing role.
Unravel the Acronyms
Sometimes, you are familiar with the tech term, but you are only confused because it was written some other way. For instance, if you are used to SQL and have never imagined its full meaning, then you see a job description saying something about “Structured Query Language.” It’s the same thing but you probably have to calm down and analyze what you think it should mean. This applies to many other tech jargon such as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), GUI (Graphical user interface), DNS (Domain name system), CSS (Cascading style sheet), SaaS (Software as a service), API (Application Programming Interface), JS (Java script) and more.
Google is your friend (and other resources too)
Don’t be quick to get discouraged about a job description because you don’t understand what the tech term means. Check relevant online resources and websites. If you enter the term into Google or any other search engine, you will get results that give you a clear and understandable definition of the term. Also, you can try Wikipedia if you prefer an in-depth explanation of the technical term(s). While all of these may still not be enough, you can move to Youtube, there are rich tutorials to guide you through times like this.
Check Requirements for Clues
The job description and technical jargon may have been written differently but it still relates to what you know. To be sure of what the employer wants, check the skills and qualifications listed in the job description, it can give you better insight into what the term may mean or what is required of you to do. For example, “version control systems” in a job description can also mean managing and tracking changes in software code. It is quite easy to be unwilling to go further with a job application because you don’t understand some parts of it. Read other portions of the job description, you may find an answer to what you are looking for.
Leverage similar job descriptions
Chances are similar job descriptions have simpler terms and communicate the same thing. They can help you create a clearer picture of the employer’s expectations. Also, most job boards have features that allow you to input the type of job openings you want to see; when the results appear, take time to compare them by identifying the similarities in skills, qualifications, and responsibilities. Furthermore, you may want to check the similarities used across different job descriptions. If a particular description says “data wrangling”, another may say ” data pre-processing” but they mean the same thing. This explains why comparing similar job descriptions may be a good option to decode any tech-specific jargon.
