Fresher hiring jargon,decoded in one place.

ATS, PPO, bond, CTC, bench and more — plain definitions, why each one matters to you specifically, and a link to go deeper.

14 termsdefined plainly
Linkedto the deeper guide
Two-minuteread

ATS Applicant Tracking System: The software many companies use to collect, parse and search applications before a human sees them. Understanding this is why resume formatting matters so much for a fresher.
Check how your resume parses
FTE Full-Time Employee: A permanent employee, as opposed to an intern, contractor or consultant. A "FTE conversion" or "FTE offer" means a permanent role, not a temporary one.
Comparing offer types
PPO Pre-Placement Offer: A full-time offer extended to an intern based on their internship performance, usually before the formal campus placement season starts.
Converting an internship to a PPO
Bond Service agreement: A minimum-service commitment with a financial penalty for leaving early, common at several large employers. Read the exact terms before signing.
CTC and bonds explained
Notice period: How long you must keep working after resigning, before your official last day. Longer notice periods affect how quickly you can join a new role.
CTC and offer terms explained
Variable pay: The portion of CTC tied to performance or company results, not guaranteed at the full amount. A large variable component makes take-home pay less predictable.
CTC and offer terms explained
In-hand Take-home pay: What actually reaches your bank account after tax and your own PF contribution, meaningfully lower than the CTC figure on your offer letter.
CTC to in-hand, worked example
OA Online Assessment: A test (aptitude, coding, or both) taken online as an early screening stage before interviews. Tracked as a status stage in a good application tracker.
Tracking application statuses
GD Group Discussion: A round, mostly at services companies, evaluating how you build on others' points and communicate in a group, not just how much you speak.
The full campus placement process
Off-campus: A hiring process open to students not tied to a single campus visit, usually applied for directly online. A major channel when your college isn't visited by a company.
Finding and verifying off-campus drives
Bench: At IT services companies specifically: a period with no active client project assigned. Worth asking about directly when comparing services offers.
Comparing offers, including bench risk
CTC Cost to Company: The full yearly cost of employing you, including salary and every benefit — never what actually lands in your account. The number printed in bold on an offer.
The full CTC breakdown
Stipend: The pay for an internship, as distinct from a full-time salary. Can range from unpaid to a meaningful monthly amount, depending on the company and role.
Making the most of an internship
PIP Performance Improvement Plan: A formal, time-boxed process a company puts an underperforming employee on, with specific goals to meet. Not something to fear pre-emptively as a fresher, but worth knowing the term.
How large employers manage performance

Start with the one that pays off most

Understand your CTC before you evaluate any offer.

Read the CTC guide

Keep going

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QUESTIONS? WE'VE GOT ANSWERS

Common questions

A few more common questions

Are these terms the same at every Indian company?

The core meaning is broadly standard across Indian hiring, but specific policies (how long a bond runs, what triggers a PIP, how variable pay is calculated) vary by company. Always check the specific terms in your own offer letter rather than assuming a universal rule.

Is a PIP something I should worry about as a fresher?

Not pre-emptively — it's a formal process most companies use for underperformance after clear feedback and time to improve, not something sprung without warning. Knowing the term just means you'll recognise it if it ever comes up, rather than being caught off guard.

What's the difference between an internship stipend and a full-time CTC?

A stipend is specifically internship pay, often lower and sometimes unpaid, while CTC is the full yearly cost structure of a permanent role including benefits, not just cash. They're not directly comparable numbers.

Should I ask about "bench" risk directly in an interview?

Yes, it's a reasonable and common question, particularly for large IT services companies — asking shows you've done your research, and most recruiters are used to it.

Is there a term on this list I should learn about in more depth first?

CTC is worth understanding thoroughly before you receive or evaluate any offer, since every other pay-related term (in-hand, variable pay, notice period) builds on it. Start with the full CTC guide linked above.

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