job bank
B2Neutral to formal, used in business, HR, government, and media contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A centralised database or repository of available job listings, typically maintained by a government agency, employment service, or large organisation.
A systematic collection of job vacancies or opportunities, often accessible to job seekers to search and match their skills with employer needs. It can also refer to a strategic human resources practice of maintaining a pool of qualified candidates for future needs.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a compound noun that functions as a singular entity. It primarily refers to a system or resource, not a physical location. 'Bank' here is used metaphorically, implying a repository or store of resources (jobs).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in meaning. 'Job bank' is used in both varieties. Some UK organisations might use 'job centre' or 'employment register' for similar concepts, but 'job bank' is widely understood.
Connotations
Neutral connotation in both. Suggests formality, organisation, and official channels for employment.
Frequency
Slightly more common in formal American business/HR contexts. In the UK, it may be heard but alternatives like 'job listings database' or 'vacancy bank' are also used.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] searched the job bank for [position type][organisation] maintains a job bank for [target group][job seeker] registered with/on the [adjective] job bankVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(not a typical idiom source)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The HR department uses an internal job bank to post vacancies before advertising externally.
Academic
The study analysed the efficacy of public job banks in reducing regional unemployment.
Everyday
I found the posting for the receptionist role on the local council's job bank.
Technical
The API allows third-party applications to pull live data from the national job bank.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The service aims to job-bank candidates for temporary work.
American English
- The platform job-banks freelancers for short-term projects.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no adverbial form.)
American English
- (Not standard; no adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- She checked the job-bank listings daily.
American English
- He found it through a job-bank search.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Many jobs are in the job bank.
- You can look for work on the job bank.
- The government's job bank has hundreds of new listings this month.
- I registered my CV with an online job bank.
- Before applying externally, employees are encouraged to review vacancies on the company's internal job bank.
- Analysts use data from the national job bank to track employment trends.
- The efficacy of the public job bank in mitigating structural unemployment has been a topic of considerable debate among policymakers.
- We've integrated the AI-powered job bank into our talent acquisition ecosystem to streamline candidate sourcing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BANK that stores money, but this one stores JOBS. A 'job bank' is where jobs are deposited and withdrawn by employers and seekers.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOBS ARE FINANCIAL RESOURCES (stored in a bank), EMPLOYMENT IS A MARKETPLACE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like *банк работы*. It's a set term. Use база вакансий or банк вакансий. Do not confuse with 'bank job' (ограбление банка).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a plural (*jobs bank*). Treating it as a physical building rather than a database. Confusing it with 'job centre' (a physical office).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a 'job bank'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, a 'job bank' is typically a database or online service. A 'job centre' (UK) or 'employment office' (US) is a physical location where job seekers receive assistance.
It is consistently written as two separate words: 'job bank'.
Typically not. The term implies a curated, organised collection, usually managed by an organisation, institution, or service for use by many people.
They are very similar. 'Job bank' often implies an official or institutional source (e.g., government), while 'job board' is a more general term for any commercial or niche website hosting job ads. The terms are often used interchangeably.