The Most Confusing Corporate Jargon And What It Means

Author Melanie Day

August 12th, 2024 1:54 PM

Oh, that workplace banter. You know the phrases that make you scratch your head and just think “what?”. Corporate jargon is very much alive and well, but while you may hear it you might not know what it means.

Simply put, corporate jargon is the language used in corporate offices or other workplace environments. Many of the phrases often have a negative connotation and many believe it to be intentionally confusing and obscure.

Recently our friends at VoiceNation conducted research of the most corporate jargon terms that are the most confusing to people. According to their research, the most confusing phrase nationwide is “boil the ocean“. Essentially this phrase means to take on an impossibly large task or make a problem so difficult that it becomes impossible. Because as one knows, it would be next to impossible to boil the ocean.

Other Confusing Corporate Jargon

While 43% of those surveyed by VoiceNation didn’t quite understand the phrase boil the ocean, it wasn’t the only one that is perplexing. Below are some more terms that survey survey participants weren’t entirely sure about:

COP: COP stands for “close of play” which is essentially another way to describe the end of the business or workday.
The strategic staircase: a step-by-step way for managers to break down goals into smaller milestones. (Aka the way my entire brain functions).
Bleeding edge: Bleeding edge refers to technology that is even more advanced than “cutting edge”.
Idea Shower: This is basically brainstorming. But a PC way to say it. (I had no idea we needed to retire the phrase brainstorming).
Hey: This one just means making the most of a situation.
Action Item: think of an action item as a line on your to-do list
Low-hanging fruit: The low-hanging fruit is the easiest to reach. Translated to the corporate world, these are the easiest to complete tasks.
Move The Goalpost: One of the most frustrating corporate jargon terms in terms of what it means. Moving the goalpost is changing the goals as you reach them or the measuring stick.
Not Enough Bandwidth: In this case, bandwidth refers to an employee’s ability to take on more tasks. If someone says they don’t have enough bandwidth it can mean they don’t have the mental capacity to handle another project at the current moment.

Hopefully, this crash course in corporate jargon helps clear some things up. But also let’s normalize just speaking in commonly understood terms! Thanks to our friends at VoiceNation for sharing their research with us. You can read the full study here.

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.

Most In-Demand, High-Paying Remote Jobs Right Now

Remote jobs are still a big trend, even following the pandemic. So, what are the most in-demand, high-paying remote jobs out there right now? For those who would rather work at home, the good news is that there are more options today than there were in the past. During the pandemic, many companies discovered that employing remote workers had benefits to them, including savings in infrastructure and other costs. Many workers discovered that it fit their lifestyles and personalities, too. So, it’s a win-win for a certain segment of the population.

In-Demand, High-Paying Remote Jobs

Before we get into those in-demand, high-paying remote jobs, let’s look at some companies that are actively hiring remote workers. The experts at Forbes.com have a new feature out highlighting some companies that are looking for remote workers right now. No. 1 on the list is GitLab, which they describe as “an AI-powered DevSecOps platform that allows software developers to collaborate and deliver projects with full compliance and security.” They add that GitLab currently has more than 100 remote job openings available in a variety of departments, including sales, marketing product and user experience, engineering, security, admin, HR, legal and more. Another big one on Forbes.com’s tally is Buffer at No. 2. Buffer is a social media marketing software company. According to the article, they’re “actively seeking to add to their remote team with roles for a senior front-end and senior back-end engineer.” Other choice companies include Automattic, Toggle and Kona. A separate Forbes.com article also cites Canonical, Veeva and Invisible Technologies as companies hiring remote workers. So, the jobs are out there, but you might be working with a company that you’re not familiar with yet.

It’s also worth noting that salaries in 2024 are not what they were years ago. A new study from the experts at Ladders revealed some interesting information about salaries in 2024 and what they can actually buy. According to the study, if you want to have the buying power of a job that had an annual salary of $100,000 in 1994, you would need to pull in more than $200,000 a year in 2024. So, it shows how inflation has impacted the buying power of salaries over the past three decades. Also, the same study notes that while finding a job that pays more than $100,000 a year that’s also a remote job is more difficult today than it was a few years ago, one industry that is leading the way in remote jobs is fintech, which stands for financial technology. But, it doesn’t stop at fintech. Let’s get into the best industries to find in-demand, high-paying remote jobs, from sources such as Money.USNews.com, CNBC.com and more.

Document Reviewer
Did you know that reviewing documents can make big bucks? According to CNBC.com, being a document reviewer can pay an average salary of $123,427. They also say it’s one of the most in-demand remote jobs of the moment.

A document reviewer is a remote job possibility.
Software Engineer
A different Forbes.com article says software engineers are an in-demand, high-paying remote option. “Software engineers are the backbone of fintechs,” they explain, “and plays a crucial role in developing software for financial solutions, being the brains behind innovative financial products including emerging spaces such as blockchain and AI, and developing and integrating APIs while ensuring the products are compliant with financial regulations and are optimized for security.”

Software engineers are an in-demand, high-paying remote option.
Web Developer
The experts at Money.USNews.com have web developer as an in-demand remote job, making a median salary of $78,580. They note that the education required is a bachelor’s degree. “Web developers maintain, troubleshoot and create websites to ensure they’re effective for business, health care, technology, education or whatever service they provide,” they state.

A web developer as an in-demand remote job.
Financial Manager
The same Money.USNews.com article says their pick for the best remote job is financial manager. They make a median salary of $139,790. “They keep an eye on the finances of an organization and make reports on financial activity,” they note. There are other jobs in the financial sector that are also great for remote workers, such as being an accountant or financial planner.

A great remote job is financial manager.
Content Writer
One hot job for remote talent, according to Forbes.com, is a content writer. So, what does a content writer do? “Content writers create written content for various platforms such as websites, blogs, and email marketing, which engages and informs audiences, with the goal of making sales and increasing brand awareness,” they explain.

A content writer is a great remote gig.
General Physician
Believe it or not, being a general physician can be a great remote job. According to Insider Money (via MSN.com), general physicians make around $110 per hour. “A remote general physician provides medical care to patients via telecommunications technologies, offering consultations, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations remotely,” they explain.

A general physician is a remote job possibility.
Editor
Forbes.com notes that being an editor is a good remote gig. “Remote editors work for magazines and journals, and other news publications, and they review and sometimes revise content to ensure accuracy and that the correct writing style is adhered to,” they explain. They add that editors also make sure that “content meets publication guidelines.”

An editor is an in-demand job that can be remote.
Social Media Strategist
If you’re good with social media and have the professional history to prove it, being a social media manager could be a great remote role for you. According to CNBC.com, the average social media manager makes $81,329 annually. For this job, you have to keep up with all of the latest social media trends.

A social media manager is a good remote job possibility.
Anything Tech
Many tech companies hire remote workers. For one, many of them are startups, so they don’t want to spend money on the infrastructure of having people in an office. But, in general, tech jobs line up very well with remote work. According to Tech.co, Apple is a big one hiring right now.

Tech jobs are a good job possibility for remote workers.