screen
SKREEN
/skriːn/
To test or examine someone or something to discover if they are suitable for a particular purpose.
In hiring, screening is the initial, broad filter used to remove unqualified applicants before the more intensive interview stage.
The story behind the word. Originally, a screen was a physical object used for protection or to hide something. In the 19th century, it began to be used metaphorically for sifting or sifting through things (like using a mesh screen to separate grain from chaff).
Word relationships
- filter: Filter suggests removing unwanted elements; screen suggests checking for suitability.
- vet: Vetting is a more thorough, often background-focused investigation.
- admit: To allow entry without a filtering process.
Commonly confused with
- vetting: Screening is usually the first step (checking skills); vetting is often the last step (checking character/history).
Word family
- screening (noun): The act of testing or examining for suitability.
Collocations
- screen applicants
- initial screen
- background screen
Example sentences
- "The software is designed to screen resumes for specific keywords before a human ever sees them." HR Process
- "All visitors must be screened at the front desk before entering the secure area of the building." Security
Memory hook
Think of a window screen. It lets the fresh air in but keeps the bugs out. Hiring managers screen to keep 'bugs' (bad fits) out. Screen = Sieve.
When not to use
Don't use it for the final decision-making process; it's an early-stage filter.
Fun facts
- The use of 'screen' in cinema comes from the physical surface onto which images are projected, which is a different branch of the word's history.
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