This glossary defines common terms used in remote work, remote hiring, and on the Himalayas platform. If you are new to remote work or encountering unfamiliar terms in job listings, this is the place to start.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
An Applicant Tracking System is software that companies use to manage job applications. When you apply to a job online, your resume and cover letter typically go through an ATS before a human recruiter sees them. The ATS parses your documents, extracts information, and ranks or filters applications based on keywords, formatting, and relevance to the job description.
This is why resume formatting matters. Resumes with unusual layouts, graphics-heavy designs, or non-standard headings may not parse correctly in ATS software, causing qualified candidates to be filtered out. The Himalayas AI Resume Builder generates ATS-optimized resumes designed to pass these automated filters.
Asynchronous work
Asynchronous work (often shortened to "async") is a work style where team members do not need to be online at the same time. Instead of real-time meetings and instant responses, communication happens through written messages, recorded videos, shared documents, and project management tools. Each person works during their preferred hours and responds when they are available.
Async work is how most distributed teams that span multiple timezones operate. It allows a developer in Tokyo to collaborate with a designer in London without either person needing to adjust their schedule.
The opposite of async work is synchronous work.
Coworking space
A coworking space is a shared office facility where individuals and teams from different companies work alongside each other. Coworking spaces provide desks, meeting rooms, internet, and other office amenities on a membership or day-pass basis.
Many remote workers use coworking spaces for social interaction, a change of environment, or access to professional facilities they may not have at home. Some companies with remote teams offer a coworking space stipend as part of their home office budget or benefits package. Browse companies with coworking benefits on Himalayas at /companies/benefits.
Digital nomad
A digital nomad is a person who works remotely while traveling and living in different locations, often across countries. Digital nomads rely on internet connectivity and portable technology to perform their work, and typically move between cities or countries on a regular basis.
Remote jobs that are marked as worldwide on Himalayas are often well-suited for digital nomads, as they have no geographic restrictions. However, digital nomads should be aware of tax implications, visa requirements, and timezone expectations — some "worldwide" jobs still require timezone overlap for meetings.
Distributed team
A distributed team is a group of people who work together but are located in different geographic areas — different cities, countries, or continents. Unlike a traditional office-based team, a distributed team has no central physical workplace that all members share.
Distributed teams rely heavily on digital communication tools and often practice asynchronous work to accommodate different timezones. Many companies on Himalayas are fully distributed, meaning they have no office at all and all employees work remotely.
Employer of Record (EOR)
An Employer of Record is a third-party organization that legally employs workers on behalf of another company. When a company wants to hire a remote employee in a country where it does not have a legal entity, it can use an EOR to handle payroll, taxes, benefits, and compliance with local employment laws.
For job seekers, being hired through an EOR typically means you receive local employment benefits and protections, even though the company you work for is based elsewhere. Your employment contract is with the EOR, but your day-to-day work, management, and team are with the hiring company.
EORs let companies hire in countries where they don't have a legal entity.
Freelance / Independent contractor
A freelancer or independent contractor is a self-employed professional who provides services to clients on a project or contract basis, rather than as a permanent employee. Freelancers typically manage their own taxes, benefits, and business expenses.
On Himalayas, contractor roles are tagged as "Contractor" in the employment type filter. Contractor positions may offer more flexibility in hours and location but usually do not include employment benefits like health insurance or paid time off.
Employment type
The employment type describes the nature of the working arrangement. On Himalayas, jobs are categorized into the following types:
- Full Time: A standard employment arrangement, typically 35–40+ hours per week with benefits
- Part Time: Regular employment with fewer hours than full-time, often 20–30 hours per week
- Contractor: Project-based or time-limited work as an independent contractor (see Freelance / Independent contractor)
- Temporary: A fixed-term position with a defined end date
- Intern: An entry-level role designed for learning and professional development, often for students or recent graduates
- Volunteer: An unpaid position, typically with a nonprofit or community organization
You can filter jobs by employment type on the Himalayas jobs page.
Fully remote
A fully remote job is a position where the employee works entirely outside of a physical office. There is no requirement to visit a company office, attend in-person meetings, or live near a specific location (though there may be timezone or country restrictions).
On Himalayas, all listed jobs are remote positions. Many are fully remote with no geographic restrictions (worldwide), while others may have specific location or timezone requirements.
Home office budget
A home office budget (also called a home office stipend or equipment allowance) is a monetary benefit that employers provide to remote workers for setting up and maintaining their home workspace. This may cover items like desks, chairs, monitors, keyboards, headphones, internet upgrades, or coworking memberships.
Companies that offer home office budgets list them as a benefit on their Himalayas company profile. You can browse companies offering this benefit at /companies/benefits/home-office-budget.
Hybrid work
Hybrid work is an arrangement where employees split their time between working remotely and working from a physical office. A typical hybrid schedule might require two days in the office and three days remote per week.
Himalayas focuses on remote positions. Hybrid roles that require regular in-office attendance are generally not listed on the platform. However, some roles may be listed as remote with occasional in-person requirements (e.g., quarterly team offsites), which is different from a hybrid arrangement.
Location restrictions
Location restrictions are geographic requirements that an employer places on a remote job. Even though a role is remote (no office attendance required), the employer may require the employee to be legally based in a specific country or region. This is usually for legal, tax, payroll, or data security reasons.
On Himalayas, each job listing displays its location restrictions. You can filter jobs by country at /jobs/countries or browse worldwide jobs with no location restrictions.
Common reasons for location restrictions include: the company only has legal entities in certain countries, the role handles data subject to specific regulations, or the employer provides benefits that are only available in certain regions.
Pinned job post
A pinned job post is a premium listing option on Himalayas ($199 per job) that places the listing at the top of relevant search results with visual highlighting. Pinned posts typically receive up to 20x more applications than standard free listings.
For details on pinned posts, see Posting a Remote Job.
Remote-first
Remote-first describes a company where remote work is the default working mode, not an afterthought. In a remote-first company, processes, tools, communication, and culture are designed around remote work. This means meetings are conducted via video call by default, documentation is written and shared digitally, and in-office attendance is not expected or advantaged.
Remote-first is different from "remote-friendly," where a company has a physical office and allows some employees to work remotely, but the office remains the cultural center. In remote-friendly companies, remote workers may miss out on informal conversations and decisions that happen in person.
Remote-friendly
Remote-friendly describes a company that allows employees to work remotely but is not built around remote work as the default. These companies typically have physical offices, and while remote employees can do their jobs, in-office employees may have more visibility, easier access to leadership, or a different experience.
Seniority level
Seniority level indicates the experience and responsibility expected for a role. On Himalayas, jobs are categorized into these levels:
- Entry-level: Suitable for candidates with 0–2 years of experience or those transitioning into a new field
- Mid-level: Typically 3–5 years of experience with demonstrated competence in the role
- Senior: 5+ years of experience with deep expertise and the ability to work independently
- Manager: Responsible for leading a team or managing a function
- Director: Overseeing multiple teams or a department, with strategic responsibilities
- Executive: C-suite or VP-level roles with organization-wide scope
You can filter jobs by seniority level on the Himalayas jobs page.
Synchronous work
Synchronous work is the opposite of asynchronous work. It refers to work activities where team members interact in real time — meetings, live discussions, pair programming sessions, or phone calls. Synchronous work requires all participants to be available at the same time.
Most remote teams use a mix of synchronous and asynchronous work. Synchronous time is typically reserved for activities that benefit from real-time interaction (brainstorming, complex problem-solving, social bonding), while day-to-day work happens asynchronously.
Timezone overlap
Timezone overlap refers to the hours during which team members in different timezones are all available to work at the same time. Many remote companies require a minimum number of hours of timezone overlap for meetings, collaboration, and real-time communication.
On Himalayas, each job listing can specify timezone requirements. You can filter jobs by timezone at /jobs/timezones to find roles compatible with your location. For a detailed explanation of how timezone filtering works, see How Remote Jobs Work on Himalayas.
Working permit
A working permit (or work authorization) defines your legal right to work in a specific country. Some remote job listings include working permit requirements - for example, requiring applicants to have the right to work in the United States, or specifying that the company cannot provide visa sponsorship.
On Himalayas, working permit requirements are displayed on each job listing alongside location restrictions. Even if a job is remote and you can physically work from anywhere, you may need legal work authorization in the employer's country of incorporation for payroll and tax compliance.
Worldwide
On Himalayas, a "worldwide" job is one with no geographic or timezone restrictions. The employer accepts applications from anyone, anywhere in the world. These roles are often found at companies that use Employers of Record or that are structured to hire contractors globally.
You can browse all worldwide remote jobs at /jobs/worldwide.