Workplace Acronyms – What is a KPI, MFA, OOO, or RTW?

Workplace acronyms are commonplace where I work in Florida, and from what I hear, they are everywhere. But do you know what they all mean? Each one of those letters stands for something, and from what I've learned, the people saying the abbreviations don't always know what it is they are saying. WTF is a KPI anyway?

So this actually happened. I was on a Zoom call with a third party and they were explaining to those of us on the call how their software worked. As tech people tend to do, they kept using these workplace acronyms. So I had to make a decision, and it wasn't an easy one. I could stop the demonstration to try to find out what they were talking about, or just nod my head and try to figure it out later, after the call. I couldn't take it anymore, I interrupted the speech to ask what "xxx" was (I don't remember what the term was).

The person on the call admitted he didn't know what the term stood for, he just knew what it meant.

What? The workplace acronyms were so ingrained in their culture that the people using them didn't even know what the letters stood for. The abbreviation had become it's own word. Corporate culture can be so frustrating - and annoying, really.

So let's create a cheat sheet of workplace acronyms and what they stand for, and then maybe explain a little further some of the trickier ones. Thanks to Adobe for helping on this list.

Here's a few of the workplace acronyms that aren't as obvious as we'd hope. A KPI is how you measure success, what it is you're judged on. 2FA is when you have to get a code in your email or click on something on your phone to log in. MFA is similar. NPU gets into AI stuff, think CPU but waaaay faster. SSO is when you log into your computer and certain apps or sites with one log in.

Ok, so you find yourself surrounded by people younger than you and you have no idea what is going on. This is what happens when texter slang is incorporated into workplace acronyms. Since we're here, let's do those, too.

And in case there's gamers at work and you want to know what's going on in the breakroom conversation.

KDR is basically how many people you kill off in the game per each time you die. DLC is extra content made for the game that is not available at the initial release. If you work around a lot of tech people, there's probably a lot of gamers. And not just the guys, either.

That last thing you want to do in a meeting is look stupid, but having no idea what's going on doesn't really benefit you either. The best thing you can do is have all your meetings on a Zoom call so you can open a browser and look up the workplace acronyms you don't know while the meeting is in progress. Option B, when meetings are in person, hit 'em up with a BRB and bring your phone to the bathroom to google the abbreviation that was just dropped on you before you're asked to contribute.

Most importantly, don't hesitate to look up the acronyms you don't know. As I learned, sometimes the people using them don't know either. Isn't corporate culture fun?

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.

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.

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 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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.