Ma'anar ƙamus na jimlar "ɗan takarar aiki" tana nufin mutumin da ke neman aiki ko matsayi kuma mai aiki ko mai kula da haya yana la'akari da shi. Yawanci ana ƙididdige wannan mutum bisa cancantar su, ƙwarewa, gogewa, da sauran abubuwa don sanin dacewarsu ga matsayin. Hakanan ana iya amfani da kalmar '' ɗan takarar aiki '' don komawa ga tarin masu neman aiki na musamman, kamar yadda a cikin "an sami masu neman aiki da yawa don wannan matsayi."