In partnership with

Imagine showing up in Paris armed with nothing but your best Texas drawl.

You’re polite. You’re enthusiastic. You wave your hands around for extra emphasis.

But without speaking French?

Good luck getting more than directions to the nearest airport—if you’re lucky.

And to be clear, no one is hating on that Texas drawl. Am I right all my Matthew McConaughey fans?

Still, this happens on resumes all the time.

You’re switching industries. Or you’re using internal vernacular only fellow employees understand.

You’re proud of your experience. You assume “great work is great work.”

But if you don’t translate your achievements into the language your target role understands?

You’re the loud American ordering cheeseburgers in the Latin Quarter. If you’ve ever been “that person,” you know how that goes. Not good.

Here’s the reality:

Recruiters and hiring managers are wired to scan for familiar terms.

If you’re moving from, say, retail to tech—and you’re still using “B2C marketing campaigns” instead of “D2C growth strategies using predictive analytics”?

You’re not just getting skipped.

You’re getting lost in translation.

How to Align Jargon Without Selling Out

We’re not talking about buzzword bingo.

This isn’t about stuffing your resume with fancy-sounding garbage.

It’s about realignment—adjusting your phrasing so it resonates without misrepresenting your experience.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Research the Language of Your Target Industry/Role

Spend an hour studying job postings, LinkedIn profiles, and company websites for the industry/role you want to enter.

Look for repeatable patterns:

• What metrics matter most?

• What verbs show up again and again?

• How do they describe wins?

Step 2: Choose One Resume Section to Focus On

Don’t overhaul your entire resume in one shot.

Pick the experience section that’s most transferable to your new role or industry.

Step 3: Use This Prompt

Step 4: Verify and Balance

Check that all new terms are accurate.

Maintain a balance between specialized and general language.

(Translation isn’t about pretending you have experience you don’t—it’s about highlighting the experience you do have in a way that makes sense.)

Example in Action

Original:

Enhanced:

See the difference?

One sounds like you’re handing out coupons at the mall.

The other sounds like you’re running a growth machine at a high-performing tech startup.

Same human.

Same accomplishments.

Different language. Different opportunities.

Bottom Line

If you want to break into a new industry/role, you can’t just show up speaking “you.”

You have to show up speaking them—fluently, confidently, and authentically.

Anything less, and you might as well pack your bags and head home.

The right words open doors. Let’s make sure you’re knocking—in the right language.

Want more prompts like this to help you level up your career? Catch up on Prompts 1–7 here.

🔁 Share it. Save it. Level up your resume.

See how happy they are when you speak their language? Be like this guy.

Know someone who needs help with translation? Send them Prompt #8 and be their hero.

And if you’re not subscribed yet? SUBSCRIBE here.

Go get ’em. 🚀

AI is already replacing people who don’t know how to use AI. Don’t get left behind. Check out The Rundown AI and tune up your AI skills.

Stay up-to-date with AI

The Rundown is the most trusted AI newsletter in the world, with 1,000,000+ readers and exclusive interviews with AI leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Demis Hassibis, Mustafa Suleyman, and more.

Their expert research team spends all day learning what’s new in AI and talking with industry experts, then distills the most important developments into one free email every morning.

Plus, complete the quiz after signing up and they’ll recommend the best AI tools, guides, and courses – tailored to your needs.

Sign up to start learning.