Getting lost in translation is a problem for travelers and job seekers.
It almost ruined the last few days of my honeymoon in Italy. My husband and I were going to spend the night in Manarola (one of the picturesque towns along the Mediterranean Sea that makes up Cinque Terre). We received an email confirmation, instructing us to meet someone at a restaurant who would then take us to our room. We didn’t have cell phones with us—ancient times, I know—so we printed out the instructions ahead of time (actual confirmation email below).
Here’s where the problem arose. We knew WHO to ask for, but the person didn’t speak English and we didn’t speak Italian. I knew German and my husband spoke Spanish and between those four languages, we were able to get across the message that we needed the key and directions to the flat we were staying in.
Suffice it to say, this was not the kind of stress we were looking for during that big trip. But, it could have been solved if we did a little homework ahead of time (specifically, learning the Italian word for “key” would have been most helpful).
I shared a LinkedIn post that has tips on the different levels of research you can do to prepare for a job interview (be sure to check it out as there are some helpful instructions and tools to help with the research).
Doing background research on a company or organization not only helps you learn about it and the people who work for it, but it can help you with the jargon you’re going to encounter in that industry. And this research should happen BEFORE you interview with them, ideally before you modify your resume/cover letter to apply!
As you’re doing your research, make note of following types of terms:
- Terms and acronyms that are new to you
- Terms that you see used in an unfamiliar way
People are often good at #1, but #2 is just as critical.
In the science communication training I lead, we talk about words with multiple meanings such as “system”. Everyone reading this has seen the word system before, but a meteorologist talks about a system VERY differently than a biologist or an astronomer. No matter what industry or discipline you’re in, these types of words exist and using them incorrectly is a red flag to the interviewer that you’re not knowledgeable about that aspect of their business/organization.
Jargon matters in many ways when it comes to the job search, so take the time to learn the new language of the place or industry in which you’d like to work (think of it like using Duolingo before you go on a big trip). Then use that language in your resume, cover letter and interview to indicate that you’re a serious contender for the position.
Learn the language so that you can speak like the native (or expat) that you’d like to become.
LinkedIn is listed as one of the tools to use in researching a potential employer. That’s something we’ll be discussing in my Using LinkedIn to be a Powerhouse Networker workshop on August 5, 2024 from 11am-noon. Join live (20 spots available) or watch a recording afterwards.
