Every industry has its own unique jargon – the specialized or technical language that is widely used within the industry. But what makes perfect sense to someone in the industry can make an outsider’s head reel, thus giving rise to the other meaning of jargon – nonsensical and incoherent talk!
The same can be said of acronyms, which form a major part of jargon, especially in technical circles.
Candidates with a lot of experience in one industry frequently include tons of jargon and acronyms in their resume. This is inevitable in a resume, and often a necessity. You cannot possibly expand every acronym or explain every bit of jargon, especially when in all probability, the person who is going to read your resume will understand it all.
But, there are a few things to watch out for.
1) A person who has been working in the same company for a long time is so used to some acronyms and jargon that is used only within that company, that he will use it as if everybody can understand it. These terms tend to become such an integral part of his vocabulary that he doesn’t even realize that it means nothing to others.
Example: Reported directly to the HOV.
In the candidate's company, HOV meant the Head of Vertical, which is just another word for the top honcho of a particular line of business (LOB, like many resumes like to say!) The candidate was so used to using the term HOV, that he didn't even stop to think that it might mean nothing to people outside the company.
Example: Was one of the ten employees selected for the SPARK program.
SPARK was an in-house program that identifies and grooms potential managers and leaders.
The above sentence could have been rephrased as:
"Was among the ten employees selected for SPARK, an in-house program to groom future leaders."
It has even happened that the jobseeker uses a term or a name, without even knowing that it is not known outside the company.
Example: Created over 1000 comprehensive test cases using T-Quest.
T-Quest turned out to be an internal, company-specific testing tool, and for some reason, the candidate had always been under the impression that it was an internationally-used tool.
Acronyms and jargon that are company-specific need to be rewritten in a generic way, so that it can be understood by anybody outside that circle.
2) A candidate who is changing industries has to be much more careful. She cannot afford to use any kind of jargon, nor can she sprinkle acronyms liberally in her resume. There is not much chance that her new employer will understand any of it. It is best to use a generic description of activities, and avoid acronyms, or when inevitable, expand them, at least the first time it is used.
Example: Was the SPOC in the SCM project
If you are a technical person and you find this in a resume, you will immediately know that SPOC is Single Point of Contact, and SCM is Supply Chain Management, but if you aren't, then you'll probably be reaching for the nearest acronym finder – or worse, skipping the resume entirely.
Another red flag is when the same acronym stands for different things in different industries.
Example: In a finance resume, you might find the acronym BPO, Brokers Price Opinion, but if a person from the technical field looks at it, only one term will spring to his mind – Business Process Outsourcing .
3) One more thing to remember is that jargon might vary with geography too. So if you are applying for a job in some other part of the world, it will make sense to study the jargon used there, and modify your resume accordingly.
You might even want to avoid phrases that some people might not be familiar with. It is best to go with time-tested, straitlaced terms and phrases. They might be boring, but they are safe!
Example: A funny story I heard recently involved an American professional telling his Asian client that a previous negotiation "fell through." The Asian man's instinct told him that "fell through" meant that the negotiation was successful – there was no obstacle, so it fell through – and that led to a whole lot of confusion, and hence hilarity (mostly to the onlookers!)
4) In cover letters, you must avoid using jargon and acronyms. There is no guarantee that the person who reads your cover letter first is a technical person. Your cover letter, while clearly showcasing your skills and suitability to the opening, should be clear to any lay person reading it. And that absolutely rules out jargon and acronyms.
So, the thumb-rule about jargon and acronyms is – Use them on your resume only when you are absolutely sure they will be understood. When in doubt, desist. And in cover letters, avoid them entirely. That should keep you on safe ground.
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