Whether writing your resume, cover letter or executive leadership profile, having an informal networking lunch with a colleague or sitting in the boardroom during an interview, it is critical that you speak the language of the position you are seeking and not the language of the last job you held. What does that mean?

Suppose you've just resigned from your position as VP of international sales and are now looking to transition from sales into marketing. Don't focus your language on sales words (territory management, sales team training and key account management). Rather, transition your sales skills into marketing words (strategic market planning, competitive analysis and new business development). By doing so, you are presenting yourself as a qualified marketing professional and not just some sales guy trying to transition into marketing.

Here's another example: You're a CFO seeking a promotion to CEO. In this situation, you don't want your language to focus on spreadsheets, currency hedging and corporate treasury. You should emphasize strategic planning and development, new ventures, financial achievements and the like. Describe yourself as "one of three senior executives responsible for leading the entire corporation" and not just as the CFO. If you use the right words, you'll create the right perception, and you won't be viewed as a number cruncher, but as a business driver and leader.

Don't Talk Shop

This same strategy applies to industry-specific language. If your entire career has been in the plastics industry and you're now seeking a position in high tech, don't talk about extrusion molding. Use language that is more general. Talk about the size and scope of the organization you managed, quantifiable achievements, business and operating improvements, and information that is applicable across industries and market segments. Don't niche yourself into a particular industry by focusing your language on information that is, for the most part, irrelevant at this time.

Avoid Using Specific Names

Language also extends to customer names. Using the plastics-to-technology example, if your company sold to Amana, Black & Decker and Whirlpool, don't draw attention to those specific companies. Refer to them collectively as "Fortune 500 customers." On the other hand, if your customers were IBM, HP and Dell, be sure to mention them. In this instance, the customers tie you directly to the technology industry and can change a prospective employer's perception of who you are.

Tie Industries Together

You can also use language to tie industries together. Rather than describing your past employer as a "$45 million manufacturer of automotive and aerospace electronics," describe them as a "$45 million manufacturer with state-of-the-art technology center." Instantly, you're part of the technology industry and not an outsider.