by Coach Edith - April 10, 2025
Most people were taught to describe themselves using job titles, degrees, and industry terms.
But in a global, skill-stack-driven world, that kind of language reinforces the status quo and makes you invisible.
Because when you describe yourself like everyone else—you get sorted, skimmed, and passed over like everyone else.
This post is about how to stop doing that.
The Real Reason Your Profile Isn’t Getting Noticed
It’s not because you’re not qualified.
It’s because you sound exactly like the last ten, or fifty, or a hundred people they looked at.
“Experienced language professional”
“Dedicated educator with a passion for helping students”
“Skilled content writer with a background in marketing”
These are not unique. These are templates.
Templates get tuned out.
The Hidden Problem with Professional Language
Most people copy the words they think are expected of them.
But professional language is often vague, bland, and fear-based.
Vague, because it tries to please everyone
Bland, because it avoids taking a stance
Fear-based, because it hides behind phrases instead of showing outcomes
What’s missing is specificity, clarity, and direction.
Transferable Skills Don’t Transfer If They’re Not Framed
The term “transferable skills” sounds empowering. But in practice, it often leaves professionals feeling disqualified—especially if they’re pivoting into a new field or industry.
It’s not enough to say you “have communication skills.”
You have to show how those skills deliver results in different contexts.
“I’ve worked with cross-cultural teams across 3 continents to improve internal communication systems using language coaching and translation”
…carries more weight than…
“I have good communication skills.”
Specificity makes transferability visible.
You Don’t Need a New Identity. You Need a New Frame.
If you’re multilingual, strategic, or cross-functional, your stack may not fit into one box—and that’s both a problem and an advantage. Because if you don't know your stack, you can't frame it. But when you know your stack and frame it, then you can leverage it. That is the advantage.
But you need to name the through-line, first.
The thread that connects your experiences, so others don’t have to guess.
When you do that:
People stop asking if you're qualified
They start asking how they can work with you
You stop sounding like a résumé
You start sounding like a solution.
📘 Want help framing your skill-stack with clarity and direction?
Read the ebook: How to Skill-Stack
Your Skills Aren’t Boring. Your Framing Is.
Frame it right—and your stack speaks for itself.
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