Maria Schriver is “in transition”. Chaz Bono is “in transition”. Even tadpoles are “in transition”. But the 13.9 million Americans currently unemployed — are they “in transition”, too? Lately, I’ve been seeing these words on far too many resumes and wondering: Could “in transition” be the most overused words in the business lexicon today?
A transition is defined as: Passage from one form, state, style or place to another. Really, a passage from one state to another? Or one form to another? Doesn’t this sound a bit too dramatic a description for all of those folks who are simply “between jobs”?
This isn’t the first time — and probably not the last time — that the workforce has allowed it’s word stock to be hijacked by such terms. After all, certain phrases or titles can have such a negative connotation that their use affects the confidence, psyche and earning power of those attached to it. Who can forget when victims of late-20th century lay-offs were no longer “fired” but received “pink slips”? And those companies recently forced to reduce staff — we no longer consider them financially strapped, just “downsized”.
In 2007, Smart Money Magazine had a contest called “Retire Retirement”. The magazine awarded $100,000 to the clever reader who came up with a word to replace the term “retirement”. (The winning buzz word: Life 2.0?!)
Perhaps the “unemployed” are being discriminated against in the workforce and have been forced to re-brand themselves with the term “in transition”! Maybe they need another, even better and more descriptive word to capture the positive aspects of being unemployed! How about “evolving” or “metamorphosis”? (Just kidding!)
When are we going to realize that it isn’t a perfectly coined phrase or well chosen word that will help us find our next job, it’s our track record. So, all you unemployed people, tell your story honestly and don’t look for words to sugar coat the truth. It’s ok to admit that you’re unemployed. Saying you’re “in transition” will only make you look like everyone else. (Well, at least the other 13.9 million folks that are “in transition”, too!)