How to Leverage Your Transferable Skills to Score a Top Job or a New Career?

When searching for a job in a new industry, you may feel like you’re starting from scratch, especially if you lack experience in the field. However, you may be surprised to learn that you already possess valuable skills that can be applied to a wide range of industries. Your transferable skills list can give you a major advantage when seeking employment in a new field. Identifying your transferable skills will enable you to market yourself effectively to potential employers and position yourself as a strong candidate, regardless of previous experience.

What are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills, also known as portable skills, are those abilities that are valuable in multiple industries and job roles. These skills can be developed through previous work experience, education, or personal activities and are often not specific to any particular field or position.

Having a transferable skills list is especially important in today’s job market, where employers are increasingly looking for well-rounded candidates who can bring a diverse set of skills and experiences to the table. While technical skills and experience are important, a transferable skills list can set you apart from other candidates and help you stand out. 

ALSO READ: Guide to Successfully Navigating a Career Change, by Emeritus CHRO Ganesh S

Why are Transferable Skills Important

A transferable skills list is essential for job seekers looking to transition into a new industry or role, as they demonstrate a candidate’s ability to adapt to new environments and learn new skills quickly. In addition, employers highly value transferable skills, as they can bring a wide range of benefits to the workplace.

They enable individuals to be versatile, allowing employers to count on them to be effective in various situations. Individuals with transferable skills can often work more efficiently as they have developed effective strategies for completing tasks and managing their time. This can lead to increased productivity and better results for the organization. A transferable skills list that includes teamwork, communication, leadership, and conflict resolution, all of which can lead to better working relationships and more successful projects, will make you a valuable addition to any organization.

Transferable skills let candidates think creatively and develop innovative solutions to complex problems. This can be a major asset for employers looking to improve their products, services, or processes.

How to Leverage Transferable Skills

Leveraging your transferable skills will be hugely beneficial when seeking a new job or applying for a position at a new company. Here are some steps you can follow to achieve this: 

Create Your Transferable Skills List

Start by creating a list of the transferable skills you possess. Think about how you have used these skills in your previous roles and how they could be applied in a new industry.

Research Your Target Industry

Research the industry you are interested in and identify the skills and qualities that are most valued in that field. Look for job postings and descriptions to get a better sense of what employers are looking for.

Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter

Once you have identified your transferable skills, you can tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight them. Use specific examples from your previous roles to demonstrate how you have applied these skills in the past.

Network and Gain Experience

Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and seek out interviews to learn more about the industry and make valuable connections. You may also want to consider gaining experience through internships, volunteering, or part-time work to help you build your skills and gain relevant experience.

Be Confident and Adaptable

When applying for roles in a new industry, you must be confident in your transferable skills and ability to adapt. Emphasize your willingness to learn as well as your ability to adapt to new situations, and be open to new challenges and responsibilities.

Tips to Highlight Transferable Skills on Your Resume

Highlighting your transferable skills on your resume is crucial to demonstrate your ability to transition to a new industry or role. Here are some tips to help you showcase your transferable skills effectively:

Use Keywords

Use keywords and phrases relevant to the role you are applying for in your resume. This will help your resume to get past the initial screening process.

Start with a Strong Summary Statement

Your summary statement should highlight your transferable skills list, experience, and achievements. This will give the employer a clear understanding of what you can bring to the table.

Focus on Achievements

Use bullet points to highlight your achievements and how you have applied your transferable skills to achieve results in your previous roles.

Use a Skills-Based Resume Format

Consider using a skills-based resume format, which focuses on your transferable skills rather than your work experience. This can be a particularly effective approach if you are transitioning to a new industry or role.

ALSO READ: 5 Best Tips to Write a Resume if You Have No Experience

The Transferable Skills List Recruiters are Looking for

Recruiters pay close attention to the candidates’ transferable skills list when hiring to fill positions in their company. Here are some of the top transferable skills recruiters look for: 

Leadership

Recruiters often look for candidates who can lead and motivate others. Leadership skills such as the ability to delegate, inspire, and communicate effectively with a team can be highly valued in many industries.

Communication

The ability to communicate effectively is essential in almost every industry. Recruiters look for candidates who can articulate their ideas clearly and listen actively to others.

Interpersonal skills

The ability to work well with others is highly valued. Recruiters look for candidates who can build relationships, collaborate, and resolve conflicts effectively.

Dependability

Recruiters value candidates who can be relied upon to follow through on their commitments and meet deadlines consistently.

Organization

The ability to stay organized, manage priorities, and keep track of details is highly valued in many industries.

Active Listening Skills

Recruiters look for candidates who can listen actively and ask thoughtful questions. Active listening skills can help you to understand the needs of the organization and communicate effectively with colleagues.

Critical Thinking

The ability to analyze information, evaluate options, and make informed decisions is beneficial in most roles. Recruiters look for candidates who can apply critical thinking skills to solve complex problems and make strategic decisions.

Time Management

Being able to manage time effectively is essential in most industries. Recruiters look for candidates who can prioritize tasks, manage their workload, and meet deadlines consistently.

ALSO READ: These Top 5 Transferable Skills are a Must-Have on Your Resume

Skill Up with Emeritus

As you can see, the skills you build while working in any organization are valuable additions to your CV and can be carried forward to your next job. The transferable skills list highlighted in this blog can be built no matter what sort of role you are in. While these skills are important for a hiring manager, you do, of course, also need a variety of technical skills you will need to build to fulfill the requirements of the job you are applying for. Thankfully, you can add these skills to your roster by taking up an online course. Check out the courses on Emeritus to build a strong technical skill list to complement your transferable skills when applying for your next job. 

By Tanish Pradhan

Write to us at content@emeritus.org