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How to Highlight Transferable Skills on Your Resume?

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In the ever-evolving landscape of our professional lives, change is the only constant. The world moves at lightning speed, and it’s easy to feel left behind, stuck in a seemingly unmovable 9-to-5 job. You might question whether you possess the technical skills necessary to land the job of your dreams or worry about standing out as a fresh graduate in a competitive job market. But don’t worry; there is a way to break free from these constraints: the transferable skills resume. 

In this article, we explain the concept of transferable skills and their importance in modern career development. Furthermore, we guide you through the process of showcasing these skills and addressing gaps in your transferable skills resume. Let’s dive in! 

What are Transferable Skills, and Why are They Valuable in the Job Market?

Transferable skills also referred to as portable skills or soft skills, are a collection of versatile abilities that extend beyond specific industries, job roles, and situations. These skills are not limited to a particular occupation or technical expertise but are instead general skills that can be adapted and applied in diverse contexts.

The job market highly values transferable skills due to their capacity to showcase an individual’s adaptability, learning capabilities, and effective contributions across various work environments. While technical skills and qualifications remain crucial, employers place significant emphasis on a transferable skills resume when evaluating job performance, team collaboration, and overall potential for success. This is because transferable skills demonstrate an individual’s adaptability and versatility, making professionals with transferable skills valuable to employers. 

Moreover, transferable skills enable professionals to work efficiently, resulting in increased productivity and improved outcomes for organizations. Additionally, teamwork, communication, and leadership skills are essential for building strong working relationships, fostering positive work cultures, and achieving collective goals. Transferable skills also lead to critical thinking and innovation, as they cultivate creative thinking, analytical abilities, and the capacity to generate innovative solutions to complex problems. This capability to think critically and innovate is highly valued by employers seeking candidates who can bring fresh perspectives and drive continuous improvement in their organizations.

ALSO READ: 10 Employable Skills: Importance and Ways to Improve Them 

How Can Individuals Identify Their Transferable Skills From Previous Experiences?

Here are five steps to take to identify one’s transferable skills:

1. Reflect on past experiences. Consider previous work experiences, including volunteer work, internships, part-time jobs, and the classes taken. What skills did you use in these experiences? What were you good at? Consider the tasks, responsibilities, and challenges encountered in each role.

2. Make a list of the key responsibilities and tasks performed in each role and identify patterns in the skills you used. All recurring are likely your strongest transferable skills. 

3. Use a skill-assessment tool to identify transferable skills. These tools typically ask questions about past experiences. Based on the responses, they then generate a list of skills you may have. Here are some skill-assessment tools to explore: Skills Base, EdApp, and Vervoe. 

4. Take into account any feedback received from supervisors or colleagues regarding your strengths and areas of expertise. 

5. Lastly, don’t forget to ask friends, family, and colleagues for their insights into your skills. They may be able to identify skills that you overlooked. 

What Strategies Can Individuals Use to Tailor Their Resumes for Different Positions?

Here are 10 tips individuals can use to tailor their resumes effectively:

1. Read the job description carefully and identify the skills and experience that the employer is looking for. Additionally, pay attention to the required skills, qualifications, and specific responsibilities mentioned. 

2. Highlight the keywords and phrases used in the job description that directly relate to your skills, experiences, and qualifications.

3. Use keywords from the job description throughout the resume, and be sure to include specific examples of how you used those skills and experience in the past. Furthermore, including keywords will also prevent the resume from being filtered by the software used to scan and sort resumes before reaching hiring managers. 

4. Try to tailor the transferable skills resume to match the needs and expectations of the company. Additionally, also tailor the design and format of the resume according to the job you’re applying for. 

5. Ensure the professional summary or bio of the resume highlights the skills, qualifications, and experiences relevant to the position. 

6. When listing work experience, highlight the roles, responsibilities, and achievements pertinent to the position you’re applying for.

7. Showcase key skills in the resume and emphasize those directly relevant to the position. 

8. Be sure to include certifications and training in the transferable skills resume. This will effectively showcase your credentials to employers and demonstrate a commitment to the chosen career path.

9. Tailor the cover letter to highlight how your skills, experiences, and qualifications align with the position’s specific requirements. 

10. Finally, carefully proofread and edit the resume to eliminate any spelling or grammatical errors. Additionally, get feedback from friends, family, or colleagues. 

ALSO READ: A Resume Format for Freshers to Kickstart Their Dream Careers  

How to Showcase Transferable Skills on a Resume Using Action Verbs and Quantifiable Results

When crafting your resume, it is crucial to highlight transferable skills using action verbs and quantifiable results. By doing so, you can effectively communicate your abilities and make a strong impression on potential employers. Begin bullet points under each job experience or accomplishment with strong action verbs highlighting the transferable skills. For instance, instead of saying, “Responsible for managing a team”, say, “Led a team of 10 members, improving collaboration and achieving project milestones”.

Furthermore, employers appreciate measurable results as they provide concrete evidence of your skills. Therefore, include numbers, percentages, or other quantifiable metrics to demonstrate your impact whenever possible. For example, instead of saying, “Improved customer satisfaction”, you can say, “Increased customer satisfaction by 20% through implementing a new feedback system”.

ALSO READ: Best Resume Keywords to Land a Job: A Completed Guide 

How to Address Skill Gaps When Transitioning Careers With a Transferable Skills Resume

In today’s competitive job market, effectively showcasing your transferable skills can make all the difference in securing that desired job. However, even with valuable transferable skills, it can be challenging to find job opportunities if there is a skill gap. Therefore, it is crucial to proactively address this gap in the resume to maximize the chances of success. 

One effective way to bridge this gap is by taking online courses and training programs and obtaining relevant certifications that align with the requirements of one’s desired career. These learning opportunities demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and upskilling, which also highlights dedication and adaptability to employers. If you’re looking for excellent courses to upskill, consider exploring the wide range of online courses Emeritus offers. 

Finally, remember: Honesty is key when crafting a transferable skills resume. Avoid exaggerating skills, as it’s always possible to learn and improve. Instead, focus on highlighting your strengths and how you can use your skills to benefit the company. Good luck with that job search! 

By Krati Joshi

Write to us at content@emeritus.org