Are you looking to change careers, or even stay within the same industry but take on a different role? Transferable skills are your best friend! Knowing what yours are depending on the type of job you are looking to get is imperative!
As the name implies, transferable skills are those that will be assets to you as you take them from job to job and industry to industry. As opposed to technical skills, which of course are also essential, transferable skills are more holistic and contribute significantly to your overall success in any role. They can increase efficiency and productivity, which makes them highly praised and sought after by today’s employers.
- Having strong transferable skills is beneficial to you as well. As you apply them to new professional challenges, you demonstrate your adaptability and versatility – which, by the way, are transferable skills in and of themselves. And no matter where your career takes you, they are yours to hold onto as you adapt, change, and grow.
A few examples of valuable transferable (aka portable or soft) skills are:
- Critical Thinking: the ability to evaluate and analyze information objectively to produce an original insight or judgment.
- Problem Solving: Skilled problem solvers can quickly and accurately identify the underlying reasons difficulties exist and then execute plans to resolve them.
- Teamwork: Being able to work well with others and put the good of a project ahead of your personal interest.
Others include attention to detail, communication, active listening, project management, analytical reasoning, leadership, creativity, and relationship building.
Highlight Transferable Skills in Your Job Search
Keep transferable skills in mind as you design your job search steps and strategy. For starters, customize your resume and cover letter to include them. But don’t just make a laundry list of transferable skills. Rather, select only those that are relevant to a specific position and focus on those.
- Analyze the job description. Jot down the skills and requirements pertinent to transferable skills that are repeated or stand out. Then, compare this list to the skills currently included on your resume. Be honest and realistic about your skillset as you tweak and match the two.
- Focus on As you tailor your resume, make sure your use the same wording or phrasing as the job description when you describe your transferable skills. This is crucial because chances are your resume will be screened by an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a human even glances at it. And an ATS is programmed to look for specific keywords – usually those from the job posting. So if you don’t use them on your resume, it is likely to be automatically rejected.
- Be sure to emphasize relevant transferable skills as you network and interview. Build them into your practice interview questions and responses, as well as the “elevator pitch” you prepare for conversations with potential job contacts.
For expert guidance as you make your successful career change, from resume preparation through networking, interviewing, and negotiating new roles, consider working with one of the professional recruiters at PrideStaff Modesto. Let us be your career coach from start to finish. Contact us today to learn more.
