Ah … transferable skills. One of my favorite topics. Why? Because they can get you where you need to go without having the exact skills required for a new job. Now, I’m not telling you this always works, but transferable skills are a great addition to your job search tool kit!
When you’re going through career change or career transition — or simply just trying to find a new job — sometimes your history of job skills doesn’t precisely match the job description. You might actually have the skills you’ll need for the new job, but you need to help them see it. And that’s where transferable skills come in.
What exactly are transferable skills?
They’re skills that you’ve used before in your other jobs. Or maybe ones you’ve used in other places like personal projects or volunteer work. And they can be used again once you get to your new job, just in a different way. Also they can help you win the job to begin with.
While your transferable skills may not be evident in your resume as written up to now, you aren’t stuck with that resume version. By identifying and highlighting them in your resume and cover letter, you help make your case for being “rightly qualified.”
Transferable skills example (for me)
In the past, I’ve been an IT Project Manager. And let’s say that now I want to be an Office Manager. If I leave my resume as is, I will be making my cover letter do a lot of heavy lifting to try to make my case.
But I can help things along by shifting the focus of my resume. First, I can de-emphasize all the parts that may detract from my new goal of Office Manager. And then make sure to think of and highlight every skill that could apply to the new role.
NOTE: In this case, you can use a sample Office Manager job description to help guide you. Or better yet, use the one from the job you’re applying for if you have one.
⇒ EXTRA: Examples of Soft Skills (that can be transferable)
What would new resume look like?
In my new resume, I can make sure to talk about problem solving, organizing skills, supervisory experience. (Perhaps “supervisory” better than saying “management”, since I have a lot of management experience. And they may feel I’m overqualified.)
In addition, I can add recruitment experience, maintaining records, developing policies and procedures, handling customer complaints and inquiries, and maintaining budgets. Also working well with upper management to make sure their goals are achieved. Not lying … just shifting focus of real experience to match the new job.
Gee … looks like I am ideally suited for Office Manager after all! How did I ever get all that other work done with these skills waiting and eager to be used to their fullest? 🙂
Rightly qualified after all
All those skills, which I’ve transferred from my former career, totally make me a good fit with the qualifications to be an Office Manager. You still have to be able to sell this “reframing” and convince them you are sincere. But at least now you’re helping them to see you in a more rightly-qualified light!
So basically, transferable skills include skills you’ve always used, although perhaps not your current job’s primary skills. And, by extracting these skills from your overall experience, you can re-aim them to match you to the new job. One that might even fit you more than the one you have now, especially if you enjoy using those skills. Transferable and marketable. A potentially powerful combo.
⇒ EXTRA: I Don’t Meet Job Requirements. Should I Still Try?
Thanks so much, Hussein. I really appreciate your kind words. My aim is to help job seekers for the very reasons you point out. Good luck!!
most job hunters, including myself have no idea what they’re doing or the amount of effort that is required when looking for a new job. it’s extremely difficult to find such valuable advice in today’s economic climate. hats off to you for creating such an awesome website! i’m so glad i came across this page, i’ve passed the link to my friends and family i’m sure they’ll benefit from it the way i am.
Hi Bailey!
Uh…calling my title “lame” may be just a tad rude, don’t you think, since you are visiting my home? 😉
Just so you know, this is part of my career dictionary and only meant to give some clarifying info with occasional riffs on my part. I need the lame title to help organize the dictionary. It’s not a post – but your comment tells me I should definitely add the topic to my list of future posts. Glad it helped you anyway!
I wish you much luck, Bailey.
~ Ronnie Ann
Oh my! I am a first time visitor and you just hooked me for not only a daily visit, but as a lifelong fan – even when I get my dream job.
This is not only my first time at your site but my first time blogging as well. I have read a lot of ‘stuff’ on the internet and was never compelled to blog until now.
There is a world of useful information, interesting thoughts, great advice, and best of all, re-assurance that all my efforts WILL be worth. Thank you for that!
Staying focused and motivated is really hard to do when you are completely exhausted, at the end of your rope, scared, and HATING this task of keeping a positive attitude only to be shot down again. But this article? WOW! I feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel and I am so excited to get started.
But before I just have one question, ‘WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?’ you buried the true significance of this article under a lame title that doesn’t even come close to identifying the real challenge that can be overcome here.
Yes, this article gives you useful information about Transferrable Skills, but more significantly it answers the question, “How to avoid the Over Qualified bucket?” and should be given a title worthy of it’s importance.
Thanks to your advise, this website and this article, I now have the tools, the confidence and a plan to overcome my biggest challenge “Avoiding the Over Qualified pile”. Yee Hah!!
Here’s to better days ahead!
Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Thank yous so very very much!