Transferable Skills
What are Transferable Skills?
They are skills you have acquired during any activity in your life - jobs, classes, projects, hobbies, sports, virtually anything. These are skills that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your next job.
Transferable skills are important since it is likely you will change jobs and maybe careers several times in your life. Being able to identify your transferable skills will make you valuable no matter where you work and no matter what you do.
Transferable Skill Categories
- Communication: public speaking, listening, written and electronic communication, negotiating skills
- Leadership/Management: planning and coordination, manage conflict, evaluation of self and others, delegation
- Research: investigation, problem solving, writing proposals, internet research
- Human Relations: motivate and encourage others, empathy, teach or train others, work with diverse populations
- Problem Solving: ability to set and achieve goals, creative thinking, analysis of problems, solution focused
Identify Your Own Transferable Skills
The following steps will assist you in identifying your own transferable skills and how to use them to market yourself effectively.
- Identify Your Skills
- Identify Skills that are in Demand by Employers
- Learn How to Effectively Articulate Your Skills
- Find Ways to Develop Further Skill Sets
For further details, download the Transferable Skills handout.
Ways to Market Your Transferable Skills
- Through your cover letter
- Key words in your resume
- Creating a business card
