Leveraging Transferable Skills to Transition into a New Role
Transitioning into a new role or industry can be daunting, especially when you lack direct experience. However, with the power of transferable skills, you can make that leap with confidence. Transferable skills, also known as portable skills, are abilities that are valuable in almost any job.
They encompass;
- organisational skills
- effective communication and;
- valuable interpersonal traits.
Harnessing these skills can open doors to new opportunities and make you stand out in the job market.
Understanding the Value of Transferable Skills
Transferable skills hold immense value as they can be applied across various job roles and industries. Employers highly regard these skills because they are fundamental and beneficial to any workplace. Regardless of your current industry or position, you have likely developed transferable skills that can add value to new roles.
Moreover, transferable skills showcase your ability to adapt to new roles, environments, and industries.
Building Your Resume Around Transferable Skills: 5 Tips
To make the most of your transferable skills and successfully transition into a new industry or role, focus on incorporating them into your resume.
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Identify Your Transferable Skills
Start by recognising your transferable skills to effectively highlight them to potential employers. Here is a list of transferrable skills.
- Time management
- Research and analytics
- Administration and clerical
- Financial management
- Creative thinking
- Planning
- Technology or digital literacy
- Listening and Writing
- Co-operation
- Empathy
- Patience
- Flexibility
- Delegation
- Critical thinking and Problem Solving
- Coaching and Mentoring
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Align Skills with the role or industry
Next, tailor your skills to match the requirements of the role or industry you’re targeting. Analyse job advertisements to identify common elements and focus on those relevant to your desired job.
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Showcase your skills with descriptions and examples
In your resume, create a section called “Key Skills” and provide examples of how you’ve utilised them. Be descriptive when explaining the environments in which you’ve worked, showcasing your ability to adapt to new settings.
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Highlight desired personality traits
Employers are increasingly looking for the right fit in addition to the right skills. Incorporate personality traits mentioned in job ads, such as “self-motivated” or “good stakeholder management,” to demonstrate your suitability for the role.
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Confidence is key
Remember that experience is not the sole determining factor. Emphasise your skills and personality traits during interviews with real-life examples of how you’ve successfully demonstrated them. Showcasing your aptitude and cultural fit can make a significant impact on employers.