When we think about our strengths, we often focus on the more tangible, job-specific technical skills that are easily quantifiable skills listed on our CVs.
However, there is a whole world of transferable soft skills that often go unnoticed and can significantly impact our career success especially if we are looking to make a change or transition or return to work after a break. These are skills you've honed in one context – a job, a hobby or even a personal experience such as motherhood – that can be applied to a variety of situations.
What are Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills are those versatile abilities that you've honed in one area of your life and can apply to a wide range of situations. They're the tools that help you adapt to new challenges, excel in different roles and navigate the ever-changing job market. It enables your growth.
Why Transferable Skills Matter
Adaptability: The modern workplace is constantly evolving…now with AI there will be more changes. Knowing your transferable skills means you can more easily adapt to new roles, teams or industries. You also open yourself to new roles and opportunities.
Enhance Your Employability: Employers today value candidates who can bring a diverse range of skills to the table. Highlighting your transferable skills can make you a more attractive candidate, even if you don't have direct experience in a specific role.
Career Advancement: Employers value individuals who can quickly learn and apply their skills in different contexts. This can lead to faster career progression and increased opportunities.
Enhanced Earning Potential: Studies have shown that people with strong transferable skills, especially soft skills like leadership and problem-solving, tend to earn higher salaries.
Common Transferable Skills (not an exhaustive list)
Communication Skills: Effective verbal and written communication is essential in any role.
Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to identify issues, analyze situations, and develop creative solutions.
Time Management Skills: Efficiently organizing and prioritizing tasks.
Adaptability: The capacity to adjust to change and embrace new challenges.
Teamwork Skills: Collaborating effectively with others to achieve common goals.
Leadership Skills: Inspiring and motivating teams, delegating tasks, and making strategic decisions.
Critical Thinking Skills: Analyzing information, evaluating evidence, and making informed decisions.
Creativity: Thinking outside the box to generate innovative ideas.
Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing your own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.
Influencing Skills: Persuading, negtotiating and motivating others.
Physical Skills: Physical strength, dexterity, endurance, and stamina (relevant to certain roles).
Business Skills: Financial acumen, administrative skills and entrepreneurship.
Community Skills: Citizenship, work ethic, cultural awareness, and community engagement.
How to Identify and Develop Your Transferable Skills
Reflect on Your Experiences: Consider your past jobs, volunteer work, hobbies, and academic experiences. What skills did you develop in each of these areas? If you find it hard to identify your strengths, work with a coach to boost self awareness and knowledge of your transferable skills.
Seek Feedback: Ask friends, family, colleagues or mentors for their honest feedback.
Take Skill Assessments: Online assessments can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Practice and Develop: The more you practice a skill, the better you'll become. Seek out opportunities to use your transferable skills in new and challenging ways.
Another thing to note is that transferable skills are constantly evolving. As you gain new experiences and learn new things, your skill set will continue to grow and develop. By investing in your transferable skills, you're investing in your future success. So do not forget to identify and add your transferable skills to your CV.
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