Changing from one industry to another and embarking on a new career path can be daunting for jobseekers. You might wonder whether you have the right skills for a new field, but by reflecting on your experience, you can show employers how your existing skills translate to a new role.
In this blog, we’re going to go through the questions you should ask yourself to work out your transferable skills with the help of one of our resident interview coaches, LeighAnne Jordan. LeighAnne is a qualified Career and Confidence Coach with over 20 years of recruitment experience, who helps our clients to develop their interview skills.
Why Transferable Skills Matter
Transferable skills are those that you carry from job to job, no matter what industry or position you’re working in. This can cover hard skills, such as programming experience, or soft skills, such as leadership or problem-solving abilities. These skills give employers confidence that new hires will align with their values and fit into the company culture.
Transitioning into a new career can bring a lot of uncertainty. Working out your transferable skills will improve your CV, your interviews, and your overall confidence when making a career change.
Four Questions to Work Out Your Transferable Skills
“What skills do I use consistently in my role?”
LeighAnne encourages jobseekers to ask: “What skills have you used consistently in your role? Break this down into a day-to-day process if that feels easier.”
Take some time to analyse the skills you demonstrate regularly. Start by making a list of what you do every day in your current or previous role.
For example, many of our clients are police officers leaving the force and looking to make a career change. The skills they have developed in their career are valued by employers in many other professions.
For example:
- Conflict resolution
- Incident management
- Writing reports
- Gathering evidence
- Working under pressure and prioritising workload
- Collaborative working.
You can find out more about our tailored CV services for police officers here.
“What patterns are there throughout my career?”
Think about patterns in your strengths and responsibilities at work. Although they might feel routine to you, they could be exactly what potential employers are looking for.
LeighAnne says, “What do people come specifically to you for? What skills are unique to you or the role that you have had previously in your career…is there a pattern?”
Ask yourself:
- What do colleagues regularly ask for your help with?
- What responsibilities naturally fall to you?
- What situations are you trusted to handle?
Teachers, for example, go through training specific to their jobs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t pivot to other careers.
Think about the skills teachers display every day:
- Explaining information clearly
- Managing difficult behaviour
- Working to strict deadlines
- Supporting students emotionally and academically
- Adapting to changing – and challenging – situations
- Leading discussions and presentations confidently
These skills will certainly be valued by employers beyond the classroom.
“What are my values?”
Personal values aren’t front-of-mind when we think about professional skills, but they shouldn’t be taken for granted.
As LeighAnne says: “The values that you hold personally will likely transfer into your work”.
One survey found that 80% of professionals believe that interpersonal soft skills are more important than ever with the rise of AI in the workplace.
For example, let’s look at hospitality workers, and the transferable skills they demonstrate.
- Busy shifts and intense service periods require resilience to keep up with customer demand and remain professional in challenging situations.
- Strong communication skills are a must when dealing with customers, coordinating with other teams and resolving problems quickly and efficiently.
- Empathy and emotional intelligence allow staff to relate to customers, understand their needs and create positive experiences.
- Hospitality staff regularly show initiative by solving problems independently and supporting colleagues during busy shifts.
These strengths are highly transferable, and would be valuable in roles in customer service, operations, recruitment, and more.
“What experience do I have outside of work?”
Finally, LeighAnne recommends looking beyond your career to discover the transferable skills you have picked up in other parts of your life.
Life experience is an essential part of your overall skillset. Think about the competencies you show outside of work and how these can transfer to your professional life.
Parenting
- Problem solving
- Organisation
- Time management
- Budgeting
Volunteering
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Customer service
- Administration
Mentoring
- Interpersonal skills
- Empathy
- Emotional intelligence
- Coaching
Transitioning from one career to another doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. By working out your transferable skills, you can turn this time of change into an exciting professional opportunity.
If you follow these questions to reflect on the journey so far, you will understand how your past experience will set you apart in your future job search.
If you would like some additional support preparing for a career change, LeighAnne’s Interview Skills Coaching sessions can help you prepare effectively, overcome areas of concern and improve your performance at your next job interview.