The importance of transferable skills cannot be overemphasized due to their relevance to society. However, even if you haven’t had your first professional job, chances are you’ve gained some transferable skills from internships, volunteering, classes, and even extracurricular. Transferable skills, as the name suggests, are skills you can transfer from one job to another. These may be soft skills, like collaboration and problem-solving, or hard skills, such as data analytics or coding.
Transferable skills, which are also known as “portable skills,” are qualities or skills that one have developed that can be transferred from one job to another, like good communication, and time management.
In this article, we highlight how one can explore transferable skills, with examples, of how to identify your skills, and how to take your transferable skills to potential employers as you search for your next career.
What Are Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills can be defined as those developed Skills that can be transferred from one job to another, such as good communication or time management skills.
For example, problem-solving skills are valuable transferable skills because employers look to hire people who can help them find solutions. A marketer can use these skills differently than a data analyst. However, the marketer may be conversant about problem-solving, and how to bring a bigger audience to their site. While the data analyst may be conversant on the problem-solving, and why revenue is down by digging through the results of past sales efforts. Note that both use the same problem-solving skills but apply them differently.
How Can One Develop A Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills can be developed in your job, from hobbies, at home, or voluntary work. For example, if you have been working as a production line operative you will have developed skills such as working as part of a team. Also, it help you to developed your communication skills and adaptability as well as working under pressure and targets. These are all skills that can be used in a different sector or job role and are valued by many employers in different industries.
What Are The Importance Of Transferable Skills?
The following are the reasons why transferable skills are essential in the workplace
1. It improved efficiency and productivity:
Many transferable skills help you be more collaborative in the workplace, increasing productivity for your team and the organization.
2. It strengthened working relationships:
Transferable skills allow you to interact better with colleagues, supervisors, clients, or customers. These skills can promote stronger professional relationships, leading to career development opportunities and leadership roles.
3. More well-rounded skill set:
When you have transferable soft skills, you can take on new tasks and responsibilities better. These qualities show current and future employers that you may be competent in various roles or departments.
What Are The Examples Of Transferable Skills?
There are so many skills that could be considered transferable. However, here are some specific software skills, Note, that it would be impossible to list every single one in this article, but there are several that are useful for many different roles. Therefore, the following are the examples of transferable skills
1. Microsoft Office
Across all industries, the Microsoft Office suite of programs is still one of the most popular choices for office-related creations and it doesn’t change.
Learning to use the different software and features of Office will give you easily transferable skills. It can also help in creating documents and slideshows, and confidently using spreadsheets and databases.
2. Adobe
In the same way as the office, Adobe is the standard software used in the creative industries. However, if you have experience or even qualified to use Premiere Pro and Photoshop, you will find it easy to transfer that knowledge into a new role that needs those skills.
3. Programming
Coding languages are fixed, and having skill in using one (or more) is necessary for most developer roles. It is also in IT(internship) work, data analysis and even some engineering roles.
Some of the more popular languages that you might have skills in include:
. Python
. C#
. Ruby
. HTML
4. CRM
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is used in many different industries. Although, there are different publishers of programs designed to make managing customer data simple, they all work similarly.
Working knowledge and skills in using one type of CRM can be listed as a directly transferable skill if the company you are applying for uses the same software, even if they don’t.
5. Marketing
Job marketing skills, especially using social media, are transferable. Hard skills in marketing include understanding SEO, applying analytics, and creating and implementing advertising strategies.
Marketing skills are easy to transfer between different roles and even different industries for candidates who have the right level of competency and can work with different products, services, and demographics.
6. Writing
Writing skills are important in terms of general communication, but you can also get more specific writing skills like technical writing (for instruction manuals or product descriptions). And copywriting (for selling products or services).
If you have skills with the written word, you will find that this is something that can be useful across several industries and in many different types of roles.
7. Leadership
Effective leadership involves taking charge and motivating others to achieve specific goals on an individual, team and company level.
Possessing leadership skills will mean that you can effectively manage groups and delegate responsibilities. Hence, it help to plan and coordinate a variety of tasks, solve problems and resolve conflict, make and implement decisions, and coach others.
These skills don’t necessarily have to be workplace-related. They can be acquired through a group project at university, a period of work experience or time spent carrying out voluntary work.
8. Problem-Solving
Every business encounters issues, and if you can demonstrate your ability to solve problems, this will be a major bonus for your application.
Some problems are easier to solve than others, and often they relate to the achievement of goals and the barriers that prevent these goals from being achieved.
Problem-solving skills can also include understanding when to ask for help and getting others with different perspectives on board to take on the challenge.
9. Teamwork
Collaborative working is a must for any organization. Employers want to see their staff work together toward achieving common goals.
Effective teamwork involves sharing credit and accepting responsibility for your own work. Also, being receptive to the ideas and suggestions of your colleagues, bring effective teamwork. Secondly, teamwork bring building rapport with staff across all areas of the business, and establishing effective communication channels to avoid duplicated work, mistakes, or other problems.
10. Active Listening
Listening to other people is a soft skill that is important in every industry, whether you are dealing with customers, clients, or fellow employees.
Active listening includes recognizing body language and non-verbal cues, listening to understand, and empathizing with the person you are having a conversation with.
This competency is a popular choice of transferable skills in different job descriptions.
11. Data Analysis
Being able to analyze data is a key task in many different businesses.
From identifying patterns to understanding customer metrics, the ability to evaluate information effectively will contribute in some way to the business.
The complexity of this analysis will depend on the company and the specific role. Note, that an aptitude for interpreting information, extracting results, and developing reports is a valuable transferable skill.
An employee should be able to use databases to collect data, analyze it and then interpret the information they have collected.
Data collection and analysis is relevant to many different roles, from finance and IT through to marketing and sales.
12. Communication Skills
Being able to communicate well is perhaps one of the most basic employability skills.
Verbal communication is about communicating clearly and concisely with others, whether it is a customer or colleague.
In the world of work, you will be required to present information to a range of audiences both inside and outside the business. Not all these people will understand your work, so being able to communicate with clarity and articulating your ideas in a logical, organized, and effective way is important.
13. Time Management and Organization
Time management is a way in which you organize and plan your time to carry out specific activities.
Effective time management boosts productivity, meaning that you can complete more work in less time, even when you are working under pressure.
Good time management is about planning your day, minimizing distractions, and carrying out regular reviews to make sure that you are making progress.
A significant factor in time management is prioritization. And it is only with practice that you can learn to prioritize your tasks more effectively. Thereby, focusing on the most urgent tasks rather than less important activities.
Conclusion
Transferable skills can be learned in school, when working towards a degree and, in some cases, through personal experience, as well as in different workplaces.
Transferable skills can include soft skills like communication, leadership and teamwork. However, they can also include hard skills like knowledge of different software and proficiency in coding languages.
Knowing the skills you already have and can transfer to a new role will help you craft a strong CV that demonstrates you have the knowledge. Also, it demonstrates competencies and abilities that match the requirements of the advertised job. It makes you a strong candidate who is more likely to be taken further in the recruitment process.