Looking for a new job? Perhaps thinking of changing industries altogether? You need to figure out your transferable skills and pitch those in your interviews.
So, what are transferable skills? These are skills that can be transported from one industry to another. For example, let’s say you’ve been working in Human Resources all your life but are now thinking of switching to a sales role. During the course of your career in H.R., you would’ve picked up valuable skills which will be just as useful in a sales environment.
So, how do you discover these transferable skills you’ve acquired over time? Think of 2-3 scenarios in the workplace where you had to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Write down the exact steps and actions you took to reach a solution. Then ask yourself what were the skills you had to utilise to be able to come to a resolution. Chances are a huge chunk of these skills are your ‘transferable skills’.
Below is a list of different types of transferable skills. Which ones are yours?
Active Listening
Time Management
Prioritisation
Sales
Critical Thinking
Conflict Resolution
Problem Solving
Assertive Communication
Project Management
Research and Analytical skills
Negotiation Skills
Interviewing
Providing Constructive Feedback
Persuasion
Editing
Technical Writing
Mentoring
Data Analysis
Presentation Skills
Public Speaking
Reporting
Trouble-shooting
Analysing
Risk Management
Decision Making
Influencing
The reason most people cannot sell themselves effectively in job interviews is because they don’t talk convincingly about their transferable skills. Master this skill and ace your next interview.