Using Transferable Skills to Change Careers

Finding a job or new career isn’t easy—especially if you don’t have the amount of experience a particular position you’ve been eyeing calls for. This holds especially true for new grads looking for their first job out of college, people facing a layoff, and those re-entering the job market after a long absence.

If you don’t have the experience required for a specific position, you may be able to utilize the skills and experience you do have to get that interview. Look at the job description of the position you are interested in applying for and ask yourself the question, “What have I done in the past that would make me excel in this position?”.  This will help you identify the transferable skills you can use to convince potential employers that you are qualified for a certain job.

So remember that package handler position at UPS you held during summers in college? That could translate into people skills, time management or logistical abilities, opening doors for a number of possible career paths. You could even use SimplyHired.com and search for those transferable skills in the Keywords field to find jobs where you could utilize these skills.

 

Common Transferable Skills
Communication (oral & written, proficiency in multiple languages)
Research and Planning (analyzing, evaluating)
Organization (logistics, handling details, coordinating)
Management and Leadership (motivating, delegating)
Work Ethic (ambition, reliability, positive attitude)