Selling Your Transferable Skills

When you are in a place where you want to get a new job or when you are simply curious about whether you could get a job elsewhere, you are going to need to consider what your options are going to be when it comes to learning about your transferable skills. Transferable skills are the skills that will serve you well no matter what job you are in or what kind of work they are doing. Remember that when you are working in a recession that you need to consider how your skills translate to what the company needs, and that you cannot afford to let them think that your skills do not suit them! In this instance, a transferable skill is a something that you would do well to maximize!

First, let's talk about the difference between a transferable skill and a non-transferable skill. Both types of skills are usually necessary to do a job, but while a transferable skill can follow you from job to job, a non-transferable skill will limit you to the industry where you began. For example, if you have worked as a call center representative, you might realize that a non-transferable skill is your proficiency with a certain in house computer program. On the other hand, the ability to work with customers is going to be something that is much more a transferable skill. This means that as long as you keep your transferable skill in mind, you are going to be able to land a lot more jobs!

When you are looking to see what kind of transferable skills that you actually have, don't sell yourself short. Look over your performance reviews and make sure that you consider how well they have served you. What skills have your employers commended you on, and what have you done to get the best results? For instance, you might be someone who is very organized or you may be someone who is a very good listener. Also, remember that you should focus on your abilities as a good listener and that you should be someone who is willing to change your approach and your reasoning based on the needs of a group. Identification is of the utmost importance in this stage.



If you want to make sure that your transferable skills are getting you the attention that you need, you will find that you need to showcase them. This means that you may end up in situations where you are showcasing them for no pay or low pay, but if they are going to make you stand out, you can bet that it is going to be worth it in the end. For instance, if you are someone who values their leadership skills, why not think about spearheading a fundraiser to improve your local community? If you are someone who values your organizational and communication skills, consider offering to emcee a local community event.

There are lots of ways to showcase your transferable skills and when you want to land your dream job, this is an essential part of it. Consider what transferable skills you have and what you can do to sell them to the company that you are interested in!