Transferable Skills: Your Secret Weapon for Career Changes
Transferable skills are the bridge between where you are and where you want to be. Whether you're changing industries, re-entering the workforce, or pivoting to a completely new role, understanding and articulating your transferable skills is essential for success.
What Are Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills are abilities and competencies that apply across different jobs, industries, and contexts. Unlike technical skills specific to one role, transferable skills are portable—you take them with you wherever you go.
Key characteristics of transferable skills:
- Developed through work, education, volunteering, or life experiences
- Valuable in virtually any professional setting
- Often called "soft skills" or "power skills"
- Increasingly important as automation changes job requirements
- Can be strengthened and developed over time
According to LinkedIn's Global Talent Trends report, 92% of talent professionals say soft skills matter as much or more than hard skills when hiring.
The 10 Most Valuable Transferable Skills
1. Communication
The ability to convey information clearly and effectively. This includes:
- Written communication (emails, reports, documentation)
- Verbal communication (presentations, meetings, phone calls)
- Active listening and asking clarifying questions
- Adapting communication style to different audiences
- Non-verbal communication and body language
2. Leadership
Guiding, motivating, and inspiring others toward a goal. Leadership appears in many forms:
- Managing team members or direct reports
- Leading projects or initiatives
- Mentoring colleagues or junior staff
- Taking initiative without being asked
- Influencing decisions and driving change
3. Problem-Solving
Analyzing situations and developing effective solutions:
- Identifying root causes of issues
- Evaluating multiple potential solutions
- Making decisions under uncertainty
- Implementing and iterating on solutions
- Creative thinking and innovation
4. Critical Thinking
Objectively analyzing and evaluating information:
- Questioning assumptions
- Evaluating evidence and data
- Recognizing logical fallacies
- Making reasoned judgments
- Synthesizing complex information
5. Teamwork & Collaboration
Working effectively with others toward shared goals:
- Contributing to team projects
- Respecting diverse perspectives
- Sharing credit and supporting colleagues
- Resolving conflicts constructively
- Building and maintaining professional relationships
6. Adaptability
Adjusting to new situations and challenges:
- Embracing change and uncertainty
- Learning new skills quickly
- Pivoting strategies when needed
- Maintaining performance under pressure
- Being open to feedback and improvement
7. Time Management
Organizing and prioritizing work effectively:
- Meeting deadlines consistently
- Prioritizing tasks based on importance
- Managing multiple projects simultaneously
- Avoiding procrastination
- Setting and achieving goals
8. Organization
Creating systems and structures for efficiency:
- Planning and scheduling
- Maintaining records and documentation
- Coordinating logistics
- Managing resources effectively
- Creating processes and workflows
9. Analytical Skills
Working with data and information:
- Collecting and organizing data
- Identifying patterns and trends
- Drawing conclusions from information
- Using data to inform decisions
- Presenting findings clearly
10. Customer Service
Understanding and meeting others' needs:
- Active listening to understand concerns
- Empathy and patience
- Problem resolution
- Building rapport and trust
- Following up and ensuring satisfaction
How to Identify Your Transferable Skills
Many people underestimate their transferable skills because they feel "normal." Use these exercises to uncover yours:
Exercise 1: The Achievement Audit
- List 10 accomplishments you're proud of (any context)
- For each, identify what skills made that achievement possible
- Look for patterns across your accomplishments
Exercise 2: The Feedback Review
- Review past performance reviews or feedback
- Ask colleagues or friends what they see as your strengths
- Note recurring themes in praise you've received
Exercise 3: The Daily Task Analysis
- Track your activities for a week
- Categorize each task by the skill it requires
- Identify which skills you use most frequently
Translating Experience Across Industries
Here's how the same transferable skills translate across different careers:
Teacher → Corporate Trainer
- Curriculum development → Training program design
- Classroom management → Facilitating workshops
- Student assessment → Performance evaluation
- Parent communication → Stakeholder management
Military → Project Manager
- Mission planning → Project planning
- Unit leadership → Team management
- Logistics coordination → Resource allocation
- After-action reviews → Post-project analysis
Retail Manager → Operations Manager
- Staff scheduling → Workforce management
- Inventory control → Supply chain optimization
- Customer escalations → Problem resolution
- Sales targets → KPI management
Server/Bartender → Sales Representative
- Upselling and recommendations → Consultative selling
- Managing multiple tables → Account management
- Handling complaints → Objection handling
- Building regulars → Customer retention
How to Present Transferable Skills on Your Resume
The key is showing, not telling. Here's how to effectively communicate transferable skills:
Use action verbs that highlight the skill:
- Leadership: Led, Directed, Managed, Coached, Mentored
- Communication: Presented, Negotiated, Persuaded, Authored
- Problem-solving: Resolved, Troubleshot, Diagnosed, Innovated
- Organization: Coordinated, Streamlined, Systematized, Prioritized
- Instead of: "Strong leadership skills"
- Write: "Led team of 8 to exceed quarterly targets by 20%"
Match language to the target industry:
- Study job postings in your target field
- Use their terminology to describe your experience
- Focus on skills they explicitly mention
For a complete guide on matching your resume to job postings, see our article on how to tailor your resume for each job application.
Addressing the "Lack of Experience" Concern
When changing careers, you might feel underqualified. Combat this by:
- Leading with a strong summary: Highlight transferable skills upfront
- Using a functional or hybrid resume format: Emphasize skills over chronology
- Creating a "Relevant Experience" section: Group applicable experience together
- Including side projects or volunteer work: Show initiative in your new field
- Getting certifications: Demonstrate commitment to learning
Making the Case in Your Cover Letter
Your cover letter is where you explicitly connect the dots. Use this framework:
- Paragraph 1: Why you're excited about this specific role/company
- Paragraph 2: How your transferable skills directly apply
- Paragraph 3: A specific example demonstrating those skills
- Paragraph 4: Your commitment to learning and growing in this field
Showcase Your Transferable Skills with ResumeHero
Career changes are challenging, but ResumeHero makes presenting your transferable skills effortless. Our AI:
- Identifies transferable skills from your experience
- Suggests industry-appropriate language for your target field
- Rewrites bullet points to highlight relevant competencies
- Optimizes your resume format for career changers
- Helps you tell a compelling career transition story
Don't let a non-linear career path hold you back. Your diverse experience is an asset—let ResumeHero help you prove it.
Start your career transition with a powerful resume, completely free.