What are transferrable skills?

The term “transferable skills” was made popular by Richard Nelson Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers in the 1970’s. It is just as relevant today as it was back then. Put simply, as we move through life we all gather, grow, learn and develop new skills. Transferable skills are simply the ‘mobile skills' that we take with us through life. They include skills you may have learned in different jobs, at college and in your hobbies, social or community life. As a first step, write down all the skills you have that first come into your head.

Recruiters and interviewers will often use a checklist of skills to match a candidate’s suitability to a position. Anticipate what skills might be needed for the position that you are being interviewed for.

Job adverts and job descriptions will also give details of the skills the company is looking for in a candidate or promotional prospect. Make this information work for you. For example, if the role description says that communications are important, write down any times when you have used communications skills, expression, transmission and interpretation of knowledge; where your writing skills came from; how you learned to speak effectively; examples of when you expressed ideas clearly; your abilities in negotiating, persuading or editing. Dissect the job advertisement or description and match it to your skills set.

Work back over old jobs, break down your roles, and match your day to day tasks with the identified transferable skill. You might even spot a pattern emerging which will give you a strong indication of your key strengths. It is a good idea to check with your peers if they also see these skills as key strengths. Confirm what your strong skills are.

The final step is getting those skills across to an employer in a succinct way. There is no point, during an interview, in stating “I have excellent organizational skills” without being able to prove it! If you quantify that statement by explaining how you were in charge of a successful project in your previous job then that will help confirm that skill. Summarise your key achievements in your personal and professional life into short anecdotes that you can bring out in your interview.
Santa and the elves have great transferable skills: like the ability to deliver a large number of packages overnight – ideal for An Post.

We provide three different career coaching sessions: Career direction, writing a winning CV and preparing for interview success. Each of our two-hour sessions costs only 170 Euro and we can provide a voucher for those who wish to give a Christmas present of a new career to someone they know! To book a session or obtain a voucher call us on 01-296-1578 or email admin@peoplematters.ie.