Are you changing careers or applying for a role in a new industry? You may have more to offer than you think.
Transferable skills are the abilities you’ve gained throughout your life that can be applied to different roles and industries. Whether you picked them up through previous jobs, volunteering, coursework, or even personal projects, these skills can help you stand out especially if you’re entering a new field or applying for an entry-level role.
Here’s everything you need to know about transferable skills and how to make them work for you.
What Are Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills are core competencies that aren’t tied to a specific job or industry. They follow you throughout your career and can be applied in various roles and work environments.
These skills might come from professional experience, education, extracurricular activities, or personal hobbies. From managing time effectively to leading a team, they help employers see your potential even if your experience doesn’t match the job description exactly.
Why Are Transferable Skills Important?
Employers value transferable skills because they show adaptability, initiative, and the potential to grow in a role. They can also reveal how well a candidate may work with others, handle responsibility, and contribute to team or company goals.
If you’re switching industries, entering the workforce, or returning after a break, these skills can strengthen your application and show why you’re a strong fit even without direct experience.
Examples of In-Demand Transferable Skills
Here are some of the most useful transferable skills to highlight on your CV:
Leadership
Leadership isn’t limited to management roles. If you’ve ever motivated a group, led a project, or trained others—whether at work, during a hobby, or through volunteering you’ve demonstrated leadership. It shows initiative, accountability, and the ability to guide others toward a common goal.
Time Management
Employers want to know that you can meet deadlines and manage multiple responsibilities. Time management includes creating schedules, prioritising tasks, and working efficiently. Even something as simple as completing coursework or organising a project can reflect this skill.
Prioritisation
Knowing how to organise tasks by importance and deadline is key to maintaining productivity. Provide examples of how you’ve juggled responsibilities and made smart decisions to meet high-priority goals.
Delegation
While typically associated with managers, delegation is useful at any level. Have you ever mentored a colleague, assigned group project tasks, or helped train someone new? That’s delegation and it shows trust, communication, and leadership.
Listening
Active listening plays a crucial role in collaboration, customer service, and learning. You can highlight this skill by referencing times you followed instructions accurately, resolved client concerns, or adapted based on feedback.
Communication
Strong communication skills are vital across all industries. Whether you’ve written reports, presented ideas, responded to customer inquiries, or coordinated with team members, these experiences showcase your ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
Research and Analysis
Research skills are valuable in roles that require problem-solving, decision-making, or information gathering. You can demonstrate this by highlighting experiences such as conducting market research, analysing data, or writing academic papers.
How to Include Transferable Skills on Your CV
To make your transferable skills stand out, tailor them to each job you apply for:
- Review the job description: Identify which soft skills the employer values.
- Match your experience: Choose relevant transferable skills you possess.
- Give real examples: Back up each skill with a specific achievement or scenario.
Instead of saying:
“Great leadership skills”
Say:
“Led a team of volunteers during a charity fundraiser, coordinating logistics and achieving a 30% increase in donations compared to the previous year”
Specific, outcome-driven examples show hiring managers exactly what you bring to the table.
Final Tips
- Focus on results: Quantify your achievements where possible.
- Stay honest: Only include skills you can confidently back up in an interview.
- Keep it relevant: Prioritise the transferable skills that align most closely with the job.
No matter your background, transferable skills can make a powerful case for your potential. Use them wisely to boost your confidence, strengthen your CV, and increase your chances of landing the role you want.