What Are Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills are abilities that apply across industries and roles. They are the skills that make you valuable anywhere, not just in your current job.
While technical skills are industry-specific (like knowing a particular software), transferable skills are universal: leadership, communication, problem-solving, project management.
These are the skills that make career change possible. And you have more of them than you realize.
Your Skills Inventory
Leadership & Management
Have you ever:
- Led a team or project?
- Mentored or trained others?
- Made decisions that affected others?
- Resolved conflicts between team members?
- Delegated tasks and held people accountable?
If yes, you have leadership skills.
Communication
Have you ever:
- Presented to stakeholders or clients?
- Written reports, proposals, or documentation?
- Negotiated with vendors or partners?
- Explained complex concepts to non-experts?
- Facilitated meetings or workshops?
If yes, you have communication skills.
Problem-Solving & Analysis
Have you ever:
- Identified and fixed process inefficiencies?
- Analyzed data to make recommendations?
- Troubleshot complex issues?
- Developed solutions to business challenges?
- Made decisions with incomplete information?
If yes, you have analytical skills.
Project Management
Have you ever:
- Managed timelines and deliverables?
- Coordinated across multiple teams?
- Tracked budgets or resources?
- Identified and mitigated risks?
- Kept stakeholders informed of progress?
If yes, you have project management skills.
How to Translate Your Skills to New Industries
Step 1: List Your Accomplishments
Write down 10-15 major achievements from your career. Focus on results: Increased sales by 30% or Led team of 12 to deliver project 2 weeks early.
Step 2: Identify the Skills Behind Each Achievement
For each accomplishment, ask: What skills did I use? Leadership? Analysis? Communication? Project management? List them all.
Step 3: Reframe in Industry-Neutral Language
Remove industry jargon. Instead of Managed P&L for retail division, say Managed $5M budget and improved profitability by 15%. The skill (financial management) is now clear.
Step 4: Map to Your Target Role
Look at job descriptions for your target role. Which of your transferable skills match their requirements? Highlight those in your resume and interviews.
How to Showcase Transferable Skills
On Your Resume
Use a skills-based or hybrid resume format. Lead with a summary that highlights your transferable skills. In your experience section, emphasize accomplishments that demonstrate these skills.
In Interviews
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to tell stories that showcase your skills. Focus on the skills and results, not the industry context.
On LinkedIn
List your transferable skills prominently. Get endorsements. Write a summary that positions you as someone with valuable, portable skills.
Ready to Map Your Transferable Skills?
Get a personalized skills inventory and learn how to position them for your target role.
Secular • Evidence-based