The Power of Transferable Skills

Host Sheila Boysen-Rotelli is explaining why transferable skills give you more freedom and creativity in your job search. Everyone has them. It just takes a little bit of self-reflection to realize what your transferable skills are!

Episode Highlights: 

• There’s a ton of value in taking time to understand transferable skills and what yours actually are

• Transferable skills come into play when you’re looking for a new job or to transition within the same company

• Don’t be the person that gets in your own way and tells yourself “no” before someone else has the chance

  • Everything starts in our own head, so having the right mindset is vital to take on new assignments

  • Attacking our own self-confidence and skills takes us out of an opportunity that could help us develop additional skills

  • If people could recognize their transferable skills, they would work at jobs that they truly enjoy

  • Come up with a simple mantra, such as “I can do anything”

• Many people make the mistake of thinking that they just don’t have any transferable skills

• Define your transferable skills that relate to the job that you have your eye on

• Tailor your resume to the specific job that you are applying to by highlighting your relevant transferable skills

• Make a list of all of your skills in management, research, technical, relationship, and any other segments

  • Freely brainstorm every skill no matter how small or insignificant you might think they are

  • Use past performance reviews and people that you’ve worked closely with to see what skills of yours that others have appreciated

• Self-reflection takes time and work, but it will serve you very well for years to come

• Organize your list however you would like, but Sheila suggests these 3 sections

  • Communication: Speaking effectively, building consensus amongst groups, negotiating, developing rapport, etc.

  • Organizing/Planning: Forecasting, analyzing alternatives, managing budgets, meeting deadlines, etc.

  • Operational/Technical skills: Building something, software/hardware skills, specific knowledge, hard skills, etc.

• Think through each skill in order to understand how transferable each one

  • Is it something that can be applied in a different job or environment?

  • How can it be applied in a different job or environment?

  • Come up with a measurable accomplishment of your own that relates to that transferable skillj

• There are a variety of ways to use your transferable skills to get the job that you wan

  • Networking events are a great time to explain to people what you want to be doing in your next opportunity

  • During an interview, focus on how you have used your transferable skills in specific situations in your past jobs

3 Key Points:

1. It takes a growth mindset to take skills that you have learned in the past and transfer them into something new.

2. When you define and practice your transferable skills, it’s a great time to update your resume and tailor it to the specific job that you are applying to.

3. Transferable skills can be acquired through a multitude of avenues, such as on-the-job experience, volunteering, and hobbies that you enjoy during your free time.

Tweetable Quote

“A lot of times, we’re the first person to tell ourselves ‘no.’” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

“If you think you can do a thing, or think you can’t do a thing, you are right.” - Henry Ford

“Transferable skills, most basically, are any talents or abilities that you have that can be used in many different jobs or career paths.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

Resources Mentioned:

• Contact Sheila at sheila@professionalsuccesscoaching.com 

• Fast Track Your Job Search: fasttrackyourjobsearch.com