How to Turn Your Transferable Skills into Job Opportunities

How to Turn Your Transferable Skills into Job OpportunitiesHow to Turn Your Transferable Skills into Job Opportunities2Most people have heard of transferable skills. Some people actually know what they are. Very few people actually know which ones they have and how to use them. Perhaps you have brushed them off as unimportant or a waste of time. Perhaps you think you have enough relevant skills that you dont need them.If you fall in the majority, then you are missing out Even the most qualified individuals can benefit from knowing and leveraging transferable skills. After all, it could mean the difference between getting an offer and getting a thank you for your interest, we will keep your application on file letter.What are transferable skills?Most people assume that soft skills and transferable skills are the same. This is incorrect. Soft skills can be transferable skills, but not all transferable skills are soft skills. According to the Google definition, soft skills are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.Transferable skills are skills that can be applied in various situations.We build our skills every day, sometimes doing what seems to be very ordinary activities. From brushing our teeth to finding a cure for cancer, there are skills required to complete the task well.In order to convince someone to hire us to complete a job, they need confidence that we can do the job and do it well. If we have never done that particular job before, they need confidence that we understand the skills required and they want examples that we have demonstrated those skills at least in other applications.This is where the skills that we have used in the other jobs or areas of our life come into play. If they are relevant and enable you to do the job at hand, then they are transferable.Dont let the word relevant prevent you from considering skills used in your personal or volunteer life. Does it really matter where you used or developed the skill? No What truly matters is that you now have the skill and that it applies to the endeavor at hand.What are my transferable skills?There are exercises available that will help you identify your skill set. However, the best time to identify your transferable skills is when you are using them. Trying to recall past examples is a great way to feel frustrated and come up empty handed. Just think about those pesky, Give me a time when interview questions.As you move forward, start paying attention to the skills that you are using or developing in every part of your life at home, while commuting, at the gym, during your childrens activities, with your ailing parents, outdoors, at your distributionspolitik of worship, while at play, and of course, at your job. Think about how your activities are equipping you to do something else great tomorrow.How can I turn them into job opportunities?The job market is highly competitive. If you are anything but an employer s idea of a perfect candidate, you will likely receive the infamous notice, Thank you for your application, we have selected another candidate for the position. That is, if you get any notice at all.If you are like most people, you do not have the perfect track record that gets employers excited. Perhaps you have a few short work experiences, a paid work gap, a wavy career trajectory, or are in the middle of a major career transition. This is where transferable skills can build up your qualifications. If you properly address your qualifications (ability to do the job), then those other issues can quickly become non-issues.Transferable skills can also help those candidates looking to stand out from the crowd.Employers are not only interested in whether or not you can do the job at hand, they are also interested in your future contributions to the company. If they see your skill set as adaptable and transferable, then they can envision you in other roles as well. They can see a future for you in their company.Translating is keyAfter identifying their transferable skills, the challenge that most people groe nachfrage into is phrasing. It is extremely difficult to translate examples that are non-obvious into professional language so that the employer accepts the example as valuable and relevant.Example of Transferable Skills TranslationAs a parent you might make your own baby food that is higher in nutrients than the store options. You did a lot of research and tested a variety of methods before finding the best way to cook, pack, store, and feed it to your baby. This is actually a very applicable skill used in a variety of workplace applications. Perhaps you want to apply to a developer position within a makeup manufacturing company. Your could communicate your baby food making skills in the following way Created new manufacturing, packaging, storing, and delivery method that increased key nutrient 150 percent while reducing contamination 25 percent and waste 15 percent.This example is in the language appropriate for the industry and position, captures key skills needed for this position, and has quantified results. This is an example that would be hard to refute.Now that you are ready to start identifying your transferable skills, your next challenge lies in communicating them in a professional way. Best of luckReaders, have a great example of how youve used transferable skills in your job search? Share it in the comments sectionMichelle Aikman is the founder and lead consultant of Skilled Assets, a premier career management and corporate consulting business. Shes also one of only 38 Nationally Certified Rsum Writers worldwide. The NCRW is the premier industry certification upholding the most stringent standards for quality in mechanics, strategy, and formatting. With extensive in-the-trenches experience navigating the job market as a military spouse and engineer, she is an advocate for the military community and people with complex situat ions like major career changers and people with paid work gaps. Michelle promotes proactive career management and strategic career transition techniques so people can have the type of work that is truly fulfilling and fits with their life. She also works to transform the hiring market, helping employers recognize, capture, and retain high-value talent who are often overlooked for all of the wrong reasons. Find Michelle on Twitter and LinkedIn.