YOU AND YOUR SKILLS

Transferable skills are the skills an employee uses every day that are not unique to their present business or industry — e.g., accounting, sales, project management, etc. While you may be applying your skills in your current industry and would therefore have some specialized knowledge unique to that industry, the basic principles, processes, and techniques you use would be similar in almost any another work environment.

But identifying transferable skills is only the first step. You’ll also need to successfully showcase those skills to prospective employers in your new career path. Some of the most effective ways to spotlight your transferable skills include incorporating them into your resume’s professional summary, position titles, and accomplishments

Focus on What You Did and the Results You Achieved

When you focus on what you did and what you accomplished more than on the environment in which you did it, you avoid pigeonholing yourself. Instead, you keep the attention on the skills and value you have to offer to the organization. If you can bring in new clients and effectively build relationships in one industry setting, odds are you can do the same in a different, related industry setting.

2. Use Terminology Your New Audience Uses

You’ll want to rid your resume, cover letter, and other communications of any acronyms, jargon, and specialized terms exclusive to your current industry. Translate that language into terms that will be more relocatable to your new target audience.

For example, if you’re coming from banking or government and your title includes “officer,” employers in industries like insurance or tech may have a hard time understanding your level of experience. Figure out what the appropriate term would be in the business environments you’re now targeting — e.g., “manager,” “senior manager,” “director,” “vice president,” etc.

The idea isn’t to be misleading. Rather, the goal is to translate your work experience into comparable terms people in your desired industry will find meaningful.

3. Be Consistent in Your Marketing

Transferable skills aren’t only for your resume. As you tweak your resume to focus on your transferable skills, remember to do the same for your LinkedIn profile, cover letter, and your 30-second elevator pitch.

4. Transferable Skills May Not Be Enough to Get You the Job on Their Own

Articulating your transferable skills can get employers to consider you a relevant candidate, but they may not be all you need to actually land the role. For example, if the job description states candidates need to have familiarity with the industry, you may need to do some extensive research. Be prepare to communicate how you have gained familiarity with this — or a similar — industry. You can also approach this by discussing your plan for getting up to speed quickly in the new business environment.

In general, the key is to remember that you’re competing against other people who already have experience in the industry. Creativity and initiative are must-haves.