Over the past year, many people have re-evaluated or had to change their career due to Covid-19-related downscaling. Are you one of these job seekers looking to enter a new industry or role in areas like Buckinghamshire, Berkshire or Oxfordshire? Did you know that you have several skills that could make you an attractive hire in another industry? We explain how your transferable skills can help you change your career.
Now, you may be wondering what transferable skills are. Quite simply, these are skills that you’ve learnt in your previous career or during your life so far.
These skills can be applied to a variety of situations. Transferable skills make you adaptable and this is something that employers are very keen on. If you have a wide range of these types of skills, it means you will be able to adapt to a wider variety of challenges and roles. In the constantly shifting workplace, being able to fulfil a variety of roles makes you an attractive prospect.
One of the greatest things about transferable skills is that they are something that you are constantly learning. Every new experience, job, project and challenge helps you develop these skills. Additionally, they are not something that you can unlearn or lose.
Know your strengths
Your first order of business should be to determine which transferable skills you have.
Here are a few of the most sought-after transferable skills:
Communication
Employers want someone that can get their point across clearly and concisely. Good communication skills are essential for writing reports, dealing with clients and effective teamwork.
Technology
We’re increasingly relying on new technology, and new apps and programmes are implemented every day. That’s why it’s important to be able to master new technology. Technology skills can range from something as simple as mastering email apps to complex and specialist machinery.
Administration
Everyone has to do paperwork, whether it’s answering emails or filling in invoices. Administration skills include all essential office skills such as filing, archiving, typing and even keeping the printer working.
Teamwork
The greatest majority of jobs require that you work as part of a team to achieve a bigger goal. This is even more important when you are working remotely or have colleagues that work remotely. You need to be able to form good working relationships and use these relationships to assist colleagues in completing projects and jobs.
Attention to detail
The fewer mistakes you make, the better your job will be. That’s why meticulousness is important in so many jobs. Paying attention to detail will also help you better serve clients and provide even better services.
Organisation
This goes hand-in-hand with administration. Organisational skills can help you (and your colleagues) stay on schedule, and keep your desk, computer and work nice and tidy. This is the kind of skill that’s essential to manage projects and to juggle multiple tasks and projects effectively.
Time management
When you have tight deadlines, it’s essential to be able to manage your time effectively. If you’re in any kind of leadership position, this is also an essential skill to have. These days you can also use time management apps to help you manage your time better.
Leadership
These skills are sought-after for people in managerial roles. You need to be able to identify subordinates strengths and weaknesses and know how to best apply them to complete your tasks. You should also be able to resolve conflict and know how to address concerns, challenges and problems in a sensitive but firm way.
Find your best fit
Now that you have identified your transferable skills, you can determine out which industries these skills make you most suited to. Here are a few examples:
- Construction – time-management, attention to detail, communication, teamwork
- Hospitality – people skills, patience, meticulous,
- Management – organisation, administration, communication, teamwork
- Administration – organisation, administration, communication, teamwork
- Retail – people skills, finance, patience, leadership, organisation
When applying for a job, look at the transferable or soft skills that they list. Highlight these relevant skills in your CV and focus on marketing them during your interview.
In some cases, you might not have all of the requirements, but your transferable skills may be so impressive that employers would be willing to give you a chance.
Check out our Team-Fit™ page to find out how you might best work within a team.
For more advice on how to find your dream job in areas like Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, contact the experts at Simpson Dean or visit our blog for more great articles.