Top 6 Transferable Skills That Are Important for Jobseekers

  • September 29, 2023
  • Xin Hui
  • Job Search Strategies

For many people, making a career change means you are back to square one, starting from scratch or starting from zero. Whether changing a role, moving to a new department, or switching companies, you never have to start from zero. There are new things to master but also things you can do easily. How? With your transferable skills! 

In every job posting, the hiring team would always publicise the skill sets required for the roles. These skills will ensure the candidates who get the job offers can succeed in the roles. The skills you have can be applied effectively in your new positions and your current ones. 

What are transferable skills?

Transferable skills are those skills that can be used in a variety of jobs, industries, and aspects of one's life. It could be a skill from your former job or even the ones you acquired as a student that you can apply to another job. Soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and creativity, as well as technical skills such as data analysis and project management, are examples of transferable skills.   

Possessing these skills can ensure you can flourish in any capacity, regardless of your role or industry. As these talents apply to a wide range of positions and industries, they are tremendously valuable and highly sought after by employers. The more transferable skills you have, the more attractive you become as a candidate. Whether you are a seasoned professional looking to move industries or a recent graduate seeking to establish a career, having transferable abilities can motivate employers to recruit you.  

 

What are some of the top transferable skills that are important to have?

Here are the six top transferrable skills you can have that will make you a valuable candidate in the eyes of recruiters: 

Leadership Skills

Having leadership qualities is always advantageous, regardless of your job level. Leadership skills imply not only knowing how to manage a team but also being able to take the lead on new projects while organising other team members to achieve shared targets. Leadership qualities include many other vital skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking.  

Communication Skills

You must communicate with clients, teammates, or superiors in any role across many sectors. The capacity to communicate entails more than simply expressing your message. It would be best if you also learned to listen. This is something that a lot of people overlook. Your ability to communicate your thoughts succinctly while listening to feedback or remarks from others will ensure no misunderstanding while assuring successful communication. Communication skills include verbal communication, active listening, writing, empathy, giving and receiving feedback, and many more.  

Adaptability

You must be adaptable in this ever-changing and moving digital era! Things can change in an instant. We witnessed this happening when the COVID-19 wave initially reached everyone around the world. When WFH was established, workers had to adapt to working from home, communicating with coworkers through the screen, and ensuring that conversations were not lost. As a result, being an adaptive employee can benefit not only the company but also your career as a whole. To be adaptable, you must be resilient in difficult situations, be ready to adjust to shifting circumstances, and readily fit into a new work environment.  

Teamwork

Employers are interested in how well you collaborate with others. While the capacity to work independently is commendable, employers want to know if you can also work well with others. Teamwork with other employees can boost productivity and improve the company's overall performance. Furthermore, operating well in a team ensures a pleasant and positive environment among employees and employers.  

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Possessing EQ allows you to improve your interactions with others, improving the overall working atmosphere for everyone. People with a high EQ can regulate their emotions and comprehend how others are feeling. As many careers require working with or engaging with other people, having emotional intelligence is an invaluable trait employers seek in hiring people.  

Problem-Solving

Problem-solving skills will help you address problems quickly and efficiently, as the process requires finding issues and implementing appropriate adjustments quickly. It is one of the primary skills employers seek when hiring new employees, as businesses are always looking for people who can help them offer solutions and make their operations run more smoothly. This talent enables you to think through and assess the challenges that arise logically, examine the elements shaping each possible solution, and decide which options are suitable and effective. 

Include these skills in your resume!

Now that you have learned the top transferable skills make sure to hone them and put them on your resume before applying for a job! How do you put these skills to use in your resume? Keep an eye out for our future post to find out. 

Do you need assistance finding a job that is uniquely yours? Just look at all the options we have! Start your job search journey with Jobs Lah today.  

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