Did you know most people will have at least three distinct careers in their working life? Not jobs. Careers.
But when you’re looking to make a change in midlife, you worry you’ll hear:
“You don’t have experience in this industry.” or “You’ve never worked in this role.”
Whether you’re searching for a new position or trying to figure out a new direction, look to your transferable skills to help you get clear and land a new opportunity.
Transferable skills are your strengths that don’t belong to a particular industry or job.
They’re general skills that are “portable,” no matter where you find yourself, and can be applied to new situations.
Unlike “hard” skills, which are technical in nature, transferable skills are often referred to as “soft skills.” But they’re anything but soft. At EvolveMe, we think of them as “power skills” because they are what make up your super power!
And unlike hard skills that can be easily taught, transferrable skills can only be developed over time and through experience - an advantage to us in midlife!
Why do employers love candidates with strong transferable skills?
Because they offer talent that goes beyond the technical side. Strengths that are critical for leading people and teams – the engine of companies. Skills that are harder to teach.
In fact, the main reason new hires don’t work out beyond the first year of employment is that they lack the soft skills needed for the role.
If you’re considering a return to work or career change, highlighting your transferable skills on your LinkedIn, resume, and in interviews can make ALL the difference!
In EvolveMe’s Reinvention Collective, our signature cohort experience for women in midlife, we identify which transferable skills you want to bring forward as one of the first steps to owning your value and gaining clarity of direction.
It takes reflection and practice to identify and communicate these skills.
Want to get started? Let’s go!
Here are some of the most sought-after transferable skills:
Adaptability: Ability to respond and readjust to changes
Attention to detail: Focus on the finer parts of your work
Business strategy: Understanding actions, plans, and principles to compete in the market
Communication: Clearly sharing ideas and messages (both in-person and virtually)
Critical thinking skills: Using logic and reason to analyze all aspects of a situation
Creative thinking: Think outside the box and approach problems in fresh ways
Data analysis: Interpret data to make informed decisions
Decision making: Exploring options to make efficient and effective choices
Emotional intelligence: Identify and manage your emotions and understand those of others
Growth mindset: Eagerness to hear feedback and use it to learn and improve: committed to learning new things and updating your skills
Initiative: Willingness to take on new challenges, finding new ways to contribute
Leadership: Ability to inspire and organize others
Listening: Active listening and giving feedback
Organization: Bringing order and structure to work, tools, and teams
Problem-solving: Working through problems to find creative solutions
Project management: Using knowledge and skills to deliver something of value
Relationship building: Internally as well as business development
Resourcefulness: Being able to get things done with what you have on hand
Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with other people
Time management: Efficiently planning and allocating your hours and energy to solve problems and meet deadlines
Now, here's what to do!
Step 1: Pick three transferable skills from the list above - or come up with your own!
______________ ______________ ________________
Step 2: Specify where you gained these skills (key roles where you primarily developed them, whether paid, volunteer or other life experience).
a)
b)
c)
Step 3: Develop a story for each skill demonstrating how you’ve used it to add value. Employers will want to know details of how you applied your skills to real-world/work situations, so you’ll want to have an anecdote (or 2!) in your back pocket.
Step 4: Practice, practice, practice your stories. Try them out on a trusted colleague or friend and ask for their feedback.
Step 5: Refine your stories and continue to practice! These skills will become part of your personal brand and help you develop more clarity on your next career chapter.
Now you’re ready to start adding transferable skills to your resume, LinkedIn profile and highlighting them in interviews and networking meetings!
Want to dig deeper? Download our free resource, the EvolveMe Career SWOT, to identify your transferable skills and strengths and how they align with new opportunities!
It’s not too late! You’re just getting started….
And we want more for you!
