If you’re applying for a new job or a career change is on the horizon, it’s an ideal time to take stock of your transferable skills. But did you know that certain transferable skills are more valuable and in demand than others?

How many of the seven most valuable transferable skills do you have? And, do you know how to articulate them to attract the attention of recruiters and hiring managers?

What Are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills (also known as ‘portable skills’) are the skills that are not necessarily directly related to your job but are important across many industries and helpful in different areas of life. You may have acquired your transferable skills through voluntary work, hobbies or even parenting – basically a culmination of your lived experiences.

Why is it Important to Identify Transferable Skills?

If you can identify and articulate your transferable skills, you will be better equipped to apply for a new job, put yourself forward for a promotion or pay rise, or tackle a career change at any age.

• Identify skills gaps and create a professional development plan to progress your career
• Builds your self-confidence through identifying all your transferable skills and recognising their value
• Helps you to create a competitive resume and cover letter
• Assists in answering selection criteria in the job application process
• Perform better in behavioural job interviews by talking confidently about your skills

 

Karen Thomas, Co-founder & Director of Transition Hub, believes human skills will be the most important transferable skills of the future.

“Creativity, collaboration and communication are the most important transferable skills needed to succeed in today’s workplace.

“With automation and artificial intelligence on the rise, human skills are crucial to bridging the virtual and real worlds, solving complex problems and inspiring others to embrace change,” said Ms Thomas.

Melbourne-based Career Coach Leah Lambart says transferable skills and training in in-demand skills are a focus in helping people from entry-level to retirement age achieve their career goals.

“I coach clients, and much of the discussion is around transferable skills and re-training for areas that are going to be in demand, but also that are of interest.

“Given that we are going to be living in an ever-increasing automated world, the key transferable skills I talk to my clients about are digital fluency, critical thinking, communication, adaptability, creativity and STEM,” said Ms Lambart.

 

1. Digital skills

Digital skills are among the most important transferable skills required by job-seekers and graduates as companies continue to digitise their processes and operations, Ms Lambert advised.

“Some universities are incorporating digital skills into the curriculum, but technology changes so quickly that students need to continue to learn new technologies outside of the course.

“To increase their chances of being employable, students should seek to understand what digital skills are required in their ideal industry and learn these through online courses where possible.”

Digital skills that will be important in the future

• Coding
• Data analysis
• Data science
• Image editing
• Creating and curating content (i.e. video, audio, info-graphics)
• Game and app development
• Cloud computing
• Digital marketing
• UX design
• Artificial intelligence
• Audio production (i.e. podcasts)

 

2. Communication Skills

Communication skills will continue to be an important and highly desirable transferable skill, explained Ms Lambart, but organisations will increasingly need people who can interpret complex technical information and convey it in simple, non-technical ways.

“There will be high demand for data analysts and data scientists who have the technical skills, such as Excel, SQL (Structured Query Language) and coding, to analyse vast amounts of data and communicate the insights to tell a story.

“As companies increasingly have more of a global focus, there will be a requirement for employees to be able to communicate with different audiences and to adapt their communication style accordingly.

“Likewise, translation will also be a skill required in the future to break down language barriers between organisations and teams with global reach.

“Many jobs will also require the ability to use social media for promotional purposes or to create YouTube videos for sales pitches,” said Ms Lambert.

 

3. Adaptability and Flexibility

Adaptability and flexibility will be important transferable skills in current and future workplaces, enabling the management of change driven by new technologies and ideas.

“Employees will need to be open to change and have the ability to absorb new information and learn new technology on an ongoing basis.”

 

4. Interpersonal Skills

The ability to communicate or interact well with others will always be an essential, in-demand skill in any career or industry.

“Interpersonal skills will continue to be highly regarded in the future, particularly the ability to listen, speak, negotiate, influence, present information and to build relationships.”

 

5. Intrapersonal Skills

Intrapersonal skills involve communication within a person’s mind and are distinct from interpersonal skills, which refer to interactions with other people.

“Intrapersonal skills will also be highly desirable in the future.  These skills are considered extremely difficult to teach and relate to the ability to manage emotions, be comfortable with uncertainty, and manage time and resources.”

 

6. Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills

Organisations will require people who can see the big picture and solve problems creatively.

“This is a skill that cannot be replaced by robots.  Many people think a ‘creative’ person must be an artist, musician, or similar, but there are also many creative people in science, mathematics, and business.

“However, artistic people who can combine their talents with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills will also be well placed to secure employment.”

 

7. STEM Skills

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills will be in high demand, with estimates that 75 per cent of the fastest-growing occupations will require STEM skills in the future.

“Some of these growth areas will be in data analysis, data science, design, artificial intelligence, coding and computer science.

“It’s estimated that in the next year, we will need 18,000 more professionals working in cyber security jobs alone in roles such as security analyst, security testers, malware analyst, program managers,” said Ms Lambert.

 

How Do You List Transferable Skills on a Resume?  

Whether it’s technical or transferable skills you’re listing on your resume, it’s important to ensure they’re tailored to the role you’re applying for explained Ms Lambert.

“I would use an extended bullet point to describe where you developed the transferable skill.”

As an example, ‘Relationship Skills’ could be written as follows:

Relationship Management – skilled at building strong, trusted relationships with colleagues, suppliers and customers using excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Everyone has valuable transferable skills. It’s just a matter of identifying and articulating them to help you either change careers or achieve promotion. Remember, understanding how your unique transferable skills work across industries and promoting them correctly on your resume and in interviews is vital to your success.

 

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