Whether you’re on the employer or candidate side, it makes sense to approach job applications and offers from the perspective of transferable skills. Here’s why and how.
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What are transferable skills?
Transferable skills are a set of competencies and aptitudes that can be applied to projects or activities well beyond the scope of a specific job. That being said, they are put to use in most professions.
- Here are just a few examples:
- Communication skills
- Adaptability
- Team or project management
- Customer service
- Sales techniques
- Office and computer skills
- Resourcefulness
- Innovation
Both technical and behavioral skills can be transferable and profitable from one type of job to another. For example, someone who has mastered Excel to perfection, having used it extensively in their previous job in procurement, could transfer this skill to a position in finance, which requires them to use this software extensively to produce reports, even if they don’t come from the financial sector. The same would be true for someone with experience in engineering project management who wanted to join a company specializing in IT: their project management skills would be put to good use there, and quite possibly their different perspective tinted by their background in another sector of activity.
What do transferable skills make possible…
… for employers?
1. Attracting workers
Workers are looking for more new challenges than ever before, so they hold a number of diversified jobs over the course of their careers. By taking transferable skills into account and positioning themselves as such in their job postings, employers are indicating their willingness to give a chance to candidates with atypical profiles who would like to move outside their usual sector.
2. Finding a solution to the labor shortage
It’s no secret that today’s workforce is hard to find. Against this backdrop, opening up your horizons when recruiting is not up for debate. By focusing on transferable skills rather than on job descriptions, employers increase their chances of finding talent.
3. Build a diverse team
By opening the door to candidates who don’t systematically meet the same skill-set as is usual in a given sector and type of position, employers end up with talent from a variety of industries, with different profiles. This multiplies creativity, knowledge and good ideas!
… in candidates?
1. Opening doors
Transferable skills mean versatility. And versatility means efficiency in a number of fields and adaptability – two major assets that open doors for candidates wishing to change jobs or professions.
2. Stand out from the crowd
When technical skills are equal between two profiles, candidates who can demonstrate one or more transferable skills will have an edge over the competition.
3. Embarking on a new adventure
It’s not always easy to start somewhere new, whether it’s a change of career direction, the beginning of a new career, or a fresh start as a newcomer. Transferable skills can be an interesting background to present to candidates who are still building their technical skills list.
Here are a few tips for taking advantage of transferable skills
- For employers:
- Be open-minded! Don’t restrict yourself to finding a candidate who fits the job description perfectly, because you may never find one.
- Identify transferable skills that would be useful for the person who will fill the position you’re looking to fill.
- Try to identify transferable skills in the applications you receive, both in CVs and cover letters, and during interviews. Don’t hesitate to ask for more details about certain experiences.
- For candidates:
- Start by identifying your transferable skills.
- List them:
- In your CV – either in the “profile” or “experience” section, or in a specially created section entitled “skills”;
- In your cover letter, particularly in the case of a career change;
- During interviews.
- Whether in your CV, cover letter or interview, avoid mentioning your transferable skills without situating them: detail them within examples that clearly explain your experiences and successes.
- Read job descriptions carefully to identify which transferable skills would be useful in your position.
- Don’t hesitate to mention the skills you’ve acquired through volunteer projects or student jobs.
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In short, transferable skills are an important ally in recruitment, since they broaden the horizons of both employers and candidates. Both parties have much to gain by considering them at the outset of their search, rather than as a last resort, after searching in vain for the perfect “match” between job description and typical candidate profile.
Variety is the spice of life so go after different kinds of experiences and skills!