How to show that you have transferable skills
It is rare to find two jobs that are exactly the same. Therefore, when you are applying for a new job, whether it is in the same field or not, you will need to show evidence you have amassed skills that will be of use to your potential employer. This is all the more important if you are considering a complete change of career - from working in retail to office manager, for example. Here are some ways to ensure that you clearlydemonstrate transferable skills in your resume.
First of all, you need to take a good, hard look at the job specifications for the job for which you are applying. Think about the skills required and decide whether or not you have them. Hopefully you will, so list the skill, along with a series of situations in which you can prove you have that skill. For example, if people skills is a requirement, and you frequently liaised with sellers and buyers, list it. It may not be complete proof you would be excellent in customer services, but it gives the impression that you probably would be. This could take some time and may not even be something that you want to do all in one go, but once you have your complete list, you will be well on your way to proving to your potential employer that you do have plenty of transferable skills.
Skills that are obviously transferable are such things as communication skills, research skills, the ability to learn quickly, quality control, computer skills, the ability to work in a team or separately (depending on the job), leadership skills and being able to troubleshoot. Most jobs require these skills at some point, so you should be able to come up with plenty of examples.
If you have just come out of education and don't have much work experience, or you have been out of work for some time, there are still ways that you can show you have skills that can transfer across. The ability to run a home and care for a family is a skill that can be used in the workplace. Research skills that you hone as a student are always needed. If you ran the university football club or the local mums' and toddlers' group, this shows you have leadership skills and the ability to communicate with people. If you worked abroad, you have the ability liaise with people from different backgrounds. Think outside of the box and you will be amazed at just what skills you have.
The next step is to clearly show what you have come up with in your resume. This can be difficult when you only have a page or two in which to lay out your skills. However, don't be tempted to go over two pages - you should be able to present what you want in a couple of pages. At the top of the page, you could have a sentence or two to introduce yourself, for example: team player with excellent communication and programming skills. This is the first thing that employers see, especially if it is highlighted, and provided that you have tailored it to the job in question, you should immediately catch the employer's eye.
Then you should use the section on employment history and possibly education to give a little more information on the skills that you have. You have limited space in which to provide it, so don't ramble on about skills that are really not relevant to your potential job, but succinctly describe what could help prove you are qualified in the right areas. You will probably be asked for more details in the interview, provided you get that far, so just a taster is fine in your resume. Once you have written it all down, print out a copy and ask someone to look at it for you just to make sure that it comes across exactly as you are intending it to.
Of course, when applying for some jobs, you may be asked to fill out an application form, either on the basis of your resume, or in place of it. This will probably ask you to give particular examples of your skills, so you will have plenty of space to lay it all out. Don't be tempted to rush the form; take your time and make sure you say exactly what you need to say. Again, a second pair of eyes to check what you have written is a great idea.
Finally, if you are sending in a resume with a cover letter, you can use the cover letter to reiterate the skills that you have. If you are planning a complete change of career, for example, you can explain why you are heading in this direction and what makes you think you have the skills for the new career. Be positive - you need to sound as though you are completely sure in your own mind that this is a good move, both for you and for the employer.
Moving to a new job can be a daunting decision, particularly if you don't obviously have the experience and background that you think the employer is looking for. However, provided that you put some careful thought into how you sell yourself, nothing is impossible and you may just be exactly what the employer is looking for.
