Are you awestruck by your friend or colleague’s punctuality or amazing communication skills? Worry not, for you can acquire these skills too! These are not something someone is born with. Learning how to communicate effectively is one of the first things required to make a good first impression, be it in a college debate or in your career.
No matter what your specialization is, transferable skills are the need of the hour. Employers are looking out for specific abilities in prospective recruits. You might not have all of the must-have abilities, but possessing just some of the crucial ones will help you make a mark in your career success journey.
Transferable skills: definitions and examples
The competencies and skills that you gain during your learning years are called transferable skills. These are the skills you learn from the day you enter school and later in internships or elsewhere, like your social life or family gatherings. You carry these skills into your life, which help you in employment and navigating career change.
These skills can be carried across various industries, and you do not need any certification to prove it. Some of the transferable skills are known as hard skills, which can be taught and easy to quantify, like being fluent in a language or learning computer engineering. Some are soft skills, like time management, which are hard to quantify. Transferable skills include a range of both hard or soft skills. Some examples of transferable skills include getting to your office on time, having a good relationship with friends and coworkers, and making proactive decisions.
What are 5 transferable skills that every job needs?
Communication
The ability to communicate clearly involves conveying information to others through speech, writing, or another form of media. You can develop your communication skills by learning when and how to ask questions, how to read body language, and by practicing speaking with others on a regular basis. During school and college, one can build good communication skills by participating in debates and declamations, speech competitions, and group discussions. Strong communicators are valued by employers for their ability to collaborate and move projects forward. Transferable communication skills include: active listening, written communication, verbal & non-verbal communication, giving & receiving feedback, responsiveness, and public speaking.
Dependability
Trustworthiness encompasses qualities that qualify you as an employee. They include punctuality, organization, and responsibility. A prospective employer looks for candidates who are capable of accomplishing tasks well and promptly. The same people are often trusted to manage relationships, assignments, and goals effectively. A person is considered dependable when they are punctual, display a strong work ethic, meet deadlines, and are honest.
Teamwork
The ability to work with others towards a common goal is called teamwork, and is an extremely crucial transferable skill. To work effectively as a team, you also need empathy, active and deep listening, and strong communication skills. Employers gauge how you would work with others in an organization by asking about successful teamwork examples during interviews. Transferable teamwork skills include relationship building, collaboration, self-awareness, and conflict resolution.
Organization
Individuals that are highly organized are more likely to fulfill deadlines, interact with others in a timely way, and adhere to directions. Employers rely on organized employees to complete deadlines, take notes, and finish assignments on time. Organized individuals are considered to be more reliable than disorganized people. You can also learn to be organized by paying attention to detail, thinking analytically, prioritizing important work, and learning time management skills.
Leadership
Strong communication, relationship building, and dependability are the traits of a leader. Leadership skills can be learnt, acquired and transferred across multiple roles. Leadership also encompasses decision-making skills. If you are good at decision-making, your skill will be appealing to employers across the board as it projects confidence and good judgment, which is valuable in any industry. Other lists of transferable skills related to leadership include:
- Delegation
- Interpersonal skills
- Conflict resolution
- Project management
- Team building
- Risk-taking
- Goal setting
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Data analysis
FAQs
What are transferable skills: definitions and examples
Transferable skills are those skills that can be learnt and are important to achieve success in any field. Competencies, knowledge, and skills that you gain during learning years are called transferable skills. A blend of all skills is required in any job. Some are hard skills that can be taught and are easily measurable, like knowing a language other than your mother tongue. Some are soft skills, which are harder to quantify skills like time management, or communication skills. All of these are considered transferable skills, as they can be applied in multiple workplace settings.
What are 5 transferable skills that are the most important?
5 transferable skills that are most important are:
- Communication
- Dependability
- Organization
- Leadership
- Teamwork
What does a normal list of transferable skills look like?
Transferable skills include every skill that one needs to be successful in life. They encompass good habits, staying focussed, having discipline, being receptive to others, time management, and many other skills. These skills are always a plus for your profession and add to your resume. The next time you are applying for a job or a college interview, remember to add these transferable skills in your resume. Try to gain as much experience as possible to learn these skills.
An individual is a sum of our habits and skills. Your personality impacts your choices, and thus it is crucial to understand your unique characteristics. Learn the value of various skills and aptitude and their impact on your career with LaunchMyCareer. Our expert career advisors enable you to navigate a successful career pathway by helping you choose a career based on your personality.
