Editorial

Transferable Skills That Employers Seek

You may have more transferable skills than you realize that can help you switch careers with less stress.

Posted 9 August 2022 by Matt Stanley


With the rapid advancement of technology over the last few decades, staying gainfully employed has become more challenging than ever. It is no longer enough to simply get an education and apply for jobs in your field. 

Prospective employees must learn evergreen skills that aren’t tied to one field if they want to remain relevant. If you still aren’t sure what transferable skills are or which ones you need, this article is for you. 

Several business professionals gathered around a table shaking hands.

What Are Transferable Skills? 

Transferable skills are simply personal and professional skills that make people efficient in a wide range of industries. These are different from job-specific skills that are only useful in one field. For example, a surgeon’s precision expertise during surgery is considered a technical skill while the same surgeon’s time management and communication skills are transferable skills. 

Which Transferable Skills Do Employers Demand From Prospective Employees? 

Now you know what transferable skills are, it’s time to look at a list of the top options employers are looking out for so you can understand the importance of listing transferable skills on your resume. 

  1. Computer Skills 

Basic typing is no longer enough for the average employer. With the rapid pace of digitization across the globe, acquiring intermediate or even advanced computer skills is a must. Almost every company has an IT department and some organizations demand that the average worker knows their way around a computer. 

With the right set of computer skills, it would be easy for you to learn how to use new technology irrespective of the organization that employs you. You can brush up your computer skills at any one of the best coding bootcamps in the tech industry. You can even find free coding bootcamps that you can complete during your free time. 

  1. Analytical Thinking

Analytical thinking is your ability to identify problems and provide solutions from a logical point of view. Employers are concerned with profit-making and meeting business goals so they rely on employees who can make decisions logically rather than emotionally. You can train your mind to think analytically by identifying problems and coming up with emotion-free solutions. 

  1. Leadership 

One of the best ways to stand out in any organization is to display excellent leadership qualities. Show your prospective employer that you can take charge and step up when there is a need for it. 

Good leaders don’t wait for tasks to come to them. A good leader reaches out for additional responsibilities and makes themselves available. Some qualities that make a good leader are charisma, excellent communication, project management, emotional intelligence, and decision making. 

  1. Adaptability 

One of the most common bi-products of technological advancement is rapid change. Within the course of your career, several things will change and you will only be able to keep your job if you are adaptable. A typical example of rapid change is the adoption of remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Many companies had to shift to remote work and employees who could not adapt quickly were left unemployed. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 50 percent of paid work hours between April and December 2020 were done remotely, compared to five percent before the pandemic. You should be willing to learn new things irrespective of your organization. 

  1. Creativity 

Everyone should strive to be creative if they want to contribute to innovation. You can increase your chances of getting a job by proving to a prospective employer that you can come up with creative solutions that will help the organization maximize profit. 

The ability to come up with creative ideas isn’t just going to be useful to employees but to independent contractors, entrepreneurs, and freelancers who want to stand out. 

  1. Collaboration and Teamwork 

An organization is made up of multiple parts and you will need to be an excellent collaborator if you want to work within the whole. This is why some of the interview questions hiring managers ask are designed to test your ability to work within a team in a structured environment. 

To improve your collaboration skills and get better at teamwork, you need to master effective communication, active listening, problem-solving, and time management.

  1. Digital Communication 

Everyone knows that communication is a vital life skill, not just a workplace skill. In this modern era, communicating through electronic and digital devices is a vital skill for getting most jobs. 

Organizations want people who can effectively use written, audio, and video conferencing platforms to improve productivity in the workplace. People with excellent computer skills are highly efficient at using technology tools for digital communication. 

  1. Data Literacy 

You do not need to learn how to become a data scientist to develop data literacy skills. However, you should be able to read, create, and at the very least, identify data in the workplace. Hiring managers want to employ people who have these data sorting skills even if they have other specializations. 

This is because, without data literacy among the staff, companies cannot be data-driven. Also, when you have fundamental data literacy skills, taking a deep dive into other advanced data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning fields will be easy. 

  1. Writing 

Writing has been one of the most in-demand skills across industries over the last decade. It goes beyond writing a cover letter, resume, or simple application letters. You need to master professional forms of writing like technical, copywriting, article writing, and research writing. To become a great writer, you need to learn how to plan, revise, and edit plagiarism-free content using proper grammar. 

  1. Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution isn’t just an efficient skill that can help you land a job, but can also be one of the skills that will help you get promoted to managerial positions. Master the five stages of conflict resolution and five common conflict resolution strategies that are effective in the workplace. It is also important that you aren’t the one starting the conflict, so self control is vital.

Conclusion 

While technical skills may need to change from time to time, transferable skills often remain useful for several years and across various fields. Mastering as many transferable skills as possible can give you the major resume boost you need to thrive in your career.