How to Identify Your Transferable Skills for a Career Change: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Changing careers can be daunting, but identifying your transferable skills can make the transition smoother. Transferable skills are abilities you can apply in various roles and industries. This guide will walk you through a step-by-step exercise to inventory your past roles and skills, helping you align them with new career opportunities.

Step 1: Inventory Your Past Roles

Begin by listing all your past job titles and responsibilities. This provides a clear picture of your experience and where your skills have been applied.

• Job Title 1: Responsibilities and key achievements.
• Job Title 2: Responsibilities and key achievements.
• Continue listing additional roles...

Step 2: Identify Common Skills

Review your list of responsibilities and highlight skills that appear in multiple roles. These are your core transferable skills. Consider skills such as:

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Leadership
• Decision-making
• Teamwork

Step 3: Research New Fields

Explore industries of interest and identify the skills most valued in those fields. Hays' career advice section is a valuable resource for understanding industry trends and required expertise.

Step 4: Map Skills to New Opportunities

Create a worksheet that helps link your core skills with potential new roles. Use prompts such as “My experience in [Past Role] developed my [Skill], which is applicable in [New Field].”

• Skill 1: Can be applied to [New Role] through [Example Activity].
• Skill 2: Can be applied to [New Role] through [Example Activity].
• Continue mapping additional skills...

Step 5: Utilize Templates and Prompts

Download our worksheet filled with prompts to discover hidden skills and match them to new careers. Try answering these questions:

1. What tasks do I do particularly well?
2. Which achievements am I most proud of?
3. What problems have I successfully solved in the past?
4. How do I contribute to team success?
5. What tools or technologies do I excel in using?
6. Continue exploring with other questions...

Conclusion

Identifying your transferable skills is critical for a career change. This guide provides a structured approach to inventory your skills, explore new opportunities, and create a path towards a fulfilling new career. Stay proactive and update your resume to reflect these insights, positioning yourself as an adaptable and skilled candidate.