When planning a career change , it’s easy to worry about the skills you don’t have instead of the skills you do have. You may think that as you don’t have the requisite skills to start on your new career path,there is no point in trying.You may be surprised to learn that it is possible. Let us look at how to use your transferable skills could be the key to your change career.
Identify Your Skills
This is the obvious first step. Before you identify your transferable skills you need to be sure about what they are. Transferable skills can include:
Leadership – If you are finding it difficult to find examples in your professional life think about all the things you do in your personal life that demonstrate leadership. Have you led or managed a sports team? Or perhaps you have led fundraising efforts or organised other charity events.
Creative Skills – Are you a keen photographer in your spare time? Do you like painting or arts and crafts? These are all great skills that you can build on and transfer to a new role.
Public Speaking – Again think about when you have had to do some public speaking in your spare time. Perhaps you are part of an amateur dramatics group or toastmasters club?
Update Your CV With Your Transferable Skills
Once you have identified your transferable skills, you need to update your cv to ensure potential employers are well aware of these skills. Make sure you do as much research into the role and company as possible. Look at the job description and pick out the key skills. For example the description my ask for leadership skills or time management. The key is to make sure you emphasise the transferable skills that demonstrate how your ability to meet those requirements.
Once you have highlighted the relevant skills from the description think about how you can highlight them on the employer or recruiter. Use examples to highlight your transferable skills.
For example , if you want to highlight your management skills , give an example of when you had to use them. Remember, they don’t have to relate to your professional life.
I was part of a local charity drive and managed a team of 5 fundraisers. With my leadership, the team were able to define and implement fundraising initiatives which were of great benefit to the charity.
Perhaps the role calls for some internet or web design skills. Highlight your transferable skills accordingly :
I designed a website for a friend. The website was made up of 5 pages and allowed the business to start advertising and offering online deliveries.
Make sure that every example can be backed up at interview!
Hopefully you now know how to use your transferable skills to change career. However if you need some more help sign up to the Careers Clique Newsletter and you will recieve a FREE Careers Clique Careers Change Guide.
