People often ask me how can they can highlight and leverage their transferable skills when it comes to considering a new career goal or change.
First, identify if your interest is a straight line, lateral or a career jump. Next, I always recommend reviewing and capturing the current key skills (competencies) aligned with the career role(s) that individual has had. Then, research and capture the key skills against future ideal career roles(s). Follow this up with skills mapping for heightened awareness and prep.
I recently had the delight to partner with a gentleman in Austin, Texas who for his entire career, over a decade, had worn dual hats as a sports coach and teacher. He was curious about a new career path in sales. Upon partnering with him, capturing his skills, knowledge and abilities, researching the sales key skills for success, we conducted a skills competency mapping. Then, we were able to highlight the transferable skills on prime real estate, (on the top of his resume). In addition, we also ensured he was prepared for skills based interviewing, by coming up with 2-3 questions against each skill. Now he can easily speak to each skill on a phone interview, in person or panel interview(s).
In this particular example, some of the key transferable skills we chose to highlight against the sales opportunity he was seeking were:
Coaching, communication, influencing, ambiguity, judgment, decision-making, organizing, planning, prioritizing, time management, relationship building and critical thinking.
I am happy to share he landed the new career jump and has been in his new role now for nearly a year.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
