You’ve likely heard of ‘transferable skills’ when searching for a graduate job, but why are they so important in the workplace? Grads may not have a great deal of work experience on their CV, but transferable skills can really give it a boost and are a brilliant way of showing your potential.

Transferable skills

So we know they’re important, but what exactly are they? They can be a combination of so-called ‘hard’ skills, perhaps project management, and ‘soft’ skills like communication. Some examples include:

1.    Time management – showing your ability to meet deadlines and complete tasks efficiently. School and university are prime examples of this.
2.    Technical – such as strong IT knowledge.
3.    Communication and listening – being able to communicate well with others and properly listen to colleagues or clients are massively important, versatile skills. Good listeners tend to process information more quickly, leading to greater efficiency.
4.    Multi-tasking – the majority of working environments will require you to undertake more than one task at a time. It’s an incredibly important skill. Studying various subjects at school, or different modules at uni at once, are all experiences of multi-tasking.

What are my transferable skills?

In order to identify your transferable skills, you could start by making a list of your education, volunteering and job history and you’ll start to recognise several skills without even thinking about it! You could then begin looking at the available job opportunities that may suit you and try and match your transferable skills to each role. As well as identifying your skillset, ensure to show ways in which you’ve honed that skill. As an example, your time management skills were bolstered by your experience gained by having a part-time job whilst studying at university.

Most transferable skill?

Soft skills are just as important, if not more so, as hard skills, according to talent acquisition experts on LinkedIn. So-called ‘people’ skills, such as time management, empathy and listening are all soft skills, but are essential in everyday life. Determine your own transferable skills and get ready for your next job application!