Are you thinking about a career move but unsure if your skills are relevant for the new role? Then keep on reading, because I’ve got answers for you.
Transferable skills are those you already bring and can apply effectively in a new role and organisation. As data and tech professionals, you, my readers, bring a whole range of skills that are valuable in every professional environment: you’re great at problem solving, you’re adaptable and you’re experienced in dealing and communicating with a range of stakeholders.
Yet, people often ask: I’ve seen this great role but I don’t think I’ve got the right skills for it?
That’s where it’s important to reframe your existing skill set into something that’s relevant and applicable to the new environment so people can recognise the value you bring.
Let’s dive deeper
Here are a few examples of transferable skills that are desirable in any job:
Soft skills
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Leadership
- Adaptability
Business skills
- Understanding and optimising processes
- Driving and/or supporting decision-making based on data
- Managing a range of stakeholder
- Building and growing your business acumen
Here is an example to illustrate the above:
Let’s say you’re a data analyst collaborating with marketing teams in a large retail organisation to analyse the effectiveness of online campaigns.
If you’re doing this successfully, you should also succeed when working with sales teams in an ecommerce environment or in a B2B context.
I’m not saying these are the same, but there are a lot of parallels that you’d be able to navigate fairly quickly.
What if the leap is bigger?
Maybe you’re not moving into adjacent fields but coming from ‘unrelated’ industries. I encourage you to still recognise the skills you bring because they are valuable.
Some examples from people I’ve worked with recently:
- Teachers have a ton of experience working with different stakeholders (students, parents, administrators, etc.) and have a lot of practice speaking to various audiences and presenting complex topics
- Academics bring experience with robust processes and procedures
- Journalists can take pride in their communication and research skills
- Sales people are typically great at reading people, identifying needs and wants and addressing them
- And so on…
Context is key
When you go out there and apply for jobs, make sure that you tailor your experience to the application. Some recruiters and hiring managers may not see the connection immediately, it’s up to you to create that clarity.
Think of your skills as a set of tools you can use in various settings, rather than a fixed job title. Just as a carpenter can use their tools to build a wardrobe, a table, a shed, or a roof, so can you use your skills in different ways to achieve the desired outcomes for an organisation and a job.
My invite to you
Reply and share a skill you’ve successfully reframed!
Have a great week!
Eva