Transferable skills are abilities you obtain and can transfer with you from job to
job. Even if you don’t necessarily have too much work experience, you may have more
transferable skills than you recognize. Some of these could be ones that you have
always been good at, but have not realized. You might have acquired such skills through
academic work or campus activities. These skills are ones that you can continue to
improve on.
An article titled “Transferable Skills” explains “if you want to secure a graduate opportunity, you should demonstrate a specific set of skills needed for the role. Some of these skills will be specific to the industry while others (transferable skills) are those that you can build on and develop throughout your career.”
The article goes on to explain the benefits of transferable skills:
Flexibility: Employers want employees that can finish multiple tasks at once. They
also want someone who can fulfil multiple roles in the company. By having flexibility,
you will be set apart from others.
Diversity: Through academics, activities, or projects you will develop a range of
skills that can be used in many different jobs and roles. “The more transferable skills
you have, the more diversity you can offer to a potential employer.”
Portability: As you go on to new jobs, the skills you learn can follow you. You can
take them with you wherever you go and improve on them in each place you end up.
Employability: When you can create a strong resume by including the transferrable
skills that you possess, you have a greater chance of success. You can show that you
can adapt to new demands that need to be met, even if you do not have a lot of past
work experience.
Some transferable skills include the following:
Whether you hold these transferable skills or others, make sure to include them in
both your resume and cover letters as you apply for jobs. You can always go into Career
Services to get help creating the perfect documents to include with applications!
The Snow College Career Center is located on the Ephraim campus in the west portable behind the Business Building and on the Richfield campus in the Washburn Building room 155.
