With so many roles out there, it can be tricky to find the right one for you. However, a helpful way to start thinking about what your next career move could be is to take a closer look at your skills and attributes.
By identifying which of these are transferable, you may start to see that you have more in common with some roles than you initially thought.
To help get you started, we’ve pulled together a list of eight transferable skills that employers commonly look for when hiring across a range of different roles.
1. Communication skills
No matter what industry or job role you go into, workplace communication helps companies to work efficiently and productively, and build relationships based on loyalty and trust. Being a good communicator will often mean that you have good listening skills and are able to communicate points clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
While communication is one of the most important life skills to have; there are some jobs that rely on these skills more heavily than others. You may have an advantage in a communication-based role if you have a demonstrable track record of working in roles that require interaction at various different levels.
Almost all employers are on the lookout for strong communication skills. So if you’re a good communicator, there are thousands of roles out there that you could be suited to.
Here are some possible job options that you may not have considered…
Possible job options that you may not have considered
Teacher | Teaching English as a foreign language | Teaching assistant | Writer | Lawyer | Counsellor | Funeral director | Mortgage advisor | Estate agent | Nanny | Interpreter | Speech and language therapist | Human resources officer
2. Planning, organisation, and time management skills
Employers love organised people for one reason in particular…they get things done!
To be organised and timely at work normally means that you’re great at setting goals and planning exactly what steps need to be taken to complete them within the appropriate time frames. You’ll also be great at maximising your time and identifying ways of working which are most efficient.
If this sounds like you, then these are some roles which may be of interest…
Possible roles for people with strong organisation and time management skills
Court usher | Events manager | Project manager | Personal assistant | Administrative assistant/virtual assistant | Travel agent | Estate agent
3. Creativity
If you’re a creative person, then chances are you have a wonderful imagination and can happily spend hours experimenting with different concepts. You may also be great at thinking outside of the box and shedding new light on old ideas.
The good news is that there are plenty of roles out there that’ll allow you to harness your creativity and explore it further. You may have an advantage when applying for creative roles if you can offer examples of times when you’ve previously used your creativity to make a positive contribution or a lasting impact in your personal or professional life.
Possible roles for creative individuals
Art therapist | Florist | Furniture restorer/conservator | Graphic designer | Dog groomer | Hairdresser | Interior designer | Photographer | Picture framer | Visual merchandiser | Writer
4. The ability to keep calm under pressure
Not everyone is able to keep calm in high-pressure environments. So if you can, then it’s definitely a skill to utilise when you’re looking for a job.
There are many jobs out there that require you to keep a firm handle on your emotions, regardless of what stressors may be going on in your immediate environment. In some jobs, people’s lives depend on it.
If you’ve previously held roles where you’ve been able to keep calm and carry on – even when things get tough – then you may be an ideal candidate for some of the roles below…
Possible job roles for those who can keep calm under pressure
Midwife | Emergency call handler | Funeral director | Nurse | Paramedic | Air traffic controller | Driving instructor | Lawyer | Carer | Private investigator | Prison officer | Social worker | Close protection officer
5. People skills
Individuals with exceptional people skills tend to be natural communicators who are emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and compassionate.
Having people skills is about more than simply being able to listen and express yourself well. It’s about being able to put yourself in other people’s shoes, consider how they may be feeling, and produce a response that the receiver will be particularly receptive to.
If you have strong people skills, then it’s likely that it won’t matter who you’re talking to, you’ll still be able to put them at ease and make them feel comfortable in your presence. These skills are particularly precious and shouldn’t be overlooked – especially in roles where there’s a need to build client trust.
Possible roles for individuals with strong people skills
Nurse | Counsellor | Hairdresser | Carer | Midwife | Customer service assistant | Sales assistant | Teacher | Holiday representative | Youth worker | Life coach | Personal trainer | Personal shopper | Phlebotomist | Veterinary nurse | Victim care officer
6. Leadership skills
Some people are natural leaders, while others have had experiences professionally or personally (or both) that have allowed them to develop these skills.
A strong leader is able to take charge of situations and motivate and inspire others to achieve their goals. They’re also able to solve problems, delegate tasks within a team, and plan and coordinate a variety of tasks.
The role of a leader typically comes with a great deal of responsibility, and the skills you have in this area will often be just as important (if not more) than many of the other, more specific skills attached to the role (as these can often be learnt on the job).
If you have strong leadership skills and leading is something that you enjoy doing, then it’s worth looking at leadership roles in a range of different industries…
Possible roles for people with strong leadership skills
Purchasing manager | Construction manager | Facilities manager | Nursery manager | Events manager | Project manager | Teacher | Franchise owner | Lawyer | Supervisor | Youth worker
Or why not consider becoming your own boss?
7. Technological skills
In today’s constantly-evolving technological world, demonstrating that you have up-to-date technology skills (and that you’re prepared to acquire new ones) can give you a real advantage.
Whether you have skills in coding, databases or social media platforms, there are a range of roles out there that may be of interest and can offer further learning and development if you enjoy working with technology.
Possible roles for people with strong technological skills
Software engineer | Information systems manager | IT consultant | IT sales professional | Database administrator | Video editor | Social media officer | Digital marketer
8. Numeracy skills
If you like working with numbers and could happily spend your time crunching sums, then it’s worth looking for roles which require strong numeracy skills.
There are many different types of roles available depending on things like the level of responsibility you’d like to have at work and whether or not you’re a people person.
Possible roles for people who are good with numbers
Accountant | Auditor | Credit controller | Mortgage advisor | Bookkeeper | Estate agent | Maths teacher | Financial coach/advisor
A final note...
While looking for new job opportunities, it can be easy to focus on the reasons that you may not be suitable for a role. This way of thinking might stop you from applying for jobs you could really enjoy, or even lower your confidence going into an interview.
Always remember that employers are looking for talented individuals first and foremost, and many are happy to offer training to employees with the right transferable skills and/or attributes. Rather than focusing on skills you don’t have, the key thing is to make sure to highlight your strengths and transferable skills, so any prospective employer is left with no doubt about your ability to do the job.
Good luck!