Are you an applicant that is convinced you have no marketable skills? Think again. You may be a student. You may be a stay-at-home mom that has been out of the workforce for years. You may think that the years you’ve spent volunteering are worth as much as you were paid for your time volunteering: Nothing. Think again.
You have many skills. You are full of transferable skills. What are these? Simply put, a transferable skill is a skill that can be used in every occupation. It is not a job-related skill. These skills are only used in a certain type of work. A transferable skill can be used in every type of work. These skills are universal and, in many cases, invaluable.
Employers know that if you can accomplish something in one area of your life, chances are you can probably transfer those accomplishments to your workplace.
Need an example? Meet Jane. Occupation: Stay at Home Mom. She thinks she is out of touch and is nervous about re-entering the workforce. She is pretty sure that her killer meatloaf recipe will not get her the kind of job she is looking for. She is frustrated and feeling like a failure before she even applies for the first job.
Jane needs to take some time to think about her transferable skills. Jane sits down and makes a list:
1) Jane is excellent at multi-tasking. Jane can easily do 14 things at once. She has been doing it everyday for the last 10 years.
2) Jane is well organized. She runs a household with 4 kids, 2 dogs and a husband.
3) Jane keeps excellent financial records. Jane has been managing her household budget on one income.
4) Jane is a good diplomat and problem solver. She listens well, and is able to provide input with ruffling too many feathers.
5) Jane does a great job coordinating activities. Remember, she has 4 kids and they all have activities, schedules and demands that need to be coordinated to fit into the family schedule.
6) Jane is an excellent volunteer. She is involved, is passionate and does not need a paycheck to feel good about her job. She recognizes that a paycheck is important, but also knows that loving what you do is more important.
7) Jane can improvise. She has been through the school of hard knocks and she knows that life does not always turn out the way it’s supposed to. This is a great asset in the workplace. People that recognize the importance of this are typically the calm within the storm.
Jane starts to feel pretty good about herself. She knows that these are skills an employer looks for everyday. What are your transferable skills? Sit down and make your own list!
Source: The Total Job Search Training Systems, 1986, JSD-8961 (2/91)