Transferable skills and how to show employers what you can offer

• Transferable skills can be gained through work, education, volunteering, caring responsibilities, hobbies, and everyday life.
• Employers often value skills such as communication, teamwork, organisation, problem-solving, and adaptability as much as technical experience.
• Understanding and communicating your transferable skills can help you stand out in job applications and interviews, especially when changing careers or returning to work.

Many people underestimate the skills they already have.

When applying for jobs, it's easy to focus on titles, qualifications, or years of experience, while overlooking the valuable abilities developed in other areas of life. However, employers are often looking for much more than direct industry experience.

Transferable skills are abilities and strengths that can be applied across different roles, industries, and workplaces. Understanding your transferable skills can help you present yourself more confidently to employers, no matter whether you’re changing careers, returning to work after a break, entering the labour market for the first time, or looking for a new challenge.

What are transferable skills?

Transferable skills are skills you can carry from one role or situation to another.

These can include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organisation, time management, leadership, customer service, adaptability, and digital skills. Because they are valuable in a wide range of workplaces, employers often consider them just as important as technical knowledge.

The key is recognising where you've developed these skills and understanding how they relate to the role you're applying for.

Your skills may come from more places than you think

Many people assume transferable skills can only be gained through paid employment, but that's rarely the case.

You may have developed valuable experience through:

• Volunteering in your community
• Caring for family members
• Education or training courses
• Sports teams or clubs
• Hobbies and personal projects
• Previous jobs in different sectors
• Serving on committees or community groups

For instance, organising events for a local group demonstrates planning and organisational skills. Looking after dependants can improve communication, problem-solving, and time management abilities. Participating in team sports can offer examples of teamwork, resilience, and leadership.

The challenge is learning how to recognise these experiences and connect them to the requirements of a role.

Match your skills to the job

Before applying for a position, take time to review the job description.

Look for the skills and behaviours the employer is seeking. Then think about cases from your own experience that demonstrate those qualities.

If an employer is looking for someone who can work well with others, consider examples when you've collaborated with colleagues, volunteers, classmates, or community groups. If organisation is important, highlight situations where you've managed competing priorities, delivered tasks to a deadline, or coordinated various activities.

Adapting your examples to the role helps employers understand how your experience is relevant, even if your background is different from that of other candidates.

Be prepared to talk about your skills

Identifying transferable skills is only the first step. You also need to communicate them effectively.

In applications and interviews, focus on specific examples rather than general statements. Instead of saying you're a good communicator, explain a situation where you successfully solved a problem, supported a customer, or worked collaboratively to achieve a result.

A simple structure can help:

• What was the situation?
• What action did you take?
• What was the outcome?

This approach helps employers understand not only what skills you have, but how you've used them in practice.

Using AI to identify transferable skills

Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT can help you reflect on your experience, identify potential skills, and generate ideas for CVs or interview preparation.

That said, it's important to remember that AI tools don't know your full story and can sometimes produce inaccurate or generic suggestions.

The strongest applications and interview answers are built on genuine experiences and personal achievements. AI can help organise your thinking, but it should never replace your own reflection, preparation, and understanding of what you can offer an employer.

Your experience has value

Many jobseekers have more to offer than they realise.

Whether you've gained skills through employment, education, volunteering, caring responsibilities, or everyday life, those experiences can provide valuable evidence of your abilities. By recognising your transferable skills and communicating them clearly, you can broaden your opportunities, build confidence, and demonstrate your potential to employers.

The next time you review a job advert, don't just focus on what you think you're missing. Take a moment to consider the skills you already have and how they could help you succeed in the role.

Looking for support with job applications, interviews, and career development? Visit our Support for People section.

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 35-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Learn more about the Job Support that we offer.