What is a Transferable Skill?
Transferable skills are abilities that can be used across various kinds of jobs, industries, or contexts.
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Understanding Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are competencies gained in one area or profession that can be applied in others. They are not confined to a single context, but can be developed in various environments such as work, education, volunteer activities, or personal lives. This versatility empowers individuals to adapt and succeed in different environments, making these skills extremely valuable.
Transferable skills aren't tied to a specific role or industry. Rather, they are applicable in many environments, making them valuable assets for professional development. Because they are not industry-specific, transferable skills are often highly desirable to employers, especially when considering candidates from different backgrounds.
Some examples of commonly mentioned transferable skills include:
- Communication (verbal, written, etc.)
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
Advantages of Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are major assets to employers and employees in any given workspace. Wherever the abilities were cultivated, workers must have non-industry-specific soft skills they can apply in various contexts.
These skills showcase candidates' ability to adapt and succeed in different environments. Hiring employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences allows small businesses to maximize their resources since they can easily shift between roles or "wear different hats" as needed. These employees will also bring fresh perspectives, driving innovation and company growth.
Transferable skills offer small businesses the potential for increased flexibility, adaptability, new ideas, and growth.
Challenges and Considerations
The perceived value of transferable skills will vary across organizations. For example, a highly sought-after capability in one industry could be completely irrelevant or a bare minimum requirement in another.
Small businesses must understand how a candidate's abilities relate to the specific industry or job opportunity. Employers should ask thorough questions in the interview process that look beyond industry-specific experience. For example, if a candidate has experience in a leadership role in a volunteer organization, they likely have transferable skills in team management and conflict resolution that could be valuable in a professional setting.
Job candidates may struggle to communicate the value of their transferable skills, so employers must assess their relevance to the specific industry and opportunity.
The Future of Transferable Skills
In today's rapidly changing workforce, the relevance of transferable skills is only set to increase. Job seekers who remain adaptable and grow multifaceted skill sets will be well-prepared for the future. Advancements in technology, automation, and the rise of gig work all point to the need for workers to broaden their capabilities to keep up with new opportunities.
Employers will likely prioritize candidates with strong transferable skills since they can bring fresh perspectives and know how to pivot in response to new challenges. The continuous learning and growth that come with these individuals' career trajectories keep them engaged and motivated. Companies may offer relevant opportunities to encourage this, fostering a culture of growth and development.
In an evolving job market, candidates will likely rely more on adaptability, and employers will seek out those with relevant transferable skills.
Best Practices for Small Businesses
Small businesses should focus on identifying and hiring candidates with strong transferable skills to build a robust and resilient workforce. This starts with writing clear job descriptions that feature requirements that are not limited to technical experience.
Use recruitment strategies that emphasize the importance of transferable skills, making people of diverse backgrounds more likely to apply. During the interview, ask candidates to speak about their experiences of applying transferable skills in different contexts.
Once hired, organizations can help their employees cultivate versatile capabilities by encouraging cross-functional collaboration. This could involve creating opportunities for employees to work on projects outside their immediate role, fostering a culture of learning and growth. Offer training and development opportunities, such as workshops or online courses, to help workers grow and continue contributing effectively. This will improve employee satisfaction and help your business remain competitive on a larger scale.
Small businesses should prioritize hiring employees with transferable skills and foster a culture of continuous learning and development.
Transferable skills are abilities that can be applied across various jobs, industries, and career paths, making them valuable assets for small businesses looking to hire adaptable workers. These skills help employees adapt to different challenges across contexts, contributing to organizational innovation and growth. By emphasizing transferable skills in job descriptions, interviews, and company culture, small businesses can attract and retain a workforce primed for long-term success.
About the author
Casey Pontrelli
Casey Pontrelli is a multi-talented professional with a background in content creation, branding, and social media marketing. Whether writing for a newspaper, eCommerce website, B2B startup, or a marketing agency, she has taken her strong background in journalism and turned her focus to SEO and content marketing. She’s written about everything from boutiques to cars to small businesses, and enjoys most when she knows her writing has had an impact. When she’s not writing up a storm or creating attention-grabbing social media posts, Casey enjoys hanging out with her partner and three cats, Eddy, Larry, and Marcus, going on long walks in the Green Belt, and, predictably, reading.
