6 transferable skills you didn’t even know you had
One of the biggest reasons people go to university is to gain that valuable degree to kick start their career and boost their CV.
In today’s job market, company’s and professionals are seeking applicants who have “transferable skills” but what does this mean?
Having transferable skills means that you have talents and abilities that can be used in different contexts. For example, having one particular skill set may be transferable within different areas of professional work like team work, working with customers and working independently.
The best thing about transferable skills is that you learn them through experiences you might not realise are valuable.
Here are some of the key transferable skills you learn while studying at university:
- Teamwork
Working on group presentations or group projects demonstrates that you can work well with others. Especially if you found that it was not always a smooth ride working with others. Being able to create a finished product or present an awesome presentation to your class shows that you are able to work as a team towards an end goal. Employers are often seeking a team player, so this skill has huge benefits.
2. Digital skills
Even though it seems almost everyone is able to use a computer or phone for their social life, being able to use email effectively and use programs professionally is an important skill set. If you have had to send professional emails or created a document for a particular purpose, then you are likely able to use computers and digital efficiently.
3. Resilience
Attending seminars, completing assignments and living independently can put students under a lot of pressure. Responding positively to any type of pressure, and maintaining calm and focus shows exceptional resilience. Businesses look for candidates who can be ‘tough’ and work positively. Of course there are always hurdles in work that can be challenging to overcome, but resilience is being able to deal with the everyday hardships of work and not let it affect your work flow.
4. Timekeeping
Attending regular seminars and delivering your assignments on time shows that you are able to work towards deadlines. Having excellent timekeeping can also indicate that applicants will be able to make a meeting on time and work around a schedule. If you are a member of a society or a sports team at university, this also proves that you are able to manage time efficiently to dedicate time for both academic and social pursuits.
5. Multitasking
Often students are never working on just one assignment or attending just one class. Usually students are juggling independent study around a range of subjects, plus non-academic commitments. Being able to multitask is a great skill to add to your CV, because then you are able to work on more than one project in your job role.
6. Being adaptable
Employers want someone who is willing to be flexible and adaptable with their work. The are looking for someone who will respond well to changing situations. Whether you study a joint honours, or are simply able to handle moving up a level of academic study each year, if dealing with change doesn’t stress you out you’re likely to be a key asset to a professional team.
There’s no limit when it comes to what counts as transferable skills, but these ones are a good way of getting started on identifying what key skills you already have.
Once you know your transferable skills, ensure they’re used in the practice. That way you can confidently state “I have A B C skills, which I demonstrated by doing X Y and Z”.
For more information about transferable skills, visit The Changemaker Hub who can help with employability. Email them changemakerhub@northampton.ac.uk.
