Transferable skills, those abilities that can be applied across roles and industries, are more valuable than ever as AI, automation, and global uncertainty reshape the workforce. Employers increasingly seek candidates who can adapt, communicate, and lead in dynamic environments, regardless of their technical background.
By recognising, developing, and confidently presenting your transferable skills, you can successfully pivot to new careers, even if your background doesn’t perfectly match a job description.
Even if you’re not actively seeking a new job, it’s wise to examine your transferable skills and proactively prepare for potential career changes. There’s substantial overlap in the skills needed to thrive in each industry, so you might be a better match for a job than it first appears. This article explores some of the transferable skills that matter to employers and how you might already possess them without realising it.
Hard skills versus soft skills
Before diving into which of your skills are most transferable, let’s clarify the difference between hard and soft skills.
Hard skills are quantifiable and straightforward to demonstrate. They are typically learned through formal education, online courses, or books. Employers often specify the hard skills they’re looking for, making it immediately clear whether you meet these requirements.
Examples of hard skills include:
- A degree in a specific subject like Mechanical Engineering, HR Management or International Business
- A certificate in Google Analytics or SEO
- Foreign language proficiency, such as B2 Level French
- The ability to use computer software and programmes like Adobe Photoshop, or a customer relationship platform (CRM) like Zendesk
- Possessing a valid driving licence
Soft skills, on the other hand, are much harder to define. Often called interpersonal skills or ‘people skills,’ they focus on how you interact and communicate with those around you. These abilities are cultivated throughout your life, from your formative years in childhood and school to the professional environments of your recent jobs.
Examples of soft skills include:
- Communication
- Taking initiative
- Being a team player
- Adaptability
- Being driven
- A strong work ethic
- Being self-motivated
Thinking outside the box
Transferable skills can be either hard or soft, but they share one core characteristic: they’re useful across multiple industries and roles. If you’re applying for jobs and need to demonstrate your transferable skills, a powerful way to do so is by providing concrete examples of situations where you’ve successfully used them.
Consider a Marketing Manager with years of experience launching campaigns, understanding customer needs, and analysing market trends. While their role was outwardly focused, they consistently engaged with product teams to translate market insights into product features and communicated product value to the target audience. This individual likely possesses strong strategic thinking, customer empathy, project management, communication, and analytical skills.
If this person sought to transition into Product Development, these skills would be immensely valuable. Their deep understanding of market demand and customer pain points—honed from their marketing background—would allow them to effectively identify product opportunities, define user stories, and ensure new products meet real-world needs. Their project management experience would help steer development cycles, and their communication skills would be crucial for aligning engineering, design, and sales teams. They could demonstrate these transferable skills by highlighting past marketing campaigns where they directly influenced product features, conducted in-depth user research, or successfully launched complex initiatives that required cross-functional collaboration.
This example highlights that many of the skills needed in today’s workplace are easily transferable across industries and positions. If you’re currently seeking a new role, take a holistic view of your past experiences and determine which functions your skills would be best suited for.
Identifying your transferable skills
Successfully transitioning to a new career path hinges on how well you identify, articulate, and demonstrate your transferable skills.
Review your history
Start by reviewing your work history, volunteer experiences, and education to identify skills that cut across various roles, such as communication, project management, or data analysis. Don’t overlook skills gained outside formal employment, including caregiving, community leadership, or personal projects.
Assess your strengths and focus on skills you enjoy
Identify which tasks you excel at and are recognised for by colleagues or supervisors. If you still have access to old performance reports, check to see which skills your managers highlighted. Were there specific tasks you genuinely enjoyed? Often, the aspects of a job you most enjoy are also the ones you’re best at.
Focus on achievements, not job titles
Highlight outcomes and the skills you used to achieve them, rather than relying solely on your previous job titles to convey your abilities. Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., “Increased customer satisfaction scores by 20% through improved communication and conflict resolution”).
Tailor your CV
Align your transferable skills with the requirements of your target role. Use the job description as a guide to emphasise your relevant abilities. Instead of only listing skills, provide specific examples of how you used them to achieve results. For example: “Led a cross-functional team to deliver a project ahead of schedule, demonstrating leadership and collaboration.”
Network strategically
Connect with professionals in your target industry or company and discuss how your transferable skills can add value to their teams. Seek informational interviews to better understand which skills are most prized in your new field. Remember that diverse experiences and perspectives are assets. Your transferable skills can drive innovation and help organisations navigate change.
Expand on your skills
Recent research and employer surveys highlight a set of core soft skills that are increasingly sought after, especially as AI transforms many technical tasks. Consider taking short courses or certifications to strengthen both your soft and technical skills, particularly in areas like AI literacy or digital collaboration tools.
According to LinkedIn’s “Skills on the Rise” report, these are among the most in-demand skills for 2025:
- AI Literacy: Understanding how artificial intelligence works and how to leverage AI tools.
- Conflict Mitigation: Effectively resolving disagreements and maintaining positive relationships as teams become more diverse and distributed.
- Adaptability: Navigating change and uncertainty as industries evolve rapidly.
- Process Optimisation: Improving workflows and systems to maximize efficiency, reduce waste, and drive better outcomes and cost savings for organisations.
- Innovative Thinking: Generating creative solutions and embracing new ideas.
- Public Speaking: Effective verbal communication is essential for inspiring confidence in your ideas and expanding your influence.
- Solution-Based Selling: Focusing on understanding customer needs and providing tailored solutions.
- Customer Engagement and Support: Delivering responsive, empathetic service to ensure customer satisfaction and long-term loyalty.
- Stakeholder Management: Balancing the needs and expectations of various internal and external parties.
- Large Language Model (LLM) Development & Application: Designing, training, and deploying advanced AI language models.
- Budget & Resource Management: Allocating finances and resources efficiently to ensure they are used appropriately and strategically.
- Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy: Planning and executing the launch of products or services.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring that business practices meet legal and industry standards.
- Growth Strategy: Developing and implementing plans to expand market share and revenue.
- Risk Assessment: Identifying and evaluating potential threats; proactively managing and mitigating risks.
Key takeaway
When changing careers, it’s crucial to remember that you’re not actually starting from scratch. Your previous experience, whether in a seemingly unrelated industry, volunteer work, or even personal projects, matters more than you might imagine.
The key lies in understanding how to identify your transferable skills and effectively articulate their relevance to your desired role. Instead of viewing your past as a discarded chapter, think of it as foundational training that has equipped you with unique strengths and perspectives.
If you’re ready for a new challenge in your career or have had the misfortune to be laid off from your previous job, check out the vacancies we currently have and feel free to apply.
