Transferable Job Skills When Changing Industries 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, including many jobs. Individuals have had to find new jobs during the pandemic or even change the industry they were previously working in. No matter what industry or job you’re applying for, hiring managers know the skills their staff and potential employees need to have. In job descriptions, you might see some hard and soft skills or traits they’re looking for in candidates, but they might have left out some skills that are necessary to have for the job. If you have a couple of the skills they’re looking for, and you’re missing a few, we suggest still applying for that job, you never know what could come of it and just because it’s not listed doesn’t mean it won’t be handy to have that transferable skill.

Some of the common soft skills companies in any industry look for in candidates, that you’ll want to make sure are on your resume include:

  • Time Management
  • Communication
  • Public Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Motivation
  • Flexibility
  • Creativity
  • Responsibility
  • Openness
  • Adaptability
  • Problem Solving
  • Active Listening
  • Conflict Management
  • Collaboration
  • Attention to Detail
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork Skills
  • Interpersonal Skills

You’ll want to tailor these skills to the job you’re applying for. While all of the soft skills listed you may possess and want to highlight, it’s important to include the ones you feel really fit the job. We suggest reading the job description thoroughly and really focusing on the responsibilities, then attributing your skills and strengths to those.

It’s important to highlight those soft skills on any resume, but especially when you’re thinking about changing careers. Transferable skills aren’t always directly related to the job you’re applying for, but they are still useful. While you may not have the exact experience a company is looking for, sometimes those soft skills can help you land the job.

These are attributes and habits that will describe how you work individually or with others. They may not be specific to the job, but they can help you adapt to the work environment and company culture. Refining your resume and skills is never a bad idea, and we recommend doing it regularly to make sure you’re hitting all of the points you need to.

When you’re interviewing for a private sector or government position, the hiring manager will ask about skills you have and what’s listed in the job description might not be all they’re looking for. Sometimes, the right candidate will come along, who doesn’t have all of the skills listed, but they might have some that can help the company in a different way. Employers in every industry always want to differentiate how they approach solutions in the market, and they are always looking to hire a team with diverse approaches to problems or solutions.

Whether you’re looking for a job with the government or with a private sector company, it’s important to have a progressive approach to solutions. With transferable and soft skills included on your resume, your potential employer will know you can be an asset to the company and your team.

If you have a progressive approach to solutions and any problems that may arise, you could benefit the employer and prove you’re a good candidate for the role.

Refine Your Resume & Highlight Those Soft Skills With Capstone

Crafting your resume can be a long and stressful process. You’ll want to include all of the important attributes on it, and make it flow nicely but you also want to not come off robotic. At Capstone Resume Services, our team of professional writers can help craft the resume that will get seen by Fortune 500 companies and land you interviews. We can help make the job change process easier. Schedule your resume writing consultation and start your career-changing journey today!