The 4 Transferable Skills You Need to Succeed

If you’re thinking about a career change, you’re not alone – over half of the workforce is considering making a shift this year. If that’s the case, you may be wondering which skills will make you stand out from the crowd. The good news is: Even if you’re making a significant change, you probably have some solid transferable skills that will make you an appealing candidate.

Transferable skills will support you no matter where you are in your career and where you plan to go. Whether you’re looking to grow into new opportunities in your current role, switch industries, or change up your entire career path, your existing transferable skills can support you through any transition. When developed, the following skills are not only useful; but are exceptionally valuable in a variety of jobs and industries:

Adaptability skills

Adaptability is the willingness to alter your beliefs, learn from others, and be flexible in a variety of environments. It’s one of the best transferable skills to show that you can, well, transfer! Being adaptable shows your employer that you can adjust to a new work environment, whether you’re joining a new team, switching office locations, or moving to a company of a different size than you are used to. Adaptability is particularly critical in 2022. With so much of the workforce currently starting new jobs, employers will really appreciate a new hire or promotion who can quickly get up to speed in a new role.

Critical thinking skills

Someone with strong critical thinking skills can use all of the information around them to completely understand a situation. Therefore, they can create a comprehensive solution that takes all factors into account. Employers seek critical thinkers because they are more likely to think deeply about an issue, which results in incredibly thorough ideas and concepts that are more likely to have longevity. 

Critical thinking can also be imperative in considering perspectives that differ from your own. For example, if you’re trying to market a product that appeals to a demographic other than yours, you will have the ability to consider the product from the vantage point of the target audience. Critical thinking empowers you to tailor the product to appeal to the desired audience, even if you personally do not belong to the demographic.

Creativity skills

You’ve probably been able to identify creative thinkers around you in the past: They’re the people who can look at a problem or situation and create an outside-the-box solution that takes the project to the next level. Creative thinkers can make or break a company’s growth because they are the difference between just “good-enough” solutions and ideas or exceptional solutions and ideas that elevate the business to new heights. For example, in a world full of automated functions, it’s no longer enough for marketers to simply have solid analytical skills. If you can find a creative way to use data to develop innovative strategies, you will be much more successful and valuable to your company.

Emotional intelligence skills

Your emotional intelligence is your ability to not only recognize your own emotions but understand how they affect the people around you. Many employers look to hire emotionally intelligent leaders because they are typically more conscious and considerate while communicating with direct reports, leading to healthy communication among team members. 

An understanding of emotional intelligence can also influence feelings of self-awareness and empathy, which creates a cohesive team environment and encourages team members to feel unified in their goals. For example, it is unavoidable that disagreements may occur in the workplace. Someone lacking in emotional intelligence may only view a conflict from their own perspective. However, an emotionally intelligent professional will be able to understand the point of view of the other people involved. This level of empathy is essential for team members to build strong bonds and feel comfortable sharing their concerns with one another.

Honing these transferable skills is a great way to prepare you for any career change. You may also be thinking about how to assess your skills and behaviors to identify what needs further development. Consider reading Keys to Performing a Successful Self-Assessment for additional career planning tips designed to help you reach your goals!

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