Future-proofing your career
A guide to identify transferable skills
In today's dynamic and ever-evolving job market, future-proofing your career is innovative and necessary. So, the question arises: how can you ensure that you remain relevant, employable, and on top of your game in the face of rapid changes?Â
The answer lies in building and nurturing transferable skills. These skills transcend industries and positions, offering resilience and flexibility in your professional life.Â
"Transferable skills are skills you acquire during any activity in your life—your jobs, classes, projects, volunteer work, parenting, hobbies, sports, virtually anything—that apply to what you want to do in your next job."
The beauty of these skills is that they make you more adaptable and significantly increase your career options. Think of these skills as a values-driven and sustainable investment you make in yourself. Like a multi-tool, these skills can be reframed and reused in other different careers, providing you with additional career paths to explore.Â
If you're wondering what these transferable skills are and how to identify which one you already have, you are not alone. Many people need to know their vast arsenal of transferable skills, which can be used to their advantage. This article is here to help you on that. You will learn how to uncover these valuable skill sets that you could leverage in your career. I'm here to inspire you to think outside the box regarding your professional development and help you identify how to harness the power of your existing abilities.Â
Transferable skills are vital keys that can unlock diverse career doors in an evolving job market. The trick is in identifying and making the most out of these skills. Here's a helpful guide to recognizing your transferable skills.
1. Begin with Introspection
Analyze your current role and the tasks that you routinely do. Are there specific skills that you use often? Consider your responsibilities thoroughly and identify the skills needed to fulfill each mission. Here's a simple table to help break down tasks and associated skills:
Let's look at a Recruiter trying to make a career change towards Product Design
2. Identifying Overlooked Abstract Skills
Abstract, or "soft," skills are the intangible skills we accumulate throughout our lives and professional careers. Often underestimated, these abilities can hold great power when applied in diverse work environments. They represent how we perceive, understand, and react to the world.
You may already be well-equipped with valuable skills, just waiting to be discovered and optimized for your career advancement.
You might use leadership and people skills daily, but you don’t notice it. You don't consider yourself a creative person, but people around you see you as a radical, creative problem-solver. Or you take for granted your confidence and calm when presenting in public.
Recognizing and molding these latent assets is the first step towards future-proofing your career. Start by evaluating your strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes. Reflect on your past experiences, big or small, and extract the skills and lessons you've learned from them.
Remember, every occasion—be it an enriching summer internship, a demanding university project, or even a pastime you're passionate about—can provide you with valuable skills well-suited for the future employment market.
3. Look into your hobbies and interests
Have you ever considered that your hobbies and interests might be pointing you toward skills you're adept at but have yet to think to utilize them professionally? The things we're passionate about, even if not directly related to our work, often require transferable abilities to a career context. These untapped skills can be the key to future-proofing your career.
They are clues to elements we only sometimes consider fundamental skills. I give you an example of mine. I love to cook, but more than that, I love to have a proper kitchen experience. I organize my cooking station with all the tools, arrange the ingredients, and prepare every aspect before I start cooking. It helps me to have a smooth experience and a clean kitchen by the time I finish. I also started to bring this level of organization and preparation to my work. And believe me, coming from a more artistic background, it was different before I looked into my kitchen skills.
These types of skills motivate us and bring us joy, but have you stopped and questioned- what skills are you using in your private life that you could use in your professional life?
4. Ask others how they see you
Seek feedback from others who have worked with you in different capacities. They may have observed the strengths and skills you need to be fully aware of. Ask colleagues, supervisors, or mentors for their input on the skills they believe you excel in. Their perspectives can provide valuable insights into the transferable skills you possess.
Ask them:
Which three words would you use to describe me? Why?
What are my superpowers and special skills?
What's something that you know about me but I don't?
You might be surprised by the magic of the answers.
5. Work with a coach
Lastly, consider working with a coach who can help you identify your transferable skills. They can guide you through a structured process of self-reflection, skills assessment, and exploring different career options.Â
A professional coach can provide personalized advice and support in identifying the transferable skills that can future-proof your career. It's not merely about having someone point out what's already there; it goes beyond helping you understand your skills at a deeper level and how they apply across various professional landscapes.Â
As personal and career development experts, coaches have the knowledge and experience to navigate you through this transformative period in your career life.Â
A coach isn't an extra expense; consider them a strategic investment in your future. They hold the roadmap to unlocking potentials you didn't know existed within you.
Find out what future your skills can create. Book a discovery call today.
