At AMP Counselling Center, we’ve helped countless clients discover the skills they’ve already built—and how to use them to find new, fulfilling opportunities. In this blog, we’ll walk you through exactly what transferable skills are, how to recognize them in your own life, and how to use them to open doors in your career.
What Exactly Are Transferable Skills?
Let’s break it down. Transferable skills are the skills you develop over time that can be applied to different jobs, industries, or life situations. Think of them as your professional superpowers—skills you can “carry” with you wherever you go. These aren’t just technical things like knowing Excel or coding. These are everyday, essential abilities you’ve built through school, past jobs, volunteering, parenting, hobbies—even managing your household. Some popular examples include: Communication: Can you explain ideas clearly? Write good emails? Listen well? Teamwork: Do you collaborate well with others and help solve group problems? Time Management: Are you good at organizing tasks and meeting deadlines? Problem Solving: Can you think through challenges and come up with solutions? Leadership: Have you ever led a group or mentored someone? Adaptability: Do you handle change well or learn quickly in new situations? You may not think of yourself as having “professional” skills if you’ve never had a formal role, but chances are, you’ve already developed many of these transferable skills in your everyday life.Why Transferable Skills Are So Important Right Now
Today’s job market is constantly changing. People are switching careers more than ever, industries are evolving, and job roles are blending together. Employers aren’t just looking for someone with the right job title—they want someone who can adapt, grow, and solve problems. That’s where transferable skills shine. They allow you to: Change careers more easily – Even if you don’t have industry-specific experience Stand out to employers – Especially when you can show how your skills benefit their team Grow faster in your role – When you’re a good communicator or quick learner, you’ll advance more quickly Feel more confident – You already have tools to succeed, even in something new At AMP Counselling Center, we often work with clients who feel stuck. Once we help them uncover their transferable skills, they see new possibilities they hadn’t even considered.How to Find Your Own Transferable Skills
You might be wondering, “What transferable skills do I have?” Let’s walk through a simple way to figure it out. Step 1: Think About Your Experiences Don’t limit yourself to job titles. Think bigger. Ask yourself: Have I led a project or group (at work, in school, or in my community)? Do I often help others solve problems? Have I trained or mentored anyone? Have I managed my time across multiple responsibilities (like work and parenting)? Am I someone others go to when they need advice or support? Step 2: Write Down What You Did and How It Helped For example: “I organized schedules and communicated with a team of volunteers.” (That’s planning, time management, communication) “I helped customers solve issues every day in my retail job.” (That’s customer service, conflict resolution, patience) Step 3: Ask Someone You Trust Sometimes friends, coworkers, or even former bosses can give you insights into your strengths. They may see skills you’ve overlooked. We also offer career assessments at AMP Counselling Center that make this process easier—and clearer.How to Use Transferable Skills to Land a Job
Once you know your transferable skills, the next step is learning how to show them off when you’re applying for jobs or switching careers. Here’s how: 1. Update Your Resume Instead of just listing your job duties, focus on what you achieved and how your transferable skills made that possible. Example: ❌ Don’t say: “Answered phone calls and scheduled appointments” ✅ Say: “Used strong communication and organization skills to manage daily office scheduling and support client needs” 2. Write a Thoughtful Cover Letter This is your chance to explain how your skills from one area apply to a different job. Example: If you're applying for a marketing role after years in teaching, you might say: "As a teacher, I developed strong skills in planning, communication, and engaging an audience—skills that align closely with creating marketing content and building campaigns." 3. Prepare for Interviews Practice talking about your transferable skills using real-life examples. Be ready to explain how they helped you in past situations—and how they’ll help you in this new role. We offer mock interview practice at AMP Counselling Center to help you feel confident and ready.Real-Life Story: How Transferable Skills Changed One Client’s Life
Let’s talk about Aisha, one of our clients. She worked in hospitality for 12 years and wanted to transition into HR. She was worried she didn’t have the right experience. But when we reviewed her background, we found her transferable skills were perfect: conflict resolution, working under pressure, leadership, and empathy. We helped her rewrite her resume, build confidence in her skills, and apply strategically. Within 3 months, Aisha landed an HR assistant role at a major company. Her story is a great example of how transferable skills can help you change directions—and still succeed.How to Keep Building Transferable Skills
Good news: you can develop these skills even more, no matter where you’re at. Here’s how: Take free online courses (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Khan Academy) Volunteer or help plan events in your community Join clubs or groups that build teamwork and leadership Read books or listen to podcasts about communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence Set personal challenges (like improving your time management or conflict resolution) If you’re not sure where to begin, AMP Counselling Center offers personalized coaching sessions to help you grow professionally and personally.1. What are transferable skills, and why do they matter?
Transferable skills are everyday abilities you’ve gained through work, school, volunteering, or even life experiences—like communication, teamwork, or problem-solving. They’re important because you can use them in almost any job or industry, especially if you’re thinking about switching careers or trying something new.
2. How can I figure out what my transferable skills are?
Start by thinking about your past roles or responsibilities—what tasks you handled well, how you solved problems, or how you worked with others. You probably have more valuable skills than you realize! You can also ask coworkers or friends what they think your strengths are or work with a career coach to help identify them.
3. Can transferable skills help me get a job in a different field?
Absolutely! Employers love to see that you can adapt and bring valuable experience, even from a different background. For example, if you’ve worked in customer service, your communication and conflict-resolution skills could be perfect for roles in HR, sales, or education.
4. How do I show my transferable skills on a resume or in an interview?
Instead of just listing past job duties, focus on how your skills made a difference. Use real examples to show how you solved problems, led projects, or worked with a team. In interviews, be ready to explain how those same skills will help you succeed in the new role.