When deciding to change careers, be it circumstantial or a personal choice, making the switch can feel like a daunting experience.
But, with the right approach and mindset it doesn’t have to be!
You can successfully transition into a new career that aligns with your interests, values, and goals. One key to making a successful career change is to focus on your transferable skills.
Well, believe it or not they are all career changers and by honing in on their personal transferable skills in the process, they all made it a success!
As a previous musician in the late 80s, Brain Cox swapped his keyboard for his telescope a decade later and has now become the well-known face of science as a physicist in Britain today.
Ronald Reagan switched the red carpet as a professional actor for the White House in the 60s. His skills in front of the camera served him well as he went on to serve for 8 years as the 40th President of the United States.
Fashion designer Vera Wang was once an Olympic figure skater before becoming the now renowned haut-couture fashion designer! She used her network to get into an editorial role at Vouge and the rest was history.
Learning from success stories like these, we can see that transferable skills are skills you’ve developed in your previous roles and industries.
Examples of some transferable skills include:
By identifying and highlighting your transferable skills in your job search and also applying these in your CV, you can demonstrate to potential new opportunities that you do have the skills and experience to succeed in a new role.
Identifying your transferable skills starts with creating a transferable skills list of all the tasks and responsibilities you’ve had in your previous roles. Then, think about the skills you used to complete those tasks and responsibilities.
For example, if you’ve been a customer service representative, you’ve likely developed strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills and the ability to handle difficult situations.
To identify a transferable skill, start by creating a list of achievements and successes in your past roles. Reflecting on what you did well, what you enjoyed and where you excelled. These will give you a good indication of your skillset.
These skills can open many doors and make you an attractive candidate for potential careers in a different field. In addition, you can effectively market yourself to new industries and opportunities by taking an inventory of your skills, achievements, and successes.
It is important to highlight your transferable skills in both your job search materials including CV and during the interview process. Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you’ve used your transferable skills in past roles and how you plan to use them in your new role.
Remember, career changing is not an overnight process. For job seekers, it takes time, research, and effort to make it happen.
The important thing to note during a career change is to stay positive and persistent throughout the hiring process and to keep your skills and achievements in mind as you explore new career options.
You can increase your chances of finding a new career that aligns with your interests, values and goals by highlighting your transferable skills and if there’s anything we can learn from Cox, Reagan and Wang, it’s that when we consider a career change, it’s important to focus on your transferable skills for a potential employer.
This article was written by our Featured Company St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy. Find out more about opportunities to join the Academy by viewing their Featured Company Profile.
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You can also read another real-life career change adviser story in the article “From Banking to Financial Advice” below.
