Uncover Hidden Skills that Transfer to Success
A large part of the job seeking process seems to rest on how much experience you have as an applicant. This can put some people off who may not have a long work history, such as those who have recently graduated, or with a gap in their employment record, or those who simply want to expand their horizons and seek a new career. All of these individuals may feel trapped in a type of job because they believe that their inexperience will work against them.
In this economy, however, international employers are finding it difficult to attract job applicants with the skills and experience they need. For job seekers, this creates the opportunity for them to take control of the marketplace and apply more easily to careers outside of their specialization. However, to do this successfully, they need transferable skills, which they may not even realize they have.
Hidden Transferable Skills Explained
Soft skills, such as the ability to work well as a team and get along with many types of people, are usually seen as the most transferable skills. Although these are necessary to get along in a new position, most applicants either have them or at least say they do.
Hidden skills include personal characteristics that are not obviously valuable when it comes to employment. They are things that you may believe most people have and are therefore not something particularly sought after by potential employers. They include a wide range of things, such as the ability to speak more than one language.
What Benefits Come from This?
The majority of ESL (English as a Second Language) language teachers around the world did not have degrees in the education field. Instead, they earn a comfortable living by using what could be considered a hidden skill. They have native English skills, and can effectively transfer them to other people. For many who tried to get a job before becoming an ESL teacher, writing down that they speak English fluently on their resume did not cross their mind. And yet, this is the skill that got them a job.
While this example seems obvious, many other hidden skills exist that can translate into a new career or position. For example, people in administrative positions have strong organizational skills that can help them reimagine their career as a personal assistant. Radio show producers responsible for fitting advertisers into the air time have the skills to sell large ticket items or real estate. Computer specialists can move into the automotive industry where their experience with AI is useful for smarter car add-ons.
Recognizing and Improving Hidden and Transferable Skills
Evaluate yourself honestly, and determine everything you did in previous jobs to find your hidden skills. Also, consider things you learned in school, volunteer work, or even casual pastimes and hobbies. For example, being on a sports team can teach you many things about leadership and networking.
Next, research the type of job you want to get and the industry it’s in. How do your skills match with their expectations?
All the general skills are available to transfer to a new industry or career. However, you may not have the best ones to land you that dream job at present. If you rate your current skills on a scale of 1 to 10, you notice where you fall short of employer expectations.
Improve your skills through education, specific training, getting involved with new activities, and volunteering.
Both identifying and improving your hidden transferable skills gets easier when you speak with a professional recruitment consultant who understands what particular job descriptions need. They can help guide your self-evaluation so you can push your best characteristics forward and improve those that need extra help. Stay positive, improve all you can, and you will be in a much better position to get the job you want.
