Transferable Skills
- Frank Manfre
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
Dr. Wayne Dyer once said that “If you are what you do, then when you don’t you aren’t.” What a simple way to sum up how some of us become so invested in the work we do that our job or profession comes to define who we are. This can have serious ramifications for those who feel this way and are suddenly out of a job, no matter the circumstance. They might have been downsized or their health or family circumstance dictated they leave their current job or stop working altogether. Many experience a feeling of being locked out of something core to their identity and personality. This is an especially traumatic experience for someone who has defined who they are by their job for decades.
If you are one of these people please don’t despair. It might be true that your entire career has been inside one organization or within one field. Even so, your responsibilities, skills and knowledge undoubtedly grew as you moved from one role to another or simply mastered a specific job over the years. You accumulated skills that are used in many other jobs and in other fields. Your skills are transferrable! These skills are the building blocks of all occupations. You can transition to a new career much more readily than you realize.
Here is a partial list of valued skills sought in most positions and fields:
Leadership
Scheduling
Critical Thinking
Customer Service
Managing a Budget
Planning
Public Speaking
CRM
Hiring
Onboarding
Staff Training
Technical Writing
Warehouse and Inventory Management
Logistics
IT & MIS
Facilities Management
Marketing
Sales B2B and Retail
I also believe you should not limit yourself in your job search. If you spent a career in a for-profit company, explore jobs in the non-profit or government arena. There are hundreds of job categories in these areas that could align with what you most enjoy doing and your skills. And the reverse is true; a non-profit veteran doesn‘t have to limit herself to that type of organization. Fundraising, as well as volunteer recruitment and coordination are highly desirable skills that can readily transfer to the for-profit world.
When you break through the self-imposed mental barrier of “I have always been a (fill in the blank)” it doesn’t take long to realize how many different jobs you have been doing. Then you can list the things that you most enjoyed doing and feel are most marketable, then identify other arenas where the same tasks are conducted. Having named other professions that use your skills, you are in a position to conduct informational interviews, supplement your training, or just reach out and apply for positions in the new field. Given the economic challenges we have faced over the past decade you will likely encounter hiring managers who have been through what you have and find they are very sympathetic and more than willing to hear how you can make a significant contribution to their organization. So be bold and take that first step!
Frank Manfre
Job Search Sherpa
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