Career Advice | Transferable Skills
Talents that will matter, no matter where you work
It seems like every job posting comes with an extensive wish list of required
skills. Sometimes it's difficult to judge whether you're qualified for a
position or not.
Luckily, there are some skills that are necessary no matter what you do. These are known as transferable skills, and it's important to know what they are and use them to your advantage.
Communication
No matter what position you are seeking, communication is crucial. Whether
you are speaking with clients, co-workers, or superiors, or writing documents,
communication skills can contribute significantly to your success. Some useful
communication skills include:
- concise writing - be sure that your writing makes sense and is easily understood by others
- interviewing - ask the right questions to get the answers you need
- listening attentively - don't just hear, listen.
- facilitating group discussion - don't be shy, share your ideas with the group so everyone can give you feedback
- negotiating - it's important to discuss ideas with others to reach an agreement
- persuasion - use reasoning to get your point across
Research and planning
The ability to research and plan is very important regardless of what career
path you choose. Being able to conceive ideas, identify problems and develop
alternative solutions is useful in both career situations and everyday life.
Problem solving skills are also a great asset to your job. Other research and
planning skills include:
- setting goals - always proceed forward with a final purpose
- defining needs - know what is necessary for a project
- analyzing - be able to understand all parts of a project, without losing sight of the big picture
- information gathering - know how to research information
Management and leadership
Not everyone is a born leader, but basic skills and decision making abilities
can help you to become a great manager. Some other management skills
include:
- managing conflict - be a conscious mediator when conflict arises
- teaching - help to train others and help them help themselves
- counseling - be a good listener and provide positive feedback
- delegating responsibilities - a leader is only as good as the team supporting him/her (give important responsibilities to your teammates and follow-up to see if they need help)
- coordinating tasks - make sure enough time is allotted to each task and that those tasks are delegated to the right people
Human relations
How you interact with others (clients, coworkers and superiors) defines you
and can ultimately make or break your career. It is important to understand the
nuances of human interaction:
- develop rapport - work to gain the trust of the people around you
- be sensitive - work to recognize the attitudes, feelings or circumstances of others
- listen - pay attention to others and hear what they are saying
- motivate - provide others with an incentive to achieve their goals
- share credit - be sure to include all teammates when accepting kudos for a job well done
- set and meet deadlines
- accept responsibilities
Work survival
Know what to do and what not to do in order to make your work experience as
pleasant as possible.
- set and meet deadlines
- accept responsibilities
- cooperate - you and your coworkers are part of a team
- manage time - it is precious
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