When it comes time to make a career change, many people feel anxious and nervous. Instead of focusing on their own talent, skills, and experience to find the next chapter of their career, they treat a job search as a distressing search for the next paycheck.
Transferable skills can integrate your abilities and work style into a job in a completely different field. In today’s tight job market, this is especially prevalent. Here are some easy ways to identify what skills you may have that are interdisciplinary and will help you to not only fill a workforce void but feel confident in your own abilities.
It’s important to be aware of job requirements when applying for a new job in a different sector. There are many skills that you may be able to use in a different job, but how do a job’s requirements relate to your set of skills? For example, if one of the requirements is a literacy for a specific software, the skill of being a fast learner may not be enough to allow you to perform effectively. As Forbes.com advises, keeping tabs on the requirements of the job at hand is an important part of any career search, especially when it comes to transferable skills.
It is important to network with professionals in your target industry. Networking is a key factor in any job search, but finding people in career paths similar to your target career change will tell you if you have what it takes to be a part of that field. Observing someone else in the same field will make it easier to discern whether your skill set matches up with your potential new sector.
Make a list of the kind of skills you use on a day-to-day basis. Are you a leader in the workplace? Are you a creative problem solver? Take note of skills that you think can apply to any field. These are most likely the transferable skills you’re looking for. If you’re having trouble coming up with a sufficient list, ask coworkers or friends what they appreciate about your work style.
Need help identifying your transferable skills? Check out our page for check lists and samples.
It’s important to take good stock of the job requirements, your skills, and to network with other professionals in your industry of choice. Don’t limit yourself to just one field, and always feel free to use the wide assortment of resources at Greater Saint Cloud Job Spot.