Plan to attend our next Job Club’s Interesting Topic:

Transferable Skills What Transferable Skills do you most enjoy using?

What are your strengths and capacities? Learn how to organize your “portable skills”

through your life experiences.Start making your list of skills and you will discover that you

have more to offer than you realized during an interview process.

Organized by: Fatima Weliver

Wednesday 1:00p.m. – 2:30 p.m.or

Wednesday 3:00p.m.-4:30 p.m.____________________________

Please call and or e-mail me if you plan to attend the Job Club

Phone: (469) 229-0099 Ext. 3235 E-mail: fweliver@dfwjobs.com

Location: 820 Jupiter Road Plano, Texas 75074

Website: www.dfwjobs.com

Work SurvivalThe day-to-day skills which assist in promoting effective production and work

satisfaction: • Implementing decisions• Cooperating• Enforcing policies• Being punctual• Managing time• Attending to detail• Meeting goals• Enlisting help• Accepting responsibility• Setting and meeting deadlines• Organizing• Making decisions

2Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD.

What are Transferable Skills?

What are Transferable Skills? Transferable skills are “portable skills” through your

life experiences. Transferable skills are the foundation upon which you will build additional, more complex skills as your career unfolds. Start making your list of skills and you’ll discover that you have more to offer than you realized.

Many people, however, are not aware of their skills and, when asked in a job interview about their skills and experience, have little or nothing to say. Some people hesitate to write a résumé because they do not know how to define their vocational and transferable skills.

Transferable Skills can be divided into three subjects:

Working with people Working with things Working with information and data

.

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Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD. 3

Transferable Skills ExamplesThere are many other skills that are not on this list. Use this as a guide to help you complete the Transferable Skills Worksheet. Plan and arrange events and activities

• Delegate responsibility • Motivate others • Attend to visual detail • Assess and evaluate my own work • Assess and evaluate others' work • Deal with obstacles and crises • Multi-task • Present written material • Present material orally • Manage time • Repair equipment or machinery • Keep records • Handle complaints • Coordinate fundraising activities • Coach • Research • Build or construct • Design buildings, furniture, etc. • Manage finances • Speak a foreign language (specify language) • Use sign language • Utilize computer software (specify programs) • Train or teach others • Identify and manage ethical issues

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Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD. 4

Easy Steps to Identify Your Transferable SkillsStep 1• Make a list of every job title you’ve ever held. (part-time, full-time and

internships), along with volunteer, sports and other affiliations since high school. Step 2• Using your favorite classes subjects that may be related to your employment

interests.Step 3 • For each job title, and ideas that you have just recorded write a sentence and than

underline the action taken.Example: “While working for Jones Engineering, I performed 3D modeling and drafting.” “As

a member of the Engineering Association, I developed and coordinated the marketing of club Events.”

Step 4• Make a list of the skills/experiences you’ve identified for future reference during

your job search.5Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver,

BA.,MS.,HRD.

Using Transferable Skills in the Job Search

Your success in finding the position right for you will depend on your ability to showcase your innate talents and skills. You will also need to demonstrate how you can apply these skills at an employer’s place of business. Consult the staff at your career services office to help you further identify relevant transferable skills that would be a particular interest to a specific employer.

Everyone has skills. In fact, everyone has hundreds of skills and each one can be related in some way to one or more occupations. Without ever having had a job, without ever having been trained for a job, you are qualified to perform literally hundreds of types of jobs. Even if in today's economy you have seen your job down-sized or eliminated, you have many valuable transferable skills that will be needed in your next job.

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Tell About Transferable Skills• As you begin your job search, it is

important that you know your own qualifications. Over the years you have developed many skills from coursework, extracurricular activities and your total life experiences.

• A prospective employer expects you to be able to apply the skills you have learned in High School, Church Activities, College, and etc. to the work environment.

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Job Related Transferable Skills

Transferable Skills & Occupation• Suppose that an automobile mechanic

wants a job repairing household appliances. The mechanic should emphasize general mechanical skills, not specific automotive skills.

• The household appliance employer will be interested in the mechanic’s general skills: Can the mechanic use hand tools? Can the mechanic troubleshoot, repair, adjust, and maintain mechanical devices? The employer does not care that the mechanic can grind pistons, rebuild carburetors, and adjust ignition timing.

• In identifying your transferable skills, do not overlook the skills you’ve gained from everyday living. Most jobseekers fail to see this potential. These skills can, however, help you meet an employer’s expectations.

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Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD. 8

Selling Your Transferable Skills to a Prospective Employer

You've identified your transferable skills. You know where you can use them. Now you have to convince potential employers. Simply presenting your job titles on your resume won't do the trick since those titles track your old career path. One way to do this is to write an objective that tells which skills are applicable to the position you are seeking.

The other way is to write a skills-based resume — either a functional or combination resume. A functional resume describes each of your skills. A combination resume combines a functional resume with a chronological resume, listing your work experience in addition to your skills. See resume samples attached.

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Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD. 9

O*NET Code ConnectorSearch at the O*NET Code Connector for Occupations

Transferable skills are ones that you can transfer from one occupation to another. For example, if you look up Architect at the O*NET Code Connector you will see a number of "Related Occupations," like "Civil Engineer" and "Electrical Drafter." These are the occupations that an architect can transfer his or her skills.

Your transferable skills are valuable because they enable you to work in a variety of occupations.

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Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD. 10

Develop Your Unique Selling Proposition

A unique selling proposition is deceptively simple, yet can be really tough to develop.  It is a one-sentence description of the essence of you.  This is your brand, your slogan, so take the time and thought to develop the right message for yourself. Although just one sentence, it should say three very important things:

• 1.  Who you are • 2.  Your biggest strength• 3.  The biggest benefit that you bring to the employer • For the greatest impact, that benefit should be something

quantifiable. And the very best measurement is dollars. • Here is an example of a USP:• "Hands-on operations manager with strong people and

team-building skills who has helped produce revenues of $2.8 million with a 22 percent margin for my previous employer."

• Notice that this simple sentence covers all three elements listed above and ends with a desirable benefit that most any employer would love to have.

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Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD. 11

ACHIEVEMENTS

When I say “achievement”• By including several specific

achievements when you have done this, separate yourself from your competitors and are much more likely to gain the attention of your next employer.

• Write down all of your achievements from current or past jobs.  For example, if you're looking for a job as a project manager, make a list of your completed projects and ask, "So what?" after each one.  What you're after is the achievement.

• When I say "achievement," I don't mean the role you played or the duties you filled.  Focus on the result, the benefit to the client or employer as a result of something that you did or contributed.  

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Sell results instead of skills

Especially in today's shrinking economy, skills are just a commodity. Employers today buy results and are less impressed when a candidate promotes a laundry list of skills. Instead, define the many ways that those transferable skills from your past and present job performances have been assets to your employers.

Another way of looking at this is to ask yourself, "How am I an asset to a company's balance sheet?"  Focus on how your work either helps the company make money or save money. Think beyond even your skill sets and job duties and list every possible example of how you have helped to make money, save money or save time for your employer.

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Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD. 13

Examples of Working Skills

Working with People• Selling• Training• Teaching• Supervising• Organizing• Advising• Delegating• Entertaining• Representing• Negotiating• Translating

Working with Things• Repairing• Assembling parts• Designing• Operating Machinery• Driving• Maintaining Equipment• Construction• Building• Sketching• Keyboarding• Drafting• Surveying• Troubleshooting

14Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD.

Examples of Working SkillsWorking with Data/Information

• Calculating• Developing Data Bases• Working with spreadsheets• Accounting• Writing• Researching• Computing• Testing• Filing• Sorting• Editing• Gathering Data• Analyzing • Budgeting

Additional Tips to Help Identify Your transferable Skills

• Review your list of transferable skills with someone in your field(s) of interest to help you identify any additional skills that you may want to include.

• Using a major job posting Web site, print out descriptions of jobs that interest you to help identify skills being sought. Also, use these postings as guides for terminology on your resume.

• Attend career fairs and company information sessions to learn about the skills valued by specific companies and industries.

15Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD.

Examples of Transferable SkillsCommunication: the skillful expression, transmission and interpretation

of knowledge and ideas. It consists of:• Speaking effectively • Writing concisely • Listening attentively • Expressing ideas • Facilitating group discussion • Providing appropriate feedback • Negotiating • Perceiving nonverbal messages • Persuading • Reporting information • Describing feelings • Interviewing • Editing

16Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD.

Transferable Skills Tips for Job Seekers Skills

• How can you avoid that situation? How can you tell an employer you have the skills for a particular job when you've never done that job before? To be a successful job hunter, you must be able to tell employers, clearly and in detail, what you can do.

• List your jobs, hobbies, and interests. Start by listing every job you have ever held - full-time and part-time jobs, as well as paid and unpaid jobs. List the skills you acquired in each job.

• What skills did you acquire as a 12-year-old newspaper carrier? Think about it. You accepted delivery of stock items (newspapers); you planned your route and delivered papers according to the desires of your customers; you collected money, made change, and kept records of cash transactions; and you probably expanded your route by getting new customers. In a limited way, you were a combination stock clerk, delivery and route driver, cashier, bookkeeper, and salesperson.

• Next, list all of your hobbies and interests. Do you sew, knit, fix your own car, operate a CB or Ham radio, refinish furniture, plant and tend a garden, build models, raise animals, play computer or video games, paint, coach sports teams, or work as a hospital volunteer? Do you like hunting and fishing, photography, diving, camping and hiking, downhill or cross-country skiing, or motorcycling? Have you ever participated in fund-raising for a group, or in church-related activities? Have you ever led a social group or sold things as part of an activity? Have you recruited members for a group?

• Find jobs that match your skills: After you have compiled a list of your past jobs, hobbies, and interests, and have listed several skills you acquired for each one, you should have several pages of information about yourself. Are you surprised at what you see? Take this process one step further and list as many jobs as you can in which you could use one or more of your skills.

17Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD.

Exercise My Transferable Skills List

Below please find examples for your Transferable Skills list.

Studied in High School or College • Examples: Spanish, Typing, Accounting,

Computer Literacy, Psychology, Geography• Learned on the Job• Examples: Publishing, Computer Graphics, How

an Organization Works, How to Operate Various Machines

• Learned from Conferences, Workshops, Training, Seminars

• Examples: Welfare Rules, Job-Hunting, Painting, How to use the Internet

• Learned at Home: Reading, TV, Tape Programs, Study Courses

• Examples: Art Appreciation, History, Speed Reading, a Language

• Learned in My Leisure Time: Volunteer Work, Hobbies, etc.

• Examples: Landscaping, How to Sew, Antiques, Camping, Cooking

Notes

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Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD. 18

• Functional/transferable skills are often confused with traits., temperaments, or type. People think transferable skills are such things as: has lots of energy, gives attention to details, get along well with people, shows determination, works well under pressure, is sympathetic, intuitive, persistent, dynamic, dependable, etc. Despite popular misconceptions, these are not functional/transferable skills, but traits, or the style with which you do your transferable skills.

• Example: “gives attention to details.” If one of your transferable skills is “conducting

research” then “gives attention to details”.

IMPORTANT!

DON’T CONFUSE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS WITH TRAITS

19Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD.

Transferable SkillsDuring an Interview• . I've gained that skill, along with exemplary leadership, organizational, and communications talents that would

contribute to our mutual success when I join your management trainee program. • Bank teller seeking entry-level position in a stock brokerage

I seized the opportunity in my bank teller position to learn as much as possible about personal finance and investments, while simultaneously honing the "people skills" that are crucial to success as a stockbroker.

• Fitness instructor seeking entry-level position in health careHaving worked my way through college as a fitness instructor, I have already demonstrated my commitment to good health. Further, I have developed the solid customer-service skills that would enable me to effectively interact with patients.

• Campus computer-lab assistant seeking position in consultingMy work-study position as a computer-lab assistant involved solid knowledge of the technology within the labs, the ability to teach that technology to fellow students, and the skills to assist those who had problems with the software and hardware. To me, that's what consulting is all about — possessing the knowledge to teach and assist clients and the interpersonal skills to do so successfully.

• Resident advisor/Resident assistant seeking sales positionI am very excited about contributing my talents in the field of professional selling. I have heard a number of times that sales skills are taught, and there is no such thing as a natural-born salesperson. I couldn't agree more! I have served as a resident advisor for two years, and I was very surprised at how much selling goes on. I have learned quickly that the more you know about your customer, your product, and how to adapt to each situation, the easier the sale becomes. My success in selling my ideas to residents and administrators makes me an ideal candidate for your training program.

• Telemarketer/phone survey taker seeking position in hotel managementMy work as a telemarketer required me to communicate with a diverse array of people, some of whom represented difficult challenges. I refined my communication skills to the point where I was nearly always able to smooth ruffled feathers, solve problems, and provide satisfaction to customers. These are exactly the skills that are vital to effective hotel management, and I am eager to apply my talents at your hotel

20Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD.

Useful Attachments• Transferable Skills Inventory• My Strongest Traits• This could be a Good Time to consider a New

Line of Work• The U.S. Job Market – 2006 to 2016• How to Write a Powerful Resume (Exercise)• Six Ways to Get a Job Interview• Fifth Questions to Expect During a Job Interview• Tips for Starting Over• Workplace Basics• Next Topic: What Level would you Like to Work at,

and What Salary Would You Be Satisfied With? Plus great ideas for Motivation and Enthusiasm for

job seekers.

21Transferable Skills by Fatima Weliver, BA.,MS.,HRD.

Next Topic: Motivation and Enthusiasm

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