Top transferable skills companies value in a new hire

In a world of constant change and disruption, the skills you have today may be obsolete tomorrow. If you want to get ahead, you need to stand out from the crowd in all the right ways. The ability to adapt, learn new things, and develop transferable skills is more critical than ever.

Employers value soft skills as much as hard skills when it comes to hiring and promoting employees. If you want to get ahead, you need to stand out from the crowd in all the right ways, as the importance of career cushioning is increasing day by day. The greater the variety of tasks you’re able to do, the more valuable an asset you are as an employee.

What are transferable skills?

Transferable skills are skills for the future that are useful in a range of fields and disciplines. These skills not only make you an asset to your current company, but they also make you a more attractive candidate to potential employers. 

Here are some of the top transferable skills examples that will help strengthen your career prospects…

Communication

Being able to articulate your thoughts and ideas clearly, listen actively, and adapt your communication style to different audiences is critical in any workplace or job.

Whether you're communicating with co-workers, your boss, or customers/clients if you are in an externally facing role, understanding how to communicate effectively can help you get your point across and build relationships. 

As a manager, being able to give clear and concise directions to your team is key to positive performance outcomes.

Strong communication goes beyond articulation and listening. Being adept in conflict resolution, negotiation, presenting, and having strong emotional intelligence builds upon this foundation. Once you've mastered these areas, ensure you showcase them on your CV. Provide solid examples of how you've applied these skills, whether leading successful negotiations, delivering impactful presentations, or effectively resolving conflicts.

Additionally, utilise opportunities to further sharpen these abilities by leveraging online courses, workshops, or internal resources provided by your organisation to further develop these communication-adjacent skills and increase your value in any professional environment.

Problem-solving

No matter what industry you work in, problem-solving is a critical skill that employers look for in their employees. Being able to identify problems, analyse information, and develop effective solutions will make you an integral part of any team.

A problem is a gap between ‘what you have’ and ‘what you want’. The first step in problem-solving involves identifying the problem and then finding a solution. This can be done by asking yourself: "What's wrong?" or "How can I improve things?"

For instance, hiring a project manager who can spot bottlenecks in a project plan and find workable solutions can lead effectively and set a good example for other team members.

Problem-solving isn't just for project managers - it's a universally sought-after skill! Reflect on how you can leverage problem-solving skills to enhance your current role and contribute positively to your team's success. Whether it's identifying inefficiencies in processes, resolving customer concerns, or streamlining workflow procedures, developing your problem-solving abilities can enhance your work, and CV and help you land a great job or progress in your current role.

Leadership

Realising the distinction between being a boss and being a leader marks the beginning of leadership.

Leadership is the ability to motivate and inspire others. It's not a title; it's a set of skills, and it's about getting things done, empowering others to achieve their goals, and creating an environment where people can do their best work.

Even if you're not in a formal leadership role, being able to take the initiative, motivate others, and lead by example can make you an indispensable part of any team. It's also about setting an example for others and encouraging them to do their best work.

The pandemic has transformed leadership, demanding adaptability and innovative approaches. Effective leaders, whether managing remote or on-site teams, need to find creative ways to connect, communicate, and empower their team members. Highlighting leadership training alongside your existing skills in your CV demonstrates your commitment to continuous development, ensuring that you position yourself for future success.

Teamwork

Being able to work effectively with others, build relationships, and contribute to a positive team dynamic is key to thriving in the workplace.

If you're not used to being around people at all hours of the day (for instance, if you work from home), teamwork may be challenging. But if you can get past these hurdles, then teamwork becomes easy. Once you've learned how it works, there's no need for extra effort on your part; all that needs doing is making sure everyone else does their bit too!

If you're actively engaged in collaborative projects and contribute to team efforts, be sure to highlight these skills in your CV. Demonstrating your ability to work seamlessly with colleagues underscores your value as a team player and enhances your professional profile.

Adaptability

Adaptability is highly valued in the modern workplace. As technology advances at breakneck speed, the ability to anticipate and adapt to future client needs and emerging threats is crucial for employees from all industries

For example, hiring a marketer who can adjust their strategy in response to shifting consumer preferences is more likely to succeed in your company than one who is sluggish and unable to respond to the needs of the consumer.

Adapting means being flexible when faced with change; it also means being open-minded towards other people who may have different personalities from yours.

Being adaptable is a transferable skill that opens doors for upskilling and improving. Highlighting instances in your CV where you've demonstrated adaptability in projects underscores your value as a versatile and resourceful team member. Did you have to switch project management tools mid-stream due to unforeseen circumstances? Did you find a way to motivate a team facing a setback? Share these experiences to showcase your adaptability in action.

Analytical Thinking

Analytical thinking involves the ability to analyse data and draw conclusions, which can help you identify issues, evaluate possible solutions, or propose optimisations when necessary.

From development to sales, good analytical skills can help you get a realistic picture of existing processes, making them one of the most important skills any employee should have. 

Analytical thinking isn't limited to specific tasks or industries; it's a versatile skill that can be applied across various scenarios. Whether you're analysing a process, improving a programme, or researching a market, the ability to dissect data, identify patterns, and derive insights is essential.

By showcasing your analytical capabilities in your CV, you demonstrate your ability to think critically, solve problems effectively, and make data-driven decisions—some of the qualities desired by employers across all industries.

Tackling AI

The ability to tackle AI and stay abreast of emerging technologies isn't just for programmers anymore. It's a transferable skill that can make you a standout candidate across various industries. While expertise in AI itself might be niche, the ability to learn and adapt to it, along with other evolving tech, is a game-changer.

It demonstrates future-proofing, equips you with data-driven problem-solving, bridges communication between humans and machines, and fosters critical thinking to ensure technology serves us, not the other way around. By showcasing your ability to leverage AI tools in your area of expertise, you position yourself as a standout candidate who can navigate the ever-evolving tech landscape and drive positive outcomes in any industry.

Find and develop the skills that your employer wants

These transferable skills examples can enhance your role if you want to advance in your current position or best prepare yourself for successfully moving into a new one. 

You may not know exactly where you'll end up, but by taking the time now to learn about what makes an employee successful within the organisation, you'll be much more likely to land a position that's right for you. 

It's now your turn to consider the strength of your current skills and work on the transferable skills you believe you'll need to improve if you’re going to take your career to new heights.