How to Highlight Transferable Skills That Employers Actually Care About
Changing careers. Re-entering the workforce. Switching industries. These moves can feel risky, but only if you don’t know how to connect the dots between your past and your future.
That’s where transferable skills come in.
Even if you’ve never held the exact title you’re applying for, you still bring experience that matters. The key is learning how to highlight transferable skills in a way that hiring managers immediately recognize as valuable.
Let’s break down how to identify your best skills and position them as assets that employers actually care about.
What Are Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills are the abilities and knowledge you’ve gained in one role, industry, or life stage that apply to another. They are often universal, meaning they’re useful across multiple jobs and industries.
They include skills such as communication, time management, problem-solving, leadership, project coordination, customer service, adaptability, technical literacy, and more.
You likely already use these skills every day, even if you don’t realize it.
For a more in-depth definition, check out this guide from Indeed on transferable skills.
Step 1: Know What the Employer Is Looking For
Before you decide which skills to highlight, you need to know what matters most in the role you’re applying for.
Start with the job description. Read it line by line and look for:
- Repeated qualifications or tasks.
- Required tools, systems, or programs.
- Mentions of traits like “organized,” “collaborative,” or “detail-oriented.”
For more information on keyword optimization, check out how to choose keywords that actually work for ATS.
Step 2: Identify Your Transferable Skills
Now that you know what the employer wants, it’s time to look inward. Ask yourself:
- When have I done something similar before, even in a different setting?
- What tools, systems, or processes have I used that align with this role?
- What soft skills have helped me succeed, regardless of job title?
For example:
- If you’ve worked in retail, you’ve gained customer service, problem-solving, and time management skills.
- If you’ve been a stay-at-home parent, you’ve practiced multitasking, crisis management, and logistics coordination daily.
Want help organizing all this in your resume? Here’s how to structure your resume in 5 steps.
Step 3: Reframe Your Experience
The way you word your resume and cover letter matters. Don’t just say “great at communication.” Show how you’ve used it to create results.
Instead of this: Answered customer questions.
Try: Leveraged exceptional communication skills to deliver solution-oriented support to over 50 customers daily, improving satisfaction scores by 18%.
This approach shows how your skills apply in a measurable, professional way.
Step 4: Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter
You don’t need to rewrite your resume from scratch for every role, but you should adjust your transferable skills to match the language of the posting.
That might mean:
- Updating your Professional Summary to highlight the most relevant skills.
- Rewording bullet points to reflect the employer’s priorities.
- Adding a Skills section that focuses on your core strengths across roles.
Example summary: Organized and resourceful professional with 5+ years of experience in education, event planning, and customer service. Known for managing fast-paced environments, solving complex problems, and building strong client relationships. Excited to bring strong organizational and people skills to a mission-driven team.
Step 5: Practice Telling Your Story
During interviews, employers will likely ask: “Tell me about yourself,” or “Why are you making a change?”
Use this moment to connect the dots clearly:
“In my previous role as a teacher, I managed classroom operations, tracked student progress, and communicated regularly with families. Those experiences strengthened my ability to lead projects, collaborate cross-functionally, and communicate complex ideas, skills I’m excited to bring into a client-facing project coordinator role.”
Practice these stories out loud so they feel natural.
Want to sharpen your interview prep? Start with these 5 tips to nail your job interview with confidence.
For more storytelling tips, Harvard Business Review shares insights on career narratives.
Transferable Skills Are a Competitive Advantage
The ability to adapt, grow, and bring a fresh perspective to new roles is highly valued, especially in today’s workforce. Employers aren’t just hiring for experience. They’re hiring for potential.
When you highlight transferable skills with intention and clarity, you show that you’re not just a fit, you’re an asset.
At ProTouch Careers, we help job seekers uncover their strongest skills, reframe their experience, and confidently communicate their value, no matter where they’re coming from.
Need help making your resume work smarter for your next move? Start with a free resume review, or explore our resume writing packages to take the next step.
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