How to Identify and Use Transferable Skills on a Resume

Career Advice Expert

We all have transferable skills, but not all job seekers know they have them or what they are. Transferable skills are valuable because they show that the job seeker is well-rounded and that their capabilities extend beyond direct knowledge of the position.

This article explains who benefits the most from transferable skills, how to identify them, and how to use them on a resume to snag a job.

What transferable skills are

Transferable skills are the hard and soft skills that can be applied across industries and job titles. They can be learned and acquired, like software and processes. They might be innate qualities or personality traits we are born with or develop over time, like problem-solving and collaboration.

Who should use transferable skills on their resume

To make the best impression on hiring managers, you have to present the skills you excel at that are most relevant for the job you want, especially if you don't have direct experience. So, while it never hurts for anyone to apply some transferable skills to their resume and cover letters, some job applicants, such as career changers, new workers, job seekers who have been out of work for some time, and applicants aiming for first-time supervisory or management roles benefit more than others when they highlight their transferable skills on their job applications.

Such job seekers don't always go for that new role or management job, or they don't know how to begin their new (or renewed) resumes. They think they'll never get the job because they're unqualified. But that couldn't be further from the truth. If you are one of those job seekers, read this carefully: You are qualified! Use your transferable skills to help you shine.

How to use transferable skills on a resume

By now, you're probably thinking, "How is it possible for me to land the job I want based on my skills?

To which I answer: It depends on your background and goals. But before we dive into examples of transferable skills by case, let's look at the basic steps:

Read the job description carefully, pick out all the required and "nice to have" skills, and then write them down.
From there, list all the skills you are certain you have and note where you acquired them. Did you learn how to use PhotoShop through a friend? Where did you apply that skill since you learned it? Is your ability to juggle multiple projects something you were born with, or is it something you acquired over time? We recommend using a chronological or a functional format for best results.
Check out some resume examples for inspiration and guidance.
Create a skills section just for your transferable skills. You can call it something like "Summary of Skills," "Relevant Skills," or just "Skills."
Weave your transferable skills throughout your work experience section, too. Even if you are applying for your first full-time job, you have experience. School projects, internships, part-time and summer jobs, volunteer and community activities — these all count.
Provide examples of work you performed using your transferable skills and the results. Be sure to emphasize any quantifiable achievements that you accomplished by using those transferable skills.

Now let's consider a few case studies:

Sam, a bank teller with eight years of experience, wants a job as a sales associate for a clothing company. Her transferable skills include customer service, written and verbal communication, customer service, math, processing transaction and integrity. These will help her get considered for the job!
David, who just received his associate degree in nursing, has no full-time nursing work experience to show, but he acquired many skills during his clinical practicum and his volunteer work at a local nursing home over the summer. He added: empathy, patience, patient care, life support, CPR, communication, adaptability and flexibility to the list of skills he'll use on his resume.
Mai stopped working two years ago to care for her ailing father. In that time, she stayed up-to-date on the latest trends in her industry, video production, and took some classes to stay ahead of the curve. She also produced a personal video about her father for their family and friends, which she is pitching to a streaming service as a documentary. To jump back into regular employment, Mai decided to put her newest technical skills front and center, along with multitasking, big-picture thinking, sales, marketing, planning, resilience, proactivity and creativity to her list of transferable skills.
Lou has been in the hospitality industry for 10 years. In that time, he has worked as an events coordinator, front desk clerk, server, host, sommelier, concierge, and reservation agent. He's ready for the next step in his career and wants to apply for a role as a general manager. To do so, he can pull several transferable skills from his arsenal to show he is ready. He chose to highlight: customer service, leadership, patience, listening skills, negotiation, decision making, reliability, trustworthiness, empathy, coordination, self-motivation, and conflict resolution.

Top transferable skills for 2022

About the Author

Kellie Hanna

Career Advice Expert

Kellie Hanna is a San Francisco-based writer and editor with a broad background in digital media. Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, she served as online entertainment editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area where she took on a variety of digital content roles, including: senior editor, writer, content manager and strategist for leading high-tech companies such as IBM, Xerox and SanDisk, as well as for several start-ups. Most recently, Kellie has written for Smart Meetings magazine, Chronicle Books, LiveCareer and Resume Now. She enjoys helping job seekers find their voice so they can develop their unique talents and love what they do. She has a B.A. in English with a writing minor from Temple University, where she was a member of the Honors Program.