What are transferable skills

What are transferable skills by Michael Cheary Not sure you have the right skills for a role? You may be surprised…Transferable skills are a great way to show you’re a great fit for the role, regardless of previous experience. And the best part? Everyone has them.If you’re not sure how to make transferable skills work for you, here are a few things to remember:Looking to change careers? Download our career change CV template now: Career change CV Template Email address: Please enter a valid email addressmessage here By clicking Submit, you accept our Terms & Conditions and consent to receive emails and career related topics. See our Privacy policy for details. Continue without submitting Download Career change CV Template  What are transferable skills?Transferable skills are a core set of skills and abilities, which can be applied to a wide range of different jobs and industries.They’re usually picked up over time, and can be gained from previous positions, charity or voluntary work, your hobbies, or even just at home.  Why are transferable skills important?Although slightly softer skills than those directly related to a position, transferable skills are incredibly valuable to employers.Not only do they show that you’d be a good fit for the team, they can also demonstrate what a candidate can bring to a role, and how much they’ve learnt from previous positions or experiences.So if you’re currently lacking experience in the field you’re looking for work in, transferable skills can be a great way to highlight why you’re right f or the role. Examples of when this can be helpful include entry-level positions, and those looking to change careers.To find out more about how to make the most of your transferable skills, read our  career change CV template.Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills  What are some examples of transferable skills?Although this is by no means a comprehensive list, here are some great examples of transferable skills you can use in your CV:LeadershipThis skill is extremely versatile, and whilst its typically linked to management positions, being a good leader is essential in almost every job even if only in some situations.To reference it in your CV, refer to times where youve demonstrated great leadership whether its through motivating others in order to achieve a shared goal, leading a project, heading up training and development for a team, or even through your hobbies and interests (e.g. coaching a sports team).Time managementTime management is a vital skill for any role, that not only proves you can work to deadlines but also that youre able to complete tasks in the most time-effective way, create to-do-lists, delegate, ask for help, and break up projects accordingly.Whether its that youve had experience stacking shelves within a set time in a retail store, youve completed projects within a deadline, or youve carried out construction work that met the time-sensitive needs of a client, youll have at least one example of time management to reference in your CV.PrioritisationPrioritising tasks effectively is essential if you want to get anything done, on time, and to a high standard. Thats why its a key skill that the vast majority of employers value.Prove youre able to assess your workload, adjust your schedule, and organise tasks in order of importance by giving tangible examples in your CV. For example, it could be that your ability to be ruthless and say no to certain tasks enabled you to complete others which had a higher level of importance, or you implemented time saving techniques to get small tasks done faster (e.g. spreadsheets, templates).DelegationWhilst delegation is primarily important for managers, supervisors, or anyone in a senior position, that doesnt mean those without a background in management arent able to demonstrate this skill.For example, if youve ever mentored or tutored someone (whether it was at work or school), or trained another colleague in a particular system, procedure, or task, youll be able to prove you could be a good delegator. Its all about how you frame your skills, the examples you give, and how you link back to the criteria specified in the job description.ListeningLets face it, everyone is likely to have good listening skills, no matter where your experience lies. This means demonstrating them in your CV should be easy.Think about times where your ability to listen well resulted in a positive outcome whether its that youre great at following instructions (which meant your work was done specifically to a cli ents requirements), youre able to absorb knowledge quickly when taught (whether it was in a meeting, at university, or anywhere else), or you delivered excellent customer service by listening carefully to a customers needs.CommunicationAlthough its particularly important in customer facing industries, good communication is an extremely versatile skill thats an important part of every role which contributes to the smooth running of any workplace.Luckily, that means everyone has it. Examples of communication skills could range from instances where you communicated with a customer or client to fulfil their needs or resolve a problem, to times where you worked together with your colleagues to achieve a joint goal.Research analysis    Many roles require some level of research and analysis ability making it an important skill to make known to employers.The examples you include may differ depending on the role and whats required (particularly if the vacancy calls for harder skills, e.g. knowledge of Google Analytics), but a basic level of research and analysis skills can be shown in anything from university essays, to any form of gathering, organising, and evaluating information whether its sales figures, website visits, or technical reports.What transferable skills should I include in my CV?If you’re not sure which ones you should include for a particular role â€" check the job description. Employers will often explicitly state their criteria, and much of this is made up of soft skills.Simply pick out the words which seem most relevant, and think of ways you may be able to display similar attributes emphasising to how they could benefit the employer youre applying for a job with.And remember: always expand on any skills you mention with real-life examples (and, if possible, results).Five personal attributes valued by employersWhat words should I use on my CV?  How do I demonstrate them on my CV?OK, so everyone has some sort of transferable skills. But how do you show them to employers?The most important thing to remember is to choose examples that you can practically demonstrate on your CV. Saying you’re excellent at analytics is good, but you won’t stand out from the crowd unless you can prove it.So for each one, think of an example of how you’ve shown this skill. It could be in the workplace, or outside, as long as it effectively backs up your claim. For example:Dont say:  â€˜Great leadership skills’ Do say: ‘Excellent leadership skills, demonstrated when I successfully managed a small team of individuals on a three day hike for a charity event’  Just make sure that you  can  back it up.Recruiters will quickly realise if you’re not being truthful at the interview stage, so always steer clear of lying if you want to avoid embarrassing situations.Five lines that are killing your CVDoes your CV pass the seven second test?Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search J obsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Career Development

Does Channeling Your Childhood Actually Help You Chase Your True Calling

Does Channeling Your Childhood Actually Help You Chase Your True Calling Have you ever tried to figure out your career by asking yourself what you would do with a million dollars, or spent time pondering what you used to enjoy doing as a kid? We love to ask ourselves these questions in the hopes of having a flash of insight into our career direction. Why? Because these simple questions carry an implied promise that if you can answer them, you have the key to your career. If you’re struggling with career choices, that’s a pretty compelling idea.  Unfortunately, this idea is flat out wrong. It’s sort of like wanting to add an exercise regimen to your daily routine and repeatedly asking yourself, “What sport did I most enjoy as a child?” Spending time thinking about that question is in no way the same thing as putting on your shoes and getting to the gym. Introspection in isolation is never going to give you the real world results you’re craving. While reflective questions like these do serve a purpose, that purpose is to give you a general direction; a starting point. For example, say you liked math and science as a kid. “Math and Science” is not, in itself, a specific job description. Rather, it’s an orientation from which you can begin exploring further. Below are three tips for actually making progress on figuring out your career path. Take effective action in whatever direction your answers point you I’ve just noted that introspection alone can be ineffective. So what is effective? Pretty much anything that gets you out from behind your computer screen, out of your comfort zone and into the real world.  You’re specifically looking for things you can do that will put you closer to people who are doing what you want to be doing or closer to actually doing that kind of work. Real world exploratory steps include things like conducting informational interviews, attending industry events and conferences, looking for volunteer work that relates to what you want to be doing or taking on a side project. In the “I liked Math and Science as a kid” example, you might reach out to an actuary or a research scientist to learn more about their day-to-day work life to gauge your own interest in those career paths. Be open to revising your direction based on new information As you take action in the direction of your answers, you’ll have new experiences and learn new information. As you deepen your understanding of what you like and what you don’t like, you’re going to want to revise and narrow your hypothesis. After talking with a few research scientists, you might learn that while you loved learning about science as a kid, the day to day life of a research scientist is more repetitive than you’d like. Even though it may feel like a dead end, that’s actually really good information to know. You’ll just want to explore in a slightly different direction, aiming for a career path with more variety. Each experience you have will help you to narrow down your initial general direction. Approach your career as a journey, not one simple answer Figuring out your career path is going to take time and effort. For most people, the answer won’t come fully formed and wrapped in a bow for you. It’s going to come from learning from different jobs and experiences. You’ll refine your knowledge of yourself and your career path over time. The path from an interest in “Math and Science” to a decision to pursue a path as a Robotics Engineer will probably not be a completely straight line. But by following the trail of what you do know and being willing to take in new information, you just may wind up in a career with which you are well-satisfied. When you ask yourself those sexy career questions about what you want, your dreams, and what-would-you-do-if, know that they are not the end-all and be-all of your career search. They are only a starting point from which to take action and a direction in which to begin your journey. That’s what they’re good for, and that’s how you should use them.

Forget Dog the Bounty Hunter - How About You the Bargain Hunter

Forget Dog the Bounty Hunter - How About You the Bargain Hunter Coming across a genuine bargain is a hard thing to do nowadays. Here’s the reason why people are getting there before you. Nepotism is to blame for a lot of the good stuff being taken away before it hits the general public, but more often than not it’s down to you not being on-the-ball. Do you know where to really look for the best deals? Chances are you’ve been kidding yourself all along… Look For Speling Mistaykes Typing errors can sometimes come in handy. If you are looking for a branded product, head over to sites that can detect when somebody has made a spelling mistake on their listing. Auction sites are the best at offering you genuine steals, as those interested in purchasing a branded product usually know how to spell the name correctly. It leaves those who are trying to sell it a bit less well-off than they had originally hoped when you bag a bargain. It pays to spellcheck (literally), so if you yourself are making a listing then always triple-check to ensure it’s the correct spelling. Use Your Social Media It’s the Hashtag Generation, so use them wisely. Join selling pages and groups and use the search function to the best of your ability. You will find that people are more likely to be selling on apps such as Facebook and Instagram as they will not have to pay a fee to put up the item, and more often than not target a single area (such as the one they live in) so that the buyer can collect. We all hate an add-on postage fee! Never Pay Full There are sites out there which can point you towards codes and coupons which can save you quite a bit, if you pick the right deal. Not only will they save you money on what you had set your sights on, but they can help out on the lesser thought about things that you would be spending your money on; bills, insurance and household products, rather than luxury items that you are looking to knock a bit of cash off. Always compare and contrast with what offers may be live on the websites at the time, and always take the time to read the terms and conditions of the virtual coupon that you are using; it may be that whatever you are wishing to purchase in the sale is not covered by any additional vouchers to knock off some more money. Sites such as DontPayFull will be able to point you in the right direction. Ask Around There is nothing more powerful than word of mouth; if you tell somebody that they want it, they will either keep hold of that information and remember it when they see it or will pass it around as soon as you’ve told them. Either way, think of them as metaphorical meerkats, always on the lookout for what you yourself as looking for. Just make sure that they’re not on the hunt for the same thing that you are it could prove disastrous if you find it at the same time! . Image credits. Main.  Social.     Ask.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Protect Your Personal Brand When Your Companys Reputation Sucks

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Protect Your Personal Brand When Your Company's Reputation Sucks Just imagine, for a moment, what it must be like to be an AIG employee. Armed guards at the door. Your top executives threatened in horrific ways, even if they had nothing to do with the executive bonus debacle. Even AIG families have been threatened.Dan Schawbel, a personal branding expert, says theres no doubt that current AIG employees are going to be tainted by the bad corporate reputation of AIG.Corporate brands and personal brands can build or destroy each other because they are both associated with each other. When a reputation management crisis occurs, the individual, regardless if he or she is an executive or a new-hire, is tainted in the same regard, Schawbel says. Even if you quit your job and interview at another company, that corporate brand will stick to you like glue.One group of employees who may be commiserating with AIG workers right now are former Enron Corp. employees, who saw their own company go through a similar reputation nightmare in 2001 when the company fil ed for bankruptcy and some executives ended up in jail for financial misdeeds.Franny Oxford remembers interviewing former Enron employees in her role as a human resource manager for a large Houston manufacturing and distribution company in 2002.Maybe they received some coaching on what to say, but every one of the people I interviewed who had worked for Enron immediately told me what their role was at the company, how they were not involved in what happened, and how they had learned from their experience, Oxford says. For the most part, I bought it.Oxford says she hired a number of former Enron employees, and they did very, very well.Enron was one of those companies that was very focused on the bottom line. The people were held very accountable for their performance, and they focused on excellence. They were independent, good leaders, she says. And they were grateful to get a job.Oxford, now a human resources manager at an air quality control company in Houston, recommends AIG emplo yees looking for a new job should also use the same tactic as Enron workers: Outline your job, explain how you were not involved in the problems, how you learned from the mistakes made and what remarkable skills you can bring to a new employer.Schawbel agrees. There is no question that if employees interview for a new job right now and have AIG stamped on their resume, the discussion will come up. You shouldnt avoid it and you cant get away from it, he says. Instead, you need to be honest and open about it.Schawbel, author of Me 2.0 (Kaplan, $16.95) also recommends that current AIG employees understand that they have the opportunity to remain authentic, transparent and ethical, despite their companys wrongdoings. They can admit their company is wrong, even if politically its not acceptable. These employees can escape AIG altogether or work to build the image of the company back up, he says.At the same time, working for a company evoking such public hostility right now will take so me fortitude, he says.Whenever you meet someone new, they will ask What do you do? and youll start talking about your company. If your audience doesnt know you and is disturbed by the bad press your company just garnered, then they may dismiss you altogether, he says. Personal brands can go through rebranding to shake the corporate brand, but it might take a while to reposition yourself in a new role, in a new company.And AIG employees may face even more issues as they try and adjust to a new role within the working world. Oxford says that she noticed some former Enron employees almost had PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).They actually seemed to have problems working in a non-stress environment, especially those who stayed the longest at Enron, the ones who worked right until the very end, she says.In the end, Schawbel says AIG provides an important lesson for all workers and their careers.It tells us that the companies we work for have influence on how were perceived. We nee d to make good decisions on who we work for, not just because of money or benefits, but because they are a great place to work with a positive reputation, he says. We have to consider everything were affiliated with, from our college to our company to our club or organization and even the people who surround us. Were constantly being judged, and to shape positive perceptions we have to surround ourselves with exceptional brands.What are some other steps you would recommend for AIG employees or anyone who has been hit with a company scandal?Social Bookmarking

Social Media Goes Corporate - Are You Ready [Survey] - Career Pivot

Social Media Goes Corporate - Are You Ready [Survey] - Career Pivot Social Media Goes Corporate Copyright: fgnopporn / 123RF Stock Photo I recently read an article from the CEO of Hootsuite, Ryan Holmes, titled2016’s Biggest Social Media Trends for Business. He highlights 5 social media trends that you cannot ignore. Yeah…I know you have been thinking that social media is a fad. Some of you think you do not have to participate. Well, social media is going corporate. If you want to advance your career, you will have to be proficient on social media. If that ticks you offâ€"get over it. Let’s talk about those 5 trends. Social media at work is on the rise Ryan states: For years now, we’ve been promised that a new generation of internal social networksâ€"for use inside company wallsâ€"will spell the end of email. No more hunting through your inbox for information. No more group email threads from Hell. And yet email has lumbered on in the workplace. He is so right! I know you have received way too many e-mails where someone replied “copy all.” Slack and applications like it are rapidly moving into the corporate space. Facebook for Work is in a pilot phase! Social media is moving behind the firewall and onto corporate networks. How you interact with your colleagues at work is changing. Listen to the most recent episode Are you comfortable with those changes? Are you going to insist that the only way to have true relationships is to meet face to face? Companies turn to their own employees for bigger social media reach Ryan states: Nearly 80 percent of businesses now have a dedicated social media team. But many still struggle to reach an audience. 2016 will see companies turn increasingly to an underused resource in the effort to get the word out: their own employees. Employee social advocacy programs, which encourage staff to share updates about the business on their own social media accounts, have grown by 191 percent since 2013 and are due to take off in the year ahead. You are now expected to be on social media promoting your company. This is particularly true as it relates to hiring. Yeah, I know you hate Facebook. Wellâ€"get over it. Companies start paying attention to social messaging Ryan states: Here’s an eye-opener: Globally, there are nearly 4 billion active users of messaging apps, from WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to WeChat and Kik. The top 5 apps in the world in terms of frequency of use, in fact, are all messaging apps: users are popping them open more often than even Facebook or Instagram. This is an area that I admit to being behind. Messaging is exploding. It is not just texting on your smartphone (you do have smartphone, right?), but it is using a variety of messaging apps. The only one I use is Facebook Messenger, and even that is infrequently. Social media advertising (really) takes off Ryan states: Haven’t noticed the exponential increase in ads on your social media feeds? That probably means they’re working. In contrast to old-fashioned banner ads, the new generation of “native” social media ads like Facebook and Instagram sponsored posts and Twitter promoted Tweets look and act a lot like normal social media updates from friends and followers. They’re also targeted with an uncanny degree of precision: Advertisers are able to drill down not just by age and gender but by interests, location, company affiliation, role and more. So the ads you get are probably the ones you actually want to see. Advertising on the Internet will never be the same. Facebook recently announced that their mobile advertising has surged.This is a big shift in the advertising space. Have you noticed? You do have a smartphone, right? Social video takes over Ryan states: In case you missed it, social video is exploding. Last year, Facebook more than doubled its daily video views to 8 billion, reportedly overtaking YouTube. Twitter launched native video of its own in 2015, while Snapchat now reports 6 billion daily video views in its own right. In total, adult users now consume a total of 66 minutes of online video, each and every day. Have you watched a Periscope broadcast? Soon, video will become the norm. Are you comfortable being on camera? How are you using Social Media? Well, are you actively using social media in your personal life? Are you actively using it in work life? Are you actively using it in your job search? Please take our monthly survey Tell Us What Social Media You Use.This survey is closed but you can view the survey results here â€"Career Pivot Social Media Survey Results [Infographic] You can see the previous survey results here on the Survey Results Page. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

3 Distractions that Can Keep You from Career Success - Sterling Career Concepts

3 Distractions that Can Keep You from Career Success 3 Distractions that Can Keep You from Career Success You’re focused on achieving your career goals, but maybe it’s not happening the way you thought it might. Even if you know where you want to go and you’re ready to live your best life, there are some things you may not realize are holding you back. Experts have identified three distractions that you probably don’t realize are impacting progress in your career: 1. Not Looking After Yourself   Are you making your health a priority? Are you working impossible hours? When was the last time you took a day off? Or went to the gym? Or took a vacation? Do you get enough sleep each night? If you want to smash your career goals, you need to be in peak condition. If you’re not feeling your best, then you can’t perform at your best at work. Have a good hard look at how youre treating your best assetsâ€"your mind and body. Make your physical well-being a priority. Pare back your checklist and make time for exercise, fresh air, and downtime. Make sure you’re making healthy choices, taking the time to eat proper meals, and not just grabbing food on the run. 2. Staying in Your Comfort Zone Sometimes career success requires you to step outside your comfort zone and do things differently. If you’re focused on getting ahead, its easy to stay with what has worked in the past, but its okay, even necessary, to be flexible and risk thinking outside the box if you want to make that leap and reach real success in your career. Old ways of thinking and doing things can lead to stagnation and lower your energy. If you’re feeling bored and frustrated, it might be time to try a different approach at work.   Think of how you could switch things up a bit and find some new pathways to reach your goals. 3. Being a Perfectionist One big roadblock to career success is having unrealistic expectations of yourself. Take a look at your current goals, schedule, and expectations. Are you stretching yourself too thin? Its time to cut yourself some slack and acknowledge that its not possible to do everything perfectly by yourself. And its not desirable either! Where are the opportunities for learning and personal growth in being perfect? Perfection is stasis. Aim for good enough and a happy, balanced life. Work out what you want to do and let go of the rest. Learn to outsource and delegate. As we near the end of the year, it’s a good time to review where you are in relation to your career goals and if any of these three concepts might be slowing you down. If so, work on identifying ways in which you can reconfigure the demands on your schedule or reposition yourself to better achieve the career success to which you’ve always aspired.

Writing Resume For Elementary Students

Writing Resume For Elementary StudentsThe advantages of resume writing for elementary students are that they can speak the language fluently and in a concise manner. You can also appeal to the formal aspects of the language such as grammar, punctuation and syntax. This is important for a student to grasp while preparing for higher levels of the curriculum.A resume for elementary students can be distinguished from a graduate level one because it is shorter. It is also less than 20 pages long. This is more than enough time for an elementary student to formulate their ideas and achievements. All that is required is a little planning and preparation.The primary advantage of resume writing for elementary students is that they are based on the same standards as that of a diploma. There are no standards such as the GMAT or GRE, so all the information can be grouped into the same categories. This makes resume writing for elementary students simple and uncomplicated.The need for resume writin g for elementary students is less, since the format is logical. A suitable format can be picked up within two minutes. Some common formats include bullet points, sections, headings and sub-headers. For each section you can write your accomplishments such as past job titles, schools attended, courses taken and certifications won.The most important thing to keep in mind when writing a resume for elementary students is that the objective and the communication style must be clear. It should be written in a brief yet comprehensive manner so that you can easily identify the achievement or accomplishment. If the writing lacks clarity you will fail to create a good impression on the resume writer.A diploma holder must first prove that they have basic education, particularly if they have been attending school for many years. The time frame for proving this is measured according to the study of higher education courses. You can choose to participate in a standardized test or undertake additio nal subjects or programs to get a diploma.To be recognized as a graduate of a higher degree, the degree must be earned after attending two or more years of college. It is advisable to keep a copy of your diploma for a few months after graduation so that you can give a copy to the employer when applying for a job. This is because some employers expect that the graduates have a diploma.English is the primary language used in most jobs and organizations. When applying for a job in a foreign country, the resume writing for elementary students can be checked if it has a French translation.