The Value ofTransferable Skills
Lisa Schwartz and Christiana WuAssociate Directors, Working Professional and
Alumni Programming
May 15, 2014
Learning Objectives
• Why transferable skills are important
• How to identify your transferable skills
• Communicating the value of your transferable skills
Skills for a modern economy
• Rapid & continual change in industries & roles
• Increased career change
• Need for versatility & adaptability
Transferable skills…..
• Skills used in one job or career that can also be used in another
• Can be leveraged for advancement or career change
• Need to know them, sharpen them, sell them
What Counts?
-Hard skills – quantifiable i.e. software skills, language,…
-Soft skills – subjective, harder to quantify i.e. leadership, team management, flexible, entrepreneurial, analytical
-Industry knowledge – Healthcare, Financial Services,…
-Functional knowledge – program management, client service, B2B management.
-Subject matter expert – hobbies, passions.
*Cambridge Dictionaries Online
Examples of Transferable Skills
Transferable Skill Identification• Integrative Problem Solving• Commitment• Leadership• Analysis • Attention to detail• Flexibility• Learning quickly• Communication• Team Player• Cross Functional team work
Perspective/Interaction• Make or Buy Decisions• Presentation Skills• Cultural competence• Dealing with ambiguity• Managing multiple priorities
• Personal Impact• Persuasiveness/Influencing• Creative Thinking/Innovation • Quantitative Analysis• Negotiation• Customer Focus• Planning & organizing• Strategic Thinking/Strategy Development• Academic Achievement• Technical Expertise: Financial Modeling,
Analysis, Valuations, Merger• Competitive Analysis• Computer Literacy• Benchmarking• Balancing the needs of various customers
while keeping eye on the big picture• Networking
Key Skills by Function/Field/Industry
Consulting• Big Picture (like seasoned insider)• Rooting Out Problems• Ready, Willing and Able• Client Facing• Financial/Quantitative Skills
(stories in the numbers)• Industry/Functional Expertise• Teamwork• Initiative
• Curiosity• Structured Thinking• Analytical Problem Solving• Creativity• Achievement – Promotions/Career
Progression• Results-oriented• Leadership• Extracurricular activities / active
involvement in something other than school/work
General Management• Leadership• Strategic AND Implementation• Enthusiasm • Maturity• Strategic Thinking• Analytical Skills / Analytical Thinking• Intellectual Curiosity
• Adaptability• Cross Functional Team Experience• Quantitative Skills- Comfort with
numbers• Team Player (Leader and Member)• Results-oriented
Key Skills by Function/Field/Industry
Banking• Quantitative Analysis• Familiarity with balance sheets,
spreadsheets, & income statements
• Very traditional work environments• Modeling• Energy & Stamina • Specific business/industry
knowledge• Thrive in fast pace
• Judgment• Highly motivated • Teamwork• Competitiveness• Social – comfort with clients• High level of commitment• Perform under pressure
Private Wealth Management
• Sales• Strong client facing• Financial Market Awareness• Portfolio Construction
• Communication Skills• Self-motivation
Key Skills by Function/Field/Industry
Marketing• Visionary sense / Creativity• Understanding of why specific
brands stand out and what qualities make brands stand out
• Comfort with numbers – analyzing, speaking about, presenting
• Cross functional skills - leveraging opinions of everyone, getting input from Market Research, Finance, Sales, Product Supply
• Strong Project Management Skills• Risk Taking• Consumer Savvy• Teamwork• Leadership• Analytical thinking / Analytical skills• Communication skills• Solutions-oriented• Decision Making abilities
High Tech (Technical)• Strong with numbers• Project management skills• Creative problem solving• Multi functional team involvement
• Flexibility• Comfortable with change• Cutting edge• Entrepreneurial
Personal Skills
• Drive
• Assertiveness
• Character
• Values
• Creativity
• Intelligence
• Initiative
• Persistence
• Confidence
• Motivation
• Judgment
• People Sensitivity
• Integrity
• Energy
• Self-awareness
• Open-mindedness
Identify and communicate the value of your skills
• Review past accomplishments, successes & feedback
• Highlight benefits & impact
• Align with market needs & determine transferability
List your accomplishments
• Oversaw strategic market analysis and implementation plan of a new product
line, leading to inclusion into CEO’s strategic growth priorities .
• Analyzed key quantitative and qualitative operations metrics to reduce gap
between existing service level and necessary online fulfillment expertise.
• Led an initiative across multiple internal departments (Product, Sales,
Operations) to reformulate the criteria and metrics used by the core
Manufacturing Group to evaluate long-term sustainability of processes.
• Developed and presented recommendations around new process
improvements to senior leadership, leading to approval to implement by end of
fiscal year with projected savings of $50M within first 2 years.
Transferable Skills
• Strategic planning
• Analysis
• Cross-functional leadership
• Leading change
• Presentation to senior leadership
Align skills with needs
• Analyze job postings and descriptions
• Understand needs, gaps & opportunities
• Sell your most relevant features -
Q&A
