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