Identifying Transferable Skills

I got a call over the weekend from an old friend. It went something like this: "Do you have any openings on your team? I've got a good friend whose loser husband just left her with five kids. She has no money and needs to find a job." Me: "Oh, that stinks. I feel for her. Tell me about the type of work she's looking for? What does she want to do?" "She's been a stay-at-home mom. I really just think she needs a job." Me: "Can you tell me a little bit more about her skills or professional history?" "No, not really. She just needs something flexible that can support her family." ---- I get calls like this about once a month. Maybe you do, too. I am truly very sympathetic. And when it's someone I know or in my community, I will go out of my way to help if I can. BUT. An employment opportunity is not a charitable gift; it's an investment in the long-term success and growth of the business. When for-profit businesses hire, they are looking to INVEST in the very best person for the job so that they get the best return on their salary investment. If you find yourself in a situation where you have a friend needing to go back to work and you 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 want to help them, the first thing that you can do for this person is to help them answer the following questions: 1. What are you known for? What do you do better than others? - This can help uncover transferable skills like project management, multitasking, organization, or any creative skills they may have used in managing family life. 2. What technical skills do you have? - This helps assess if there are opportunities in fields like digital marketing, social media management, data entry, or administrative support. 3. What are some tasks you find yourself doing at home that you excel at or enjoy? - For example, managing finances, organizing events, troubleshooting tech problems, or handling family schedules can translate into administrative jobs, customer service, or other roles. 4. What did you do professionally before you stayed home with kids? The best thing you can do for your friend is to serve as her "wingman" and ally and amplify her strengths. Instead of focusing on what she's lacking (income), SELL YOUR FRIEND'S STRENGTHS. ⁇ Who would you rather interview: A) "She's got five kids at three different schools and needs something flexible to pay her bills." B) "She is the most organized person I know. She was the room mom last year for the 5th grade and did a phenomenal job" Or how about: A) "She's been a stay-at-home mom for as long as I've known her" B) "She is great with people. She's never met a stranger and really makes every person she encounters feel valued. She would be amazing in a consultative selling role."

As an executive recruiter who frequently works with PhDs transitioning to industry, I've identified key reasons why exceptional academic achievements often fail to secure corporate positions. The challenge: Your PhD represents years of dedicated research, critical thinking, and innovative problem-solving. Yet employers aren't seeing your value. Here's why: • Communication Disconnect • Academic language doesn't resonate in business settings • Research achievements need translation into business impact • Complex concepts require commercial context • Resume Misalignment • Academic CVs emphasize publications over results • Project descriptions focus on theory over practical application • Transferable skills are buried under academic achievements • Value Proposition Issues • Failure to demonstrate commercial awareness • Over-emphasis on technical details • Underselling leadership and management experience Strategic solutions: • Translate Academic Success • Convert research outcomes into business metrics • Highlight project management capabilities • Emphasize team leadership and collaboration • Demonstrate Commercial Value • Focus on practical applications • Show understanding of business objectives • Highlight problem-solving in commercial contexts • Leverage Transferable Skills • Project management expertise • Data analysis and interpretation • Complex problem-solving abilities • Team leadership experience Remember: Your PhD isn't a barrier - it's a powerful differentiator when presented strategically. Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju CC: IG @c.belliveau.science Dm for removal. #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #phdtransition

STOP underestimating your "unrelated" skills and experience when you're looking for a new job. When I was in college, I had a bunch of odd jobs including working at UCLA’s Campus Call Center. My main objective was to jump on cold calls and convince high schoolers who got accepted to UCLA to come to the school. I knew I really wanted to work in sports, media and entertainment. And this job at the time didn't make any sense to my career growth, but I had to make some money one way or another to pay the bills because my financial aid only got me so far. But with this job, I didn’t see any route or direction that would lead me to my goals. Up to that point, my only "real" jobs were working at Forever 21 as a summer retail associate, YMCA as a referee, and as an afterschool assistant for an elementary school. So each day I’d dial 100+ of calls for work. Then I’d get home and apply for 100s of jobs for me. And it'd lead to rejection after rejection. I couldn’t figure out what I needed to say or do differently to get noticed by organizations. It wasn’t until I realized my current job wasn't just about me making calls. It was about me using skills like: - Relationship management  - Persuasive communication - Marketing strategies By reframing my experience, I transformed my “unrelated” job into a stepping stone for my career. This mindset shift was what helped me finally land a job at UCLA Athletics in student-athlete recruiting where I was now convincing high school athletes recruited by UCLA to commit to our programs. So keep in mind that every experience you’ve had, no matter how small, may already be the game changer you’ve been looking for. The key is identifying those transferable skills that align with your dream opportunities. Questions to ask yourself: - What skills am I truly developing? - How can I articulate these skills to potential employers? - Where else could these abilities be valuable?   What are “unrelated” skills / past experiences that have helped you in other roles? #CareerAdvice #SportsBiz #Media #Entertainment 

My secret weapon when I pivoted from to tech from a non-tech background: Emphasizing my transferable skills. Here's how to leverage them the right way to land the job of your dreams: 1/ 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 ↳ Review all your work, volunteer activities, education, and personal projects. Don't just focus on job titles - think about what you actually did day-to-day. 2/ 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ↳ For each role or experience, identify specific tasks you performed and results you achieved. Ask yourself: What problems did I solve? How did I communicate? What did I manage or organize? 3/ 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 ↳ Group them into categories like communication, leadership, problem-solving, technical abilities, project management, or analytical thinking. These broader categories usually apply across industries. 4/ 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ↳ Analyze relevant job postings and map them to the categories from step 3, even if you used them in different contexts. 5/ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 ↳ When you identify a transferable skill, prepare specific stories that demonstrate it. Quantify your impact when possible - numbers make your experience more compelling. ♻️ Reshare this post for an aspiring career switcher and follow Megan Lieu for more!

How do you find your path back to work after taking an extended break? After being out of the job market for several years—whether due to retirement, caregiving, or pursuing personal passions—re-entering can feel daunting. I’ve heard this question often and it was recently posed in a webinar with the Intel Alumni Network. "How do you overcome being out of the market for many years, especially when your professional network is outdated?" Here are a few tips for making a successful comeback: 💡 1. Start by Assessing Your Goals What are you hoping to achieve in this next phase? Full-time work, part-time consulting, or nonprofit engagement? Having clarity helps you focus your energy on the right opportunities. **To avoid a scattershot approach, get focused.** 💻 2. Refresh Your Personal Brand Update your LinkedIn profile and resume to reflect your skills, experiences, and accomplishments—even those gained outside traditional employment. **Even more important -- highlight transferable skills that align with your next phase target roles and today’s job market terms.** 🌐 3. Rebuild Your Network Don’t let “outdated” networks hold you back. Reach out to former colleagues and industry peers to reconnect. Attend local or virtual professional events to meet new people. LinkedIn is your best friend here—leverage it to build connections! **I would point you to the book “Friend of a Friend” by Dr. David Burkus to learn about awakening “dormant ties.”** 📚 4. Upskill to Stay Relevant Consider taking a course or certification in your field to bridge any skills gap. This also shows potential employers your commitment to staying current. **Find out what would be most relevant to your target roles.** 🤝 5. Leverage Mentors and Career Coaches If you’re unsure where to start, career coaches can help with guidance, mock interviews, and personalized job search strategies. **Consider building a mentoring team or PBOD (Personal Board of Directors). 🎯 Remember: Your unique experiences—professional and personal—add value. You’re not starting over; you’re building on an incredible foundation. Have you re-entered the job market after a break? What worked for you? Share your advice or questions below! ⬇️ #CareerVelocity

👩🏾⚕️ She started her career as a nurse, but these are the 5 most important skills that helped her become a Cloud Engineer 👇🏾 --------------------------------- One of the professions looking to transition that we get in our community is nursing. We get all types of questions from many nurses looking to build a new career in a demanding field that can offer them lateral or increased pay. They choose Cloud Engineering. We recently had another success story of a nurse moving into a cloud role, and here are the 5 most important transferable skills she knows will help her get the role! While learning the tech is important, it is sometimes the skills you already have and have honed in on that can give you the extra push!! 1. Problem-solving and Critical Thinking In her nursing role, she was trained to assess situations and quickly formulate solutions, which is crucial for troubleshooting in cloud environments. Whether it’s resolving network issues or optimizing cloud resource usage, her ability to think critically will serve her well in the new role, and this is what the organization likes! 2. Attention to Detail She stated that nurses must follow precise protocols and pay close attention to patient care details. This translates into IT, where attention to detail is necessary for writing accurate code, managing configurations, and enforcing compliance with security policies. 3. Communication Skills Her ability to communicate effectively with patients and other healthcare professionals directly applies to IT, where clear communication is crucial when collaborating with team members, documenting systems, and explaining technical details to non-technical stakeholders. <--- SUPER IMPORTANT 4. Adaptability Working in the fast-paced nature of healthcare, where protocols and environments can change rapidly, prepared her well for the dynamic role in cloud engineering, where she has the opportunity to quickly adapt to new tools and systems. 5. Stress Management <--- BIG ONE She had to operate in high-stress environments, making tough decisions daily. This ability to remain calm under pressure is beneficial in IT during critical system failures or security breaches that need immediate and effective resolution. 🏥🏥🏥🏥🏥 Here, you can see how the nursing role she was in helped her with critical skills she didn't even know mattered in cloud engineering. Most of you have those skills right now; apply them, shape them, and get better. Learn the tech, and the rest can be history for you. What role are you working on right now that you think has great transferable skills into the cloud role you want? Let me know 👇🏾

Software to Hardware. Banking to Tech. B2B SaaS to ClimateTech. [insert basically anything] to AI. ↔ Career shifts come in all shapes and sizes, but shifting an industry can be challenging, particularly in a tighter hiring market where experience is valued. Over the years, I’ve interviewed hundreds of people who are looking to move into a new industry and I’ve found a few things influence whether or not someone will be successful at making the leap. 1️⃣ Find the thread - If you want to make a change, it’s your responsibility to craft a story that makes sense. Don’t force the person reading your resume or interviewing you to guess why you’re able to make this jump. At MuleSoft, I interviewed a program manager at a non-profit for a recruiting role. Sounds completely unrelated, but throughout the interview, she did the best job showing me how many of the things she had accomplished in her role actually translated incredibly well to recruiting. She took the guesswork out of it for me and actually convinced me over the course of the interview that she knew enough about the job and had enough of the skills that she could make the pivot. As you’re prepping for your interviews, make a list of all the things you’ve done that translate to working in the new industry and make it a point to share those in your conversations.  2️⃣ Do your research - I’m the biggest fan of benchmarking conversations when you’re hiring for a role on your team. The same logic applies here - find people who are experts in the industry you want to pivot into and ask if they’d spend 15 minutes with you so you can get advice on how to pivot. Come prepared with great questions and soak up the trends, lingo, etc. Doing even 3-5 of these calls will make you sound exponentially smarter and better researched for your interviews. 3️⃣ Ask great questions - Basic, surface-level questions, “what’s it like to work here?” indicate you haven’t done your homework and send a red flag that you’re potentially unable to make the shift. At Dropbox, I interviewed an equity analyst from a big bank for an Enterprise AE job. Sounds like quite a jump, but he asked the best questions about the product and company. He understood the role we were hiring for and sounded like he had been in our industry for years. His intellectual curiosity sold us on his ability to make the jump. 4️⃣ Network hard into companies - Part of the challenge in making a career shift is being able to get your story across on why you can make the leap. A reference at the company where you hope to work can do this for you. Maybe it’s not an obvious connection, but see if you can dig deep. For example, you may find a past coworker who knows an investor in a company you’re interested in, and that investor may be able to forward your information, with the appropriate color, to the hiring manager or recruiting leader so you get a proper look. What else have you all seen that’s been useful for those trying to switch industries?

PSA: Transferable skills mean practically nothing if you're not able to articulate them. At the end of the day, if you can think strategically and show results (especially when those results are backed by numbers), that alone can open the door to a ton of different roles. The secret is learning the language of the role or industry you want to move into and figuring out how your past work translates to that new space. And yes, that includes more than just your official job title or responsibilities. That’s why I’m such a fan of ERG work..it gives you a real chance to build transferable skills! It’s a safe, contained space where you can show what you’re capable of. Whether that’s project management, internal comms, marketing, sales, or anything else, ERG work gives you proof of what you can do ...and that proof is often what gets people to take you seriously. That said, most folks get stuck trying to speak the language of the role or industry they’re aiming for. But once you crack that code a whole new world opens up. (Pro tip: Use AI to help: ask it what metrics matter in that role, what success looks like, and what common pain points exist in that space. Let it help you translate your story.) Another tip: Start reading job descriptions like study guides. Highlight the keywords, goals, and metrics they care about, then reverse-engineer your experiences to match. Bonus tip: If you’re using less conventional experience like ERG leadership, side projects, or anything outside of your core role be ready to explain what you learned and why it matters. Your stories and experiences are major tools. Learn how to tell them well, and they’ll make your transferable skills impossible to ignore. P.S. I’m the planner friend of my group with the powerpoint slides overview and spreadsheet of out itinerary … any others out there?

Considering a Career Transition? Doing this one thing can make the difference between being overlooked or being selected for an interview and landing an offer. ✅ Be the obvious choice – Don’t assume recruiters will connect the dots. They’re often scanning for an exact title match. Your job? Bridge the gap for them. Translate your past experience into the language of your target role so they see you as a natural fit. Example:  Transition from a Project Manager → Product Manager Let’s say you’ve been a Project Manager for years but want to move into a Product Manager role. A recruiter or hiring manager might not immediately see the connection because they’re looking for candidates with direct Product Management titles. Instead of listing: ❌ “Managed project timelines, budgets, and stakeholder communications.” Reframe it to match Product Management language: ✅ “Led cross-functional teams to deliver customer-focused solutions, prioritizing features based on business impact and user needs.” Why this works: “Led cross-functional teams” aligns with how product managers work across engineering, design, and marketing. “Customer-focused solutions” signals an understanding of product development, not just project execution. “Prioritizing features based on business impact and user needs” shows a product mindset—something critical for a PM role. ✨ Bonus: 📎📄 Attached is an in-depth example of how to identify your transferable skills and effectively highlight them as relevant experience. This can be a tool that assists you with your resume, interviewing and negotiating. 💡 Need guidance? Assisting clients with career pivots and transitions is something I excel at. Plus - I’ve successfully navigated several transitions in my own career, so I’ve lived it. Let’s connect! #CareerChange #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #CareerTransition #Laidoff #CareerDevelopment #CareerGrowth #JobSeeker #CareerPivot

When you pivot careers your skills don’t go away, they get recycled ♻️ Since pivoting in entrepreneurship I’ve seen how the social work skills I have are transferable as a a travel creator in a few ways 👀 💻 Skill: Research Then? Looking up best practices in journal articles. Now? Researching facts and history about the destination before traveling 📝 Skill: Project Management Then? Managed a portfolio of research & evaluation projects. Now? Managing multiple social media platforms, video strategy, and content calendars 🤝 Skill: Relationship/Rapport Building Then? Managing people and building relationships with clients in nonprofit, education and foundation sectors. Now? Building relationships with influencer agencies, creators, tourism boards, and PR teams 🧠 Skill: Problem-Solving Then? Working on projects around supporting Black entrepreneurs, food justice, and Black maternal health. Now? Figuring out how to encourage more train travel, community-centered travel experiences and supporting Black travelers Do not sleep on the skills you have or are attaining! You never know when or how they will come in handy in the future ✨ Hey I’m Sojourner and if you’re into travel, career pivoting, or the highs and lows of being a new entrepreneur, follow along for more 💻 🚂 ✈️ #travelcreator #socialwork #careerpivot #entrepreneurship