5 Little-Known Tricks to Highlight Transferable Skills on Your Resume

Table Of Contents

Trick #1: Reframe Past Experience in Job-Relevant Terms

Reframing your past experience in outcomes relevant to your target job is one powerful strategy to illuminate transferable skills on your resume. The method enables you to evaluate your past accomplishments with the new role in mind, reflecting on how previous experiences have equipped you for it. Doing so is especially critical when the connection isn't immediately obvious.

To reframe your experience effectively, carefully review the job description you are interested in, paying close attention to the essential skills, duties, characteristics, and qualifications the employer values.

Next, sift through your employment history to find examples of where you've exhibited these skills or undertaken similar responsibilities, albeit in a different setting.

For instance, if you're moving from a customer service position to a project management role, consider reframing your experience in the following way:

Original: "Responded to customer inquiries and resolved complaints."

Revised: "Managed multiple stakeholder relationships simultaneously, effectively identifying, prioritizing, and resolving conflicts in a timely manner to boost customer satisfaction."

The adjustment highlights your abilities to balance multiple responsibilities and stakeholder interests, communicate efficiently, manage your time well, and resolve issues—key abilities for a project manager. By tailoring your past successes and accomplishments to match the job you're applying for, you make it easier for employers to understand how your previous experience is applicable to the new role.

The goal here is not to misrepresent your experience but to enable potential employers to immediately recognize that you have what they need. In other words, you want to focus only on genuine accomplishments that are relevant for the new role. 

Adopting this strategy will assist you in crafting a persuasive narrative that demonstrates your transferable skills and solidifies your standing as a qualified candidate.

Trick #2: Use Keywords from the Job Description

Trick #3: Focus on Results, Not Just Duties

When it comes to past experiences, employers want to not only confirm that you have the required skills for the new role, but also understand how you have used the skills to bring about significant results. Therefore, when highlighting transferable skills on your resume, it's important to shift your focus from simply demonstrating what you did to showcasing the impact of what you did.

To create powerful, results-oriented bullet statements, use the Challenge-Actions-Results (CAR) method. First, identify the challenge or situation you faced. Then, describe the actions you took to address it. Finally, and most importantly, highlight the impact of your efforts.

Remember to use strong action verbs to begin each bullet. For example, "implemented," "amplified," "designed," or "transformed" immediately convey a sense of achievement.

Here is an example of how you could show impact if you come from a background in customer service:  

Original: "Responsible for customer service.”

Revised: "Implemented a new customer feedback system, reducing complaint resolution time by 15% and increasing customer satisfaction scores by 30%."

The revised statement not only shows what you did but also quantifies the impact of your work, and that’s what employers care most about. Numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts provide concrete evidence of your impact.

If exact figures aren't available, use estimates or ranges.

By focusing on results rather than responsibilities, you're not just telling potential employers what you can do – you're showing them. The approach makes your transferable skills more apparent and compelling, which greatly increases your chances of landing an interview.

Trick #4: Add a Skills Section that Highlights Transferable Skills

A dedicated skills or core competencies section on your resume can be another powerful tool for showcasing your transferable skills and knowledge. This section allows you to present your abilities in a clear, concise format that catches the eye of hiring managers and ATS alike.

When creating your skills section, consider including both your hard skills–those specific, teachable abilities that are easy to quantify (budget management or cloud computing), and your soft skills–the interpersonal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others (communication or strategic thinking).

Depending on your target field and required qualifications, you could consider making the skills section even more impactful by grouping skills into categories. For example, here are three examples of categories used by clients we worked with recently: 

• Operating Systems: Linux, Windows, MacOS

• Cloud Computing: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software: Salesforce, Nimble, Monday 

Lastly, don't forget to substantiate the skills you list with concrete examples in your work experience section. Understanding how to put transferable skills on your resume seamlessly throughout your career narrative will create a compelling representation of your capabilities.

Trick #5: Leverage the Cover Letter to Reinforce Your Skills

Whether employers you target require a cover letter or not, we recommend that clients always draft and include one when submitting their applications. A cover letter allows you to expand on what you have included on your resume, zeroing in on the most relevant accomplishments and value-add you bring. 

As such, the cover letter offers a unique opportunity to highlight  transferable skills and persuasively present your case as the ideal fit for the job. While your resume gives a concise summary of your professional journey, the cover letter delves into how your abilities perfectly match the requirements of the new position.

Begin by directly responding to the specific needs outlined in the job posting, introducing yourself as someone with the experience, skills, knowledge, and expertise that will help the employer meet those needs.

If you're switching careers, use your cover letter to articulate why you're making the change and how your distinctive background adds value to the role you're applying for. This is the moment to convey your genuine interest in the new industry and the unique perspectives you bring.

Keep in mind that details are key. Rather than broadly claiming to possess "strong communication skills," provide a concrete example where you communicated complex information to diverse stakeholders. Such specific examples make your abilities more tangible and relatable.

It's important to keep a self-assured tone throughout your cover letter. Phrases like "I am confident that my skills in X will contribute significantly to Y in your organization" help to project a strong belief in your capacity to excel in the role.

Wrap up your cover letter by reemphasizing your excitement for the job and your keenness to discuss further how you can bring your transferable skills to benefit the company. This not only leaves a memorable impression but also motivates the hiring manager to advance you to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Bonus: Transferable Skills Resume Examples

1. Teacher transitioning to Corporate Trainer:

"Motivated educator with 8 years of experience in classroom management, curriculum development, and student engagement. Simplifies complex concepts, creating engaging learning materials and adapting teaching methods to diverse learning styles."

2. Retail Manager moving to Human Resources:

"Results-driven retail manager with over 10 years of experience leading diverse teams, resolving conflicts, and spearheading professional development initiatives. Leverages skills in performance evaluations, relationship building, and communication to foster a positive work environment."

3. Journalist transitioning to Marketing:

"Award-winning journalist with 5+ years of experience in storytelling, research, and meeting tight deadlines. Harnesses strong writing skills, creativity, and ability to engage audiences to craft compelling and engaging content.”

When crafting these examples, focus on emphasizing the skills that are most relevant to your target role. Use action verbs and quantifiable achievements to demonstrate the impact of your transferable skills.

Remember, the key is to draw clear connections between your past experiences and the requirements of your desired position. This approach helps potential employers see the value you can bring to their organization, even if you're coming from a different industry.

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I ensure my transferable skills are recognized correctly by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)?

To ensure your transferable skills are recognized by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), make sure you are using keywords directly from the job description. Include full phrases and acronyms and use standard sections and file formats. 

2. Is it possible to focus too much on transferable skills and make it seem like I'm hiding a lack of direct experience?

Yes, this is possible, so be strategic and intentional. Provide specific examples and define how that experience relates to the target job. Be sure to balance soft skills with hard skills to show both versatility and specificity. 

3. What are some effective ways to quantify soft skills like "communication" or "problem-solving" on a resume?

To quantify soft skills on a resume, use the action-result formula. Describe a problem, the action you took (using these skills), and a positive and measurable result. Start bullets with action verbs and remember to quantify skills like communication and problem-solving with numbers like customer retention and error reduction, respectively. 

4. If I'm a student or career changer, can I use examples from academic projects or volunteer work to demonstrate transferable skills?

Yes, you can use examples from academic projects or volunteer work! You can create resume sections for projects or volunteer work and then format them similarly as you would job experience: use action-oriented bullets that describe problems you resolved using transferable skills and give quantified results. 

5. Should I list both soft transferable skills and technical hard skills together in a "Skills" section, or separate them?

It’s generally recommended to separate soft skills and hard skills on a resume. Put hard skills in a dedicated section, such as “technical skills,” while incorporating soft skills throughout your resume in bullets and your summary.