Employers are always looking for specific keywords in your resume, no matter the position you’re applying for. This typically ranges from words such as creative to leadership and communication skills. We call these transferable skills, as these skills can be used and transferred from one job to another. They enable candidates to take up job positions they have never taken up prior and still excel.
When applying to BCJobs, don’t forget to add these skills to your resume and see how fast you get an interview call!
7 Transferable Skills To Add To Resume
1. Communication Skills
You will be hard-pressed to find a job that doesn’t require communication skills. It’s not simply about speaking and listening, but getting your point across clearly to the other person, no matter the medium. You also need to think from another’s perspective to get the complete picture.
Communication skills include:
- Technological communication skills where you can understand the communicative style of different technical channels. Such as, the way people communicate via email is different from Slack channels or social media like Twitter.
- Verbal skills, where your expression and tone of voice play a significant role.
- Written skills, where communication can be more challenging with the lack of a visual and tonal reference.
- Listening skills, where you should focus on what others are saying instead of waiting to release your opinion.
2. Technical Skills
You don’t have to be a software engineer, but you should be aware of the current technological culture to some level. As companies update their system almost every year, having some basic idea on using technical products helps you stay employable.
3. Multitasking
Multitasking doesn’t mean you have to do 3 different kinds of tasks simultaneously. Switching from one task to another in a short time frame only slows down your progress.
Multitasking skills mean having the ability to manage your time and organize tasks by priority, so you’re never behind on the due date. Again, technical skills can help sharpen your multitasking skills as you take to productivity apps quickly.
4. Critical Thinking Skills
Your critical thinking skills are the result of the walls of texts you had to analyze for your English class to understand the characters’ motivation.
In the professional world, these skills help you identify a problem and develop solutions for said problem. It’s how you find the best solution through critical elimination.
This skill prevents employees from committing mistakes in a professional capacity.
5. Creativity
Your creative skills might be one of the few skills that don’t necessarily count towards all job types but still come in handy in the big picture.
The skills combine teamwork, critical thinking, multitasking, and leadership skills. It’s about how you come up with an idea, develop a plan around it and execute it.
This is also something you have to show an inclination towards constantly.
6. Responsibility
Even if your job involves working on your own, you’re still part of a team. Others depend on you to complete a task on time and let them know when you can’t.
You need to be a responsible person who respects the team and commits to progress as a team player.
7. Leadership skills
Leadership skills are particularly complex transferable skills. Different people have different definitions for it.
You need to have all the other transferable skills to translate them into a leadership role. But, ultimately, it’s someone who listens to others, can make snap, efficient decisions, and have people who respect their word.
Final Thoughts
If you feel you’re lacking in any transferable skills, it’s not too late to develop them. Identify the skills you have the most challenging time with and look for resources like books, podcasts, and workshops that can help you learn.
About the Author
BCjobs.ca is Western Canada’s largest job board, with majority of the jobs coming from Vancouver. For nearly 20 years, BC Jobs has connected job candidates with companies looking to add talent to their team. If your team is looking to recruit, BCJobs.ca is the right tool for you. Our job board has grown through virtual career fairs, branding, and partnerships. Contact us at community@bcjobs.ca today.
