Top Transferable Skills Employers Are Looking For
Don’t attend that skills acquisition program! At least not until you know what the top transferable skills employers are looking for are. Indeed, everyone has a skill or two that makes them even better at what they do. Also, there are tons of transferable skills you could learn but not every one of them will get you the job you want.
You’re in luck because we have done some research into the labor market and checked the skills most employers crave. They are in roughly every job advertisement platform you could think of. Read more to discover the 11 top transferable skills every employer wants their next candidate to have.
What are Transferable skills?
There are many skills an individual acquires throughout their professional journey. Some of these skills are only applicable to where you work. Whereas, other skills are useful across virtually every job position, organization, and industry. These types of skills every organization and employer needs are called Transferable Skills.
In many cases, these skills are learned on the job, while others come naturally to an individual. Although these skills can be taught, it takes work for them to become are a part of who you are.
Why they are sought after
Transferable skills are highly sought after by organizations and employers in every sector all over the world. The reasons for this are not far-fetched.
They are needed across all sectors
Employers know that it takes more than a degree or qualifications to take their business to the next level. Although every business is unique in its own way, there are some qualities every employer wants in their employees. Someone who can cope well under stressful situations will be appreciated and extremely useful in every sector. Likewise, those who can adapt to changes the company makes – no matter how unpleasant – will be an asset wherever they work. Job seekers with the most sought-after transferable skills will not be looking for jobs for too long.
Companies don’t want to go through the trouble of training employees
Companies are always looking for ways to cut costs. While some go through unethical means, some get more creative with cutting costs. One of such creative ways of getting more quality for less is hiring people who already possess exceptional soft skills. Instead of spending money to train staff on these skills, they hire those who already exhibit them and save money by doing so. Having transferable skills is a must because even if you get hired without having most of them by chance, many could easily replace you on merit.
It shows dependability
There is nothing more relieving than having professionals you can trust to handle your business when you are not available. Every employer dreams of being able to leave their business in other hands to afford them the time and space to focus on other things. Not having those you can trust to make the right decisions in an employer’s absence stifles their aspirations. Traveling to make new clients or attend meetings becomes a concern when there is no one to communicate clearly and respectfully with clients and other employees. Transferable skills encompass a plethora of qualities every employer needs especially in uncertain times.
They make a big difference
Transferrable skills are some of the few things that make an individual unique and stand out from their peers. Indeed, transferable skills are so coveted that they are listed in modern-day job advertisements. For instance, problem-solving can be the difference between winning a billion-dollar contract and losing it. Also, the ability to communicate clearly could keep angry or upset clients calm. Likewise, being able to come up with unique ideas could help your company launch the “next big thing” in the market. These skills are not usually taught in class and employers know it but they can make a world of difference.
Top transferrable skills and how they can help any business
There are many transferable skills available but here are the most desirable for all business types.
High EQ
For some people, EQ is a strange acronym since most people only know about IQ. Emotional Intelligence (or Emotional Intelligence Quotient) is one of the most sought-after transferable skills that are not common. It involves understanding and mastering your emotions to expertly perform your normal activities without emotional strain while you put the emotions of others into consideration. Strong emotions like rage and hatred can be heightened when stress comes in. From battery to damaging company property, nothing is off the table for those who cannot keep their emotions in check. Managing stressful situations is not many people’s strongest suit which is why employers urgently need people with high EQ badly.
High SQ
If EQ is relatively new to many people, then SQ is a stranger. In today’s world, high EQ and SQ are more sought after across more organizations than high IQ. Social Intelligence Quotient (or Social Intelligence) is the ability to easily form a beneficial and healthy relationship with people regardless of status or orientation. Those with high SQ will most likely get companies big deals through their social skills. Since every industry needs every staff to be partial marketers and promoters, SQ is a must-have transferable skill. Having a high SQ is essential to networking, relationship building, and strengthening among employees and also between the company and third parties.
Adaptability
The world has never been so susceptible to change as in the 21st century. The advent of the global pandemic took the whole world by surprise as many businesses couldn’t cope. Since then, employers have noticed the importance of adaptability. From working remotely to devising sophisticated ways to communicate and maintain clients, employers have made peace with the fact that they have to adapt to survive. Thus, adaptability is a transferable skill that is not only desirable but will help professionals keep their jobs. Being able to change working patterns, means of communication or a total work environment is key to landing a good job.
Teamwork
For an organization to function at its best, it needs all hands on deck. Teamwork is not easy to come by for self-centered people. Yet every employer, regardless of their denomination, values employees who can help their fellow employees whenever the need arises. Those who know that when the team looks bad, it rubs off on them are true team players. Employees who are ready to share ideas whether they will get special praise for it or not are the true stars of the team. Also, a good teammate should cover for their fellow when they are not getting their work done correctly. Teamwork elevates the whole organization; lapses are hard to spot in a united place with a strong team spirit.
Leadership
Just as being a good team player is a much-needed transferable skill, leadership is equally important. Indeed, good team players make great team leaders. It is every employer’s dream to have one or two employees who they can count on to step up when called upon. Employees that can spearhead projects, especially the ones not many would want to take on, are an invaluable asset. These people will fill in seamlessly for their superiors if need be and do a decent job. Being a leader comes with privileges, especially the power to make impactful decisions. Those with true leadership qualities make calculated decisions and are responsible for the consequences.
Problem-solving
Problem-solving is not a transferable skill that everyone can have. That is why it is highly sought-after. Problems have a way of catching even the calmest and most calculated people off guard. Yet, some people know just how to deal with it. A typical problem-solver creates new ways of solving problems when any arise. They are quick to analyze and look for the source of the problem and not who to blame. Troubleshooters are those everyone runs to for conflict resolution between parties within and outside of the organization. To be a problem-solver involves taking proactive measures to solve problems and coming up with reactive measures as well when something least expected happens.
Attention to detail
This is one of the top transferable skills on top of many employers’ lists. Attention to detail is like a superpower that could save both an employee and their company trouble in the future. Information is everything. Being attentive to detail means taking note of the most important aspects of any information received to carry out a task efficiently. A simple misinterpretation of information due to a lack of attention to what matters most could cost an organization a lot of money. If a project is assigned with certain guidelines, it is expected for the employee to follow the instructions to the letter. A failure to do so could end up costing the organization a good client.
Tech and digital savvy
Technology rules the new age. Today, every employer wants to take advantage of the new wave of technology to reach even more customers. To have employees who are already conversant with the digital world, the internet, social media, and more is a bonus. As a tech-savvy person, you do not need to know everything about technology. Being able to comprehend the technology and adapting to new technology is a big deal. Employers know they cannot depend on the limited technology or digital experience their employees have. Since technology is the backbone of virtually every business today, being tech-savvy will make a big difference in a job seeker’s professional aspirations.
Critical thinking
In today’s world, thinkers are the highest-paid individuals. Critical thinking is a transferable skill that every ambitious professional must have. If it doesn’t come naturally to you, learn it somehow. To be a critical thinker involves analyzing information thoroughly to better interpret it. As a critical thinker, you are expected to check all available options, look for evidence, and have facts to form the basis of your argument or theory. The outcome of the analysis will form the basis of the judgment you make. Employers want people who have a method to their madness even when not many people seem to agree with them.
Communication
One of the most powerful transferable skills to have is impeccable communication skills. Communication skills start from listening. A terrible listener can never be a good communicator. Also, body language is a big factor in communication. As they say, action speaks louder than words. While you are communicating, you have to give the receiver the impression that the information they are giving you matters. When information flows freely from end to end, it is a sign that at least one party has a good communicator. Every employer needs great communicators in their organizations. Having advantageous information or product is useless without communicating the information to the appropriate receivers clearly.
Creativity
Many believe that every new thing mirrors something from the past. Hence, nothing is ever truly new. This uniqueness that makes a product or entity stand out from the rest is creativity. Finding new ways of doing things to make them stand out is a transferable skill every organization needs. Creativity is a skill that can hardly be learned; most creative people are born with the gift. When it comes to creativity, it does not matter what you do but how you do it differently. The most expensive products in the world have such high price tags due to the amount of creativity on them that sets them apart.
Final thoughts
It pays to have the skills you need to land a good job or remain in one. While not all skills come naturally, any skill can be learned, including transferable skills. Although there is a countless number of transferable skills, pay more attention to the most coveted and work on developing them. Not only will these skills help your organization, but they also make you into a better professional who can cope in roughly any industry. What transferable skill do you think is missing from the list? Please tell us in the comment section.