In this day and age, employers expect graduates to not only have knowledge of their area of study or expertise but to have the inherent and learned ability to adapt to the new working environment they will be joining. They’ll expect you to bring exceptional communication skills, the ability to lead and be led, and the proven ability to function efficiently and effectively.
That shows up on your resume as what are called ‘transferable skills and they can be defined as those skills or abilities that can be applied equally from one job to another. They are skills that as a recent graduate you may have gathered through volunteer work, sports, hobbies, or community work. they’re skills that can be used in your new career. They are also alternately called ‘key skills,’ ‘generic skills,’ or ‘core skills.’
Not to be overstated, in the competitive job market of the future, there is a growing demand from employers for strong graduates with desirable transferable skills including communication skills, planning skills, and multi-tasking skills among others.
Employers are seeking new hires who can perform efficiently as soon as they take up their new appointment, utilizing the many transferable skills they may have picked up during their education.
While recruiting graduates, ‘transferable skills’ have become a more sought-after factor than even academic record and relevant work experience. Developing transferable skills that would be an asset in a work environment should be a major area of focus as you continue your education. In the fast-paced work environment, employers are looking for graduates who can fit into their organizations, can add value, and learn quickly.
Here’s a list of 15 transferable skills research has shown today’s employers are looking for:
- Delegating responsibility
- Dealing with crises
- Attending to visual detail
- Assessing and evaluating own and others’ work
- Time management
- Multi-tasking
- Presenting written and oral material
- Handling complaints
- Keeping records
- Coordinating activities
- Planning and arranging activities
- Utilizing specific computer software
- Training or teaching others
- Motivating others
- Identifying and managing ethical issues
More and more organizations and employers are looking to employ graduates, who not only are experts in their career field, but also are competent in other realms of the business world including communication, networking, team building, and career management. The bottom line is… today’s work environment strongly favors graduates with transferable workplace skills. Keep an eye on how you stack up.