A recent Monster poll revealed that only 5% of Hong Kongers are happy in their current job, while a whopping 84% of them are considering a job switch.
In today’s competitive job market with so many people vying for jobs it’s become critical to differentiate yourself – especially if you’ve been working in one role for a long time or haven’t chalked up enough years to justify the move.
Fret not, your transferable skills – competencies you picked up from your previous jobs – are adaptable and can raise your professional standing as a job candidate.
Wondering how to suss out these traits? We’ve got you covered.
Before the job search: Understand your transferable skills
On a general level, transferable skills include good time management, critical thinking, problem solving, and being a team player – to name a few. Take that up a notch and you have management skills, strong communication and presentation skills, and the ability to lead in a team.
Your transferable skills are picked up over time, and what you possess will depend greatly on factors such as the position you’ve held and the industries you’ve worked in. No matter the factors, transferable skills are valuable and can greatly demonstrate what you can offer to the team.
Whenever the opportunity comes to flaunt your strengths in these areas, do it.
During the job search: Analyse the role
Technical skills aside, different jobs will require one transferable skill more than another. For example, a reporter will need strong presentation skills more so than an accountant.
Knowing the skills required for your desired role will become helpful when crafting your CV and preparing for an interview. The description section under every job listing on Monster.com should give you an idea of what employers are after to help you tailor your job search.
Emphasise your strengths
Even if you’re missing one skill necessary for the job, don’t let this deter you. Your employers may be open to getting you up to speed, if you possess a range of other skills that makes you a great fit for the job.
In your CV or job interview, always bring your employer’s attention back to your transferable skills, citing examples of situations where your skills were put to the test. Ensure the examples are relevant to the job you’re applying for as this shows you fully understand the organisation’s business and objectives. And as an added bonus, you’ll no doubt impress your interviewer.
