The Power of Transferable Skills in your CV
Struggling to put together a CV because you don’t have much work experience? It’s a classic catch-22: how do you get experience if the jobs you want require you to already have it?
This is a common hurdle for many young people applying for their first jobs or even university places. The good news is that you probably have more relevant experience than you think! The key is understanding and highlighting your transferable skills.
What are transferable skills?
Transferable skills are also called ‘soft skills’ or ’employability skills’. They are the abilities you pick up in any area of your life like school projects, hobbies, sports teams, family responsibilities, and even social interactions.
They’re the core things that make you able to do things, no matter the specific task. They are called transferable skills because they can be applied to a wide range of circumstances, jobs and industries.
But I don’t have much experience!
A lack of formal work experience can feel like a huge hurdle. This is where transferable skills bridge the gap. Employers and admissions teams understand that everyone has to start somewhere. What they’re truly looking for is potential, a strong work ethic, and the ability to learn and contribute.
By highlighting your transferable skills, you can show:
- Your readiness to adapt: You can learn new things and thrive in different environments
- Your problem-solving abilities: You can think critically and find solutions
- Your collaborative spirit: You can work effectively with others
- Your communication skills: You can express yourself clearly and listen actively
Here are some examples of top transferable skills and where you might have gained them:
Communication
You’ve developed your communication skills in education by delivering group presentations, writing essays and reports, and participating in debates. Online, you might have been involved in forums or social media groups where you support other people and share information. You might even have explained complex concepts to friends or family members to help them understand something. These things all are great examples of your written and verbal communication skills.
Here are some examples of how to use these skills on your CV:
- Delivered persuasive presentations to classmates, effectively conveying complex information
- Clearly articulated ideas and arguments in written assignments, earning high marks
- Effectively communicated with team members to coordinate project tasks and ensure understanding
Teamwork and collaboration
Your ability to work with others comes from experiences like playing on sports teams, collaborating on school projects, participating in group assignments, being part of a band or drama club, organising social events, or volunteering.
Here are some examples of how to use these skills on your CV:
- Collaborated with a diverse team to successfully achieve (a specific goal)
- Played a key role in team discussions and decision-making processes, contributing to group success
- Successfully coordinated with peers to complete a challenging project, ensuring all deadlines were met
Problem solving
You’ve demonstrated problem-solving skills when troubleshooting computer or phone issues, resolving disagreements within a group, finding creative solutions to unexpected challenges, or managing unforeseen situations in your daily life.
Here are some examples of how to use these skills on your CV:
- Identified and resolved (a specific problem) in a school project, improving efficiency by (X)%.
- Applied critical thinking to overcome (a challenge) and achieved (a positive outcome)
- Developed innovative solutions to streamline a process within a school club, saving time and effort
Time management and organisation
Your capacity for time management and organisation is shown by how you’ve juggled academic deadlines with extracurricular activities. Talk about how you’ve planned personal projects, managed your daily schedule, or taken charge of organising events or study groups.
Here are some examples of how to use these skills on your CV:
- Successfully managed multiple academic deadlines while participating in (activity)
- Organised and executed (an event or project) efficiently
- Demonstrated strong organisational skills in maintaining a structured study routine, leading to improved grades
Adaptability
You’ve shown adaptability by quickly learning new software or systems for school assignments. Think about times when you’ve had to navigate unexpected situations or have taken on new responsibilities when needed, even if it wasn’t planned.
Here are some examples of how to use these skills on your CV:
- Quickly adapted to new learning platforms and technologies such as (example), becoming proficient in their use
- Readily embraced changes in project scope, ensuring successful completion despite evolving requirements
- Demonstrated flexibility in adjusting to varying demands and priorities, consistently meeting expectations
Using Initiative
Your initiative and proactivity shine through when you’ve taken the lead on a group project or suggested improvements to something like when providing feedback. Have you ever independently researched a topic beyond what was required, or started a new club or activity?
Here are some examples of how to use these skills on your CV:
- Took initiative to research and implement (a new idea), enhancing productivity
- Proactively looked for opportunities to learn new skills, such as (specific skill) to support (reason)
- Spearheaded (an activity) and achieved (a positive result)
Adding transferable skills to your CV
Don’t just list these skills – provide concrete examples! Remember to describe how you demonstrated these skills. Think about the “STAR” method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to frame your experiences. For example, instead of saying “good at teamwork”, add more detail. You could say ‘collaborated with a team of 4 on a challenging science project (S), successfully dividing tasks and coordinating efforts (T, A), which resulted in our group achieving the highest grade (R)’.
Need more help?
Take the time to reflect on the amazing skills you’ve already developed. You have loads of talent to offer. By highlighting your transferable skills, you’ll be well on your way to a standout CV and more opportunities.
Careers Wales can help you to plan your career, prepare to get a job, and find and apply for the right apprenticeships, courses and training.
If you’re struggling to think about your experience or worried about your future, reach out to a Meic helpline advisor. You can talk with them about anything that’s bothering you. Get in touch for free by phone, WhatsApp message, text, or online chat from 8 am to midnight every day.
