What are transferable skills?

Transferable skills - also called portable skills - are the personal qualities, behaviours, and abilities you develop over time, which you can use across different jobs, roles or industries. Whether you’re switching careers, exploring new paths, or upskilling, recognising your transferable strengths helps you see opportunities you might otherwise miss.

You don’t need to start from scratch when changing jobs - much of what you already bring to the table is valuable. These skills can come from:

  • Day-to-day work
  • Hobbies, volunteering or community roles
  • Life experience at home or in groups

Example:
A technician in a garage may develop skills like problem-solving, clear communication, teamwork, time management and adaptability - all of which are useful well beyond the workshop.

How to identify your transferable skills

If you’re wondering “What transferable skills do I have?”, try this:

Method

What to Do

Review your job history

Look at every role you’ve held and jot down the tasks you did well (e.g. “managed parts stock,” or “ran diagnostic tests”)

Ask friends or colleagues

Sometimes others see strengths in you you take for granted

Use online tools

Skills quizzes and career sites (like the National Careers Service) can help you uncover patterns

As you list skills, group them by theme - for instance, communication, leadership, analysis, or resilience. That gives you clearer ways to talk about them when applying for roles.

Key transferable skills & how to show them

Below are some frequently valued transferable skills, with examples and how you can frame them when applying for new roles.

1. Communication & listening

  • Carefully explaining technical or complex ideas
  • Writing emails or reports
  • Listening to feedback or customer needs

How to present it:
“Able to clearly communicate with team members, customers and stakeholders.”
“Strong written and verbal communication skills; confident addressing diverse audiences.”

 

2. Digital & IT fluency

  • Using software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Navigating internal systems or tools (e.g. diagnostic systems, booking software)
  • Learning new tech under pressure

How to present it:
“Proficient in Microsoft Office, diagnostic software, and CRM systems.”
“Quick to adapt to new tools and technologies.”

3. Adaptability & flexibility

  • Handling shifting priorities
  • Adjusting to new teams or processes
  • Working under change or uncertainty

How to present it:
“Adapted to departmental changes and support across roles.”
“Embraced new workflows while maintaining performance.”

 

4. Teamwork & interpersonal skills

  • Collaborating toward shared goals
  • Mentoring or guiding others
  • Resolving conflicts or supporting colleagues

How to present it:
“Worked effectively as part of cross-functional teams.”
“Collaborated to deliver projects on time and within scope.”

5. Time management & organisation

  • Planning tasks to meet deadlines
  • Prioritising when under pressure
  • Coordinating multiple responsibilities

How to present it:
“Strong at managing workload and meeting tight deadlines.”
“Organised, dependable - consistently delivered on schedule.”

 

Putting your transferable skills to use

Once you’ve identified your skills:

  1. Match them to job descriptions. See which align with what employers want, and use those terms (in a natural way) in your CV or application.
  2. Tell stories. Use real examples: “When X happened, I stepped in and...” Stories are more convincing than lists.
  3. Be confident. You don’t need experience in the exact role - your skills are a foundation.
  4. Build on them. Take short courses, volunteer roles, or side projects to reinforce and expand your abilities.

Need some help?

If you’d like help digging deeper into your transferable skills, or figuring out what they mean for your next step, reach out.

Call free: 08081 311 333
Chat online: Click on the chat icon at the top of the page.

You’re not alone. We’re here to help you get back on track - no matter where your path leads.

Looking for work?

Check our jobs & careers advice for tips to tailor your CV, ace interviews, and make confident next moves.

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