Transferable Skills: How to Identify and Describe What You Already Know

What are transferable skills?

Transferable skills are abilities you developed in one setting that are useful somewhere else. A school secretary, a warehouse supervisor, and a church volunteer coordinator may have very different job titles, yet all three schedule people, handle problems, and keep records.

There are two broad kinds:

• Practical (or "hard") skills: things you can do, such as using spreadsheets, bookkeeping, operating equipment, or writing reports.
• People (or "soft") skills: how you work with others, such as calming upset customers, training new staff, or keeping a team on schedule.

Both matter. Experienced workers often have more of both than they realize.

What to do first: make an honest inventory

Set aside an hour with a notebook. For each job you have held in the last 10 to 15 years, plus any major volunteer or caregiving roles, write down:

1. The tasks you did every week.
2. Problems you solved or improved.
3. Tools and software you used.
4. People you dealt with: customers, vendors, staff, the public.
5. Anything you were trusted with, such as money, keys, records, or training others.

Do not judge the list yet. "Answered phones" may turn into "handled a steady stream of customer calls and resolved most without escalating" once you think it through. Use real numbers only if you know them.

How do I match my skills to a new job?

Pick two or three job postings for the kind of work you want. Highlight the skills and tasks they mention. Then draw lines between your inventory and their list.

For example, a retired school administrator applying for an office manager role might match:

• "Coordinated schedules for the teaching staff" to "manage calendars and appointments"
• "Prepared the school budget for review" to "assist with budgeting and expense tracking"
• "Handled parent concerns" to "provide excellent customer service"

If a posting lists a skill you do not have, note it. That gap may be easy to close with a short free course. See how to learn basic computer skills for free.

How should I describe transferable skills on a resume?

Use the employer's language where it is honest to do so, and show proof.

• Start with an action word: organized, trained, resolved, tracked, managed.
• Add the specific task: what, for whom, and how often.
• Add a result when you know it: faster, fewer errors, better reviews.

A weak line says, "Strong communication skills." A stronger line says, "Trained new front-desk staff on scheduling and phone procedures." The second one shows the skill instead of claiming it.

Using words from the posting also helps with applicant tracking systems, the software many employers use to sort applications. Learn more in what is an ATS. Our resume guide for experienced workers covers layout and length.

How do I talk about transferable skills in an interview?

Prepare three or four short stories. A simple structure works well:

1. The situation: what was going on.
2. What you did: your actions, in plain words.
3. The result: what changed because of it.

Keep each story to about a minute. Then connect it to the new job: "I expect your customers have similar questions, and I would handle them the same way." See the interview guide for experienced job seekers for more.

What are common mistakes?

• Using old job-specific terms. Translate internal jargon and company acronyms into plain language a new employer understands.
• Listing duties without examples. Duties say what you were assigned; examples show what you can do.
• Leaving out non-paid experience. Volunteer leadership, caregiving, and community work count when they are relevant.
• Overstating. Never claim a skill you do not have. Describe what you actually did, and be ready to discuss it.
• Assuming the reader will connect the dots. Spell out why your experience matters for this role.

Where can I find help?

• CareerOneStop (opens in a new tab) has free skills-matching tools that suggest occupations based on what you already do.
• The Occupational Outlook Handbook (opens in a new tab) describes the important qualities for each job, which helps you choose the right words.
• Local American Job Centers offer free resume reviews.

Next steps

1. Write your skills inventory this week.
2. Choose two job postings and match your skills to them.
3. Rewrite three resume lines using action, task, and result.
4. Prepare two interview stories.
5. Browse second-career jobs to see where your skills fit.