When it comes to applying for internships or graduate opportunities, you might feel like you\u2019re lacking experience, especially relevant industry experience. Before you scroll past a great opportunity because you feel you don\u2019t meet the brief, take a moment to reflect on what you do bring \u2013 you may have more to offer than you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regardless of your experience, you\u2019ll have developed transferable skills \u2013 these are the skills you can take with you from one experience to another \u2013 whether you realise it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ll have developed skills through your assignments and co-curricular activities, and these skills can be transferred to the workplace. You\u2019ll have also gained transferable skills outside of uni, maybe through your experiences travelling, your participation in team sports, any volunteer work you\u2019ve done, or your casual gig at the local caf\u00e9. Look at you go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employers often look for people who can demonstrate a good set of transferable skills. These might include hard skills, such as software proficiency, or soft skills, such as time-management, communication, teamwork, and problem solving. These skills are useful in many different work environments and are highly regarded by employers across all industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, how do you demonstrate your transferable skills in a job application? I\u2019m glad you asked \u2013 here\u2019s three steps you can take to help you articulate your transferable skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a list of your proudest accomplishments from your past experiences. These can be from any area of your life, such as a part-time job, a uni project, or a club activity. For example, you might teach swimming to pre-schoolers, or you might oversee social media communications for a student club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Identify the transferable skills you use in these activities. For instance, if you taught kids how to swim, you might be able to anticipate others\u2019 needs and reactions or assess learning styles and respond accordingly. Or, if you oversee communications for a student club, you\u2019ve probably developed strong written communication skills, initiative, and leadership. If you\u2019re still unsure, here\u2019s some more examples<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve completed a stock-take of your experiences and corresponding transferable skills, learn to generalise your skills into language that can be applied to many different tasks. Remember, the transferable skills you highlight should be related to the position you\u2019re applying for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, even if your experience seems unrelated to a role you\u2019d like to apply for, articulate your transferable skills well and your net worth to a prospective employer has just increased!<\/p>\n\n\n\n One final tip: if you notice a transferable skill that you want but don\u2019t yet have, make note of it, and then look for future opportunities to develop that skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 3<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n