Transferable Skills

Transferable skills can be defined as the skills which can be transferred from one job to another. In other words, it is the ability which can be equally applied from one job to another. It also means integrating all the knowledge gained through formal education or work experience and apply it in various situations. Transferable Skills are also known as “Portable Skills”. These skills are developed throughout one’s school education and college education. It is impossible to complete a formal education without mastering the key essential skills. These skills are gained through various classroom and campus activities like presentations, assignments, project works, Internships, organising events, generating funds [for a College programme or for a Social cause], participation in sports and other extracurricular activities. Skills commonly acquired through these activities can be clubbed under two categories:
1) Working with people: communicating, interacting, motivating, advising, problem solving, convincing, explaining, representating, negotiating, reasoning, organizing, delegating etc.
2) Working with Information: writing, calculating, analyzing, computing, researching, gathering data, sorting, editing, filing, compiling etc.
The skills which are transferable in nature and which are highly essential in securing a job specially in this hour of global financial crisis, can be listed as follows:
1. The art of Communication: Grammar, Vocabulary and accent can be learned through formal training but the real art of communicating effectively depends on:
 Speaking consciously while using the most appropriate words to express something.
 Listening attentively with genuine interest to what the other person is saying.
 Writing concisely and effectively taking utmost care of punctuation, grammar and spelling.
 Encouraging others to give feedback, ask questions, and raise doubts comfortably.
 Provide constructive feedback to people without being critical or offensive.
 Expressing thoughts and ideas based on facts without hurting other’s beliefs.
 Working in a group with mutual respect and co-operation.
 Respecting people from various cultural backgrounds.
 Negotiating, asserting and solving conflicts with dignity.

2. Management and administrative skills: The skills required to promote production and derive work satisfaction. To ensure that the work is done perfectly, in addition to complete dedication and enthusiasm, certain administrative skills are needed:
 Implementing decisions after brain storming and group discussion sessions.
 Setting and meeting deadlines with well laid out plan of action.
 Analyzing complex data after research, identification and investigation.
 Organizing work schedules so as to utilise available time to its maximum extent.
 Solving of complex problem through innovative solutions.
 Prioritizing workload on a daily basis.

3. Organisation and Leadership roles: It requires influencing and guiding others to achieve target goals. The skills required for this specific function are as follows:
 Recognizing and rewarding good performance
 Exhibiting self confidence and a positive attitude
 Encouraging effective teamwork and cooperation.
 Designing and implementing plan of action in order to meet deadlines.
 Coordinating tasks with group members.
 Motivating, counselling and delegating authority and responsibility with respect.
The list of transferable skills is endless but caution should be employed before speaking of these skills in Job Interviews or highlighting them in resumes. Reference should be given as to how these skills [or any other skill] have been gained, while speaking of these in an Interview.