Offering a vibrant lifestyle, international community and interesting history, the UK has solidified itself as one of the top destinations for expats. But whenever you’re trying to carve out a life in a new city, the first thing you need is a steady job that not only provides for your lifestyle but also integrates you into your target culture. One of the best ways to make yourself an attractive and dynamic job candidate is to leverage your transferable skills.
At Remitly, we’re committed to making it easy and affordable to send money between your home country and your new one. We also want to equip you with the knowledge to become more employable and make beneficial career changes in foreign labour markets. Read on for tips about how to use your transferable skills to land new career opportunities in the UK.
Identifying your transferable skills
For most people, a CV is a document filled with skills related to past roles to show industry-specific expertise. But when we read between the lines, there are a lot of transferable skills that could be attractive to prospective employers, regardless of the industry.
What are transferable skills?
Transferable skills, or soft skills, are aptitudes that are useful across different career paths. For example, communication skills could be valuable in multiple job contexts, making them transferable. On the other hand, data analysis prowess via Microsoft Excel is a hard skill that is quite job-specific.
Conduct a skills inventory
A great way to identify some of your soft skills is to ask the question, “How?”
Your CV highlights your professional track record by mentioning major accomplishments, big projects, and tangible outcomes. So, ask yourself “how” you completed these engagements. Did you collaborate with coworkers? Brainstorm or problem-solve to overcome challenges? Did you correctly prioritise tasks to meet tight deadlines?
After identifying some of the transferable skills that contribute to your success, highlight them on your CV through key action verbs.
Examples of common transferable skills
Once you’re ready to begin applying for roles in the UK, consider broadening your search to include different industries. Make yourself a more desirable candidate by highlighting soft skills such as:
- Communication skills: Communication is a transferable skill that is applicable to practically every job description. Your ability to share ideas clearly and concisely will ensure a high level of efficiency in any workplace. Develop proficiency in different modes of communication, such as written, verbal, and even non-verbal communication, to truly stand out.
- Language proficiency: Having a professional level of fluency in any foreign language is an asset to employers. As the UK becomes more diverse, language skills could grow in demand. The top non-English languages spoken in the UK are Polish, Scots, Welsh, and Western Asian languages like Punjabi.
- Leadership: Whether you’re applying for an entry-level position or a C-suite role, leadership skills will fast-track your success. Leadership isn’t just about managing people, but also taking the initiative to spearhead difficult projects or help a team work towards a common goal.
- Collaboration: Candidates who are genuinely interested in being part of a team are highly sought-after by employers. Identifying shared goals and working with others to maximise positive outcomes are invaluable transferable skills.
- Organisation: The abilities to multitask, navigate a complicated schedule, and consistently meet deadlines all require well-developed organisational skills. Having a strong attention to detail and handling your own administrative tasks means that you’ll be an employee who is trustworthy and easy to work with.
- Productivity: A recent study found that most employees work less than three hours in an eight-hour workday. If you can perform above that average, your productivity alone will make you a valuable hire.
Developing new skills
Whether you’re looking to level up in your current industry or transfer into a new sector, adding to your arsenal of transferable skills is always a good move. Luckily, numerous avenues for skill development exist today; here are some easy ideas you can try:
Enhance your transferable skills
If you don’t know where to begin, start by studying topics that can be applied in any industry, like leadership, communication, or emotional intelligence (EQ).
In addition, remote work and the ability to self-manage have become vital skills post-pandemic; they could be worth further development.
Gain industry-specific knowledge
However, you could be interested in further adapting your skill set and have the time, energy, and financial means to do so. In that case, taking accredited professional development courses is always a great option.
Many higher education institutions in the UK offer programmes that are specifically developed for professionals seeking career change or advancement. If traditional academic coursework isn’t for you, there are plenty of other options for upskilling available. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer online courses to ensure continuous learning and growth.
Practice in real-world environments
Now that you have identified your transferable skills, seek out opportunities to put them into practice. You can start by taking on projects and assignments in your current role that provide firsthand insight and hands-on experience, tangible proof of your capabilities.
Alternatively, you could find volunteer opportunities that align with your interests and skill set. By developing—and demonstrating—your power skills, you will increase your value as an employee in any industry.
Marketing your skills in a new career
Updated knowledge and skill development are positive outcomes to be proud of. But how can you harness transferable skills to give your career a boost?
Update your CV with transferable skills
Once you have a target position in mind, tailor your CV to the specific job posting. Ensure your application also showcases the best of your skill set, and be prepared to do the same in person during interviews.
But to accomplish this effectively, you must first understand why recruiters and employers often seek job candidates with these skills. What makes transferable skills so necessary?
Ultimately, transferable skills are the vehicles through which our expertise can stand out. Soft skills help us communicate effectively with our coworkers, adapt to changing environments, and contribute to collaborative efforts. As such, they are often listed on every job posting regardless of the industry or level.
Share your progress
Besides your CV, here are a few places where you can advertise your transferable skills:
Cover letters
Your CV will focus mainly on hard skills and previous accomplishments, but the cover letter is where you can make your profile truly shine. Take this chance to provide more insight into your work and experiences in a way that highlights your adaptability through transferable skills.
Another good idea is to identify what specific skills are required in a particular job posting, then edit the content of your cover letter to speak to those aptitudes.
Job interviews
If you make it to the interview stages of the application, your transferable skills will naturally be on display; after all, you’ll have to use them when speaking with the recruiter. Make a good first impression by demonstrating your communication style and ability to think on your feet. Respond clearly to queries and show your analytical skills through the kind of questions you ask at the end of the conversation.
Still, you can talk up your skill set through anecdotes, especially when addressing inquiries about past challenges or failures, situations that required agility, or the unique qualities that make you a strong candidate for the new role.
A LinkedIn profile allows you to list your transferable skills, which other professionals in your network can then endorse. This is a great way to add some credibility to your soft skills arsenal. It’s also a good idea to attach these skills to the specific experiences or roles where they were most relevant and applicable.
If you want to add even more flair to your profile, ask previous employers, managers, or colleagues to provide you with a recommendation. Just navigate to a LinkedIn profile, press the “More” button under the individual’s name, and select “Request a recommendation.”
Grow your skills in the UK
The UK has a dynamic labour market with opportunities across industries. However, it is often difficult to break into because of the ultra-competitive landscape. As a result, your transferable skills could mean the difference between landing a job or not.
UK recruiters and employers are looking for reliable and self-disciplined job candidates. They also highly value creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, and other commonly referenced transferable skills. As the country faces a looming skills shortage, increasing your transferable skills ensures you can create more job security for yourself in the UK.
FAQs
Is there a skills shortage in the UK?
Yes. According to experts, there is currently a skills shortage across the UK related to sales, hospitality, administration, account management, and consumer-facing roles. While this has been a challenge for the UK economy, it presents an opportunity for both UK-born and foreign job seekers.
Which skill is most in demand in the UK?
Some of the most sought-after transferable skills in the UK include effective communication, adaptability, problem-solving, leadership, and teamwork. Potential employers value demonstrable efforts to develop these skills, which you can display on your CV, in cover letters, and on networking platforms like LinkedIn.
Is it easy to switch jobs in the UK on the Skilled Worker visa?
To obtain a Skilled Worker visa in the UK, you must have a job offer and demonstrate that you are both proficient in English and have the right qualifications. In other words, transferable skills are a requirement for this visa, making it easier for immigrants to advance or complete a career change.
