Nurturing Our Transferable Skills

I recently had the opportunity to help a loved one refine their resume. The exercise included lots of brainstorming around transferable skills. It was a workout!

When opportunities within a familiar industry trail off, how prepared are we to market ourselves for new ventures? How do we convert years of skill refinement and mastery into words that are recognizable to recruiters? How do we sustain our confidence in our skills and experience through the ups and downs of the job hunt—especially if new work may require travel or relocation away from family and friends? What is your personal risk tolerance? Are you financially prepared for the transition?

Perhaps you, like many Canadians, built a life based on working in the northern oil fields and have had to shift your focus in the past few years. Perhaps you have been searching for opportunities in different provinces, such as the Trans Mountain pipeline project ramping up on the west coast. Or perhaps you, like my loved one, are evaluating how you can capitalize on decades of experience to bridge over into an entirely new career.

The discovery process is exciting and daunting. It’s adventurous and trepidatious. It takes knocking and knocking on door after door until opportunity unfolds. It requires supportive reminders of what you are made of.

We all face the job hunt journey from time to time. A quick Google study of employment turnover rates estimates we average 10 to 15 job changes in our lifetime. You may not be facing this crossroad today but odds are you will be some day.

Are you nurturing your transferable skills?