Ah, our old friend ‘transferable skills’. We’ve heard this phrase so often it can come to feel redundant. But for a world that no longer offers lifetime job security (it could even feel right now like there’s no kind of job security on offer), we need to think deeply about what skills we bring to the table outside of those covered by our degrees or other training. What are the abilities we carry with us, from place to place, that will never be out-of-date or thrown in the shade by someone else’s higher formal qualifications?
Whilst there are some transferable skills which are eternally desirable – good communication abilities, teamwork and collaboration, emotional intelligence – we’ve picked out a few that feel particularly relevant to our world right now, this world of rapid change and shifting certainties.
Flexibility
Coronavirus has completely upended so much of our working lives in recent months but in doing so it has triggered a phenomenal amount of adaptation. Employers who once said working from home wasn't viable are now seeing their entire workforces do just that. Dining tables, sofas and even beds are standing in for desks. Restaurants have repackaged themselves as shops and takeaways. Dating now looks like a socially distanced walk in the park. Even seemingly old and fixed ways of doing things have managed to evolve – churches are now reaching their congregations through Zoom, and in some places have seen those congregations swell as a result.
Organisations and individuals that come out of this strongest will be those who have exhibited the most flexibility, able to adapt to changing circumstances. As the world faces an uncertain future, this ability to adapt will be a highly sought-after quality at all levels.
Understanding technology
Staying up-to-date with technology is now non-negotiable if you want to succeed. How many organisations can you think of that don't have a web presence? But it goes beyond the internet now; as technology offers us new ways to experience the world, monitors (and thereby theoretically protects) our physical bodies, continues to change the nature of communication, and throws up a huge range of personal and global security risks, we need to be informed in order to be able to respond. Don't drive the car without at least checking what's under the bonnet...
Creativity
As repetitive and process-based work is increasingly taken over by computers, firms will look to humans to provide the innovations that robots cannot. Creativity doesn't mean arts and crafts here – we're talking about creative thinking: coming up with new initiatives, helping to grow other people's ideas, spotting the unexpected way out of a problem. In other words, thinking outside of the box!
Critical thinking
As we are constantly assailed by an avalanche of information, it has become vital that we're able to spot the actually useful or truthful elements. Organisations need staff who can sift the wheat from the chaff – whether that's sorting the desirable candidates from the blaggers in a recruitment drive, spotting trends within the whirlwind of social media, or simply being able to make sense of reams of data – and use their knowledge to make sound, informed decisions.
In the era of fake news it's also essential that we don't blindly accept the information coming our way but examine it dispassionately, putting aside our own biases to identify fact from fiction.
Cultural sensitivity
It's easy as women to focus on issues of sexism in the workplace but we need to be supportive of other typically marginalised groups, working together to ensure that our teams and work spaces are as inclusive as possible. Educate yourself about the challenges under-represented groups face in your industry and our wider society – by following people from those groups online, listening to podcast discussions, reading books and above all, listening to your colleagues.
Continuous learning
American businessman Alvin Toffler once said, 'The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.' This ties in with adaptability, and staying up-to-date with technology and cultural sensitivity, but it doesn't just mean staying informed about the world – it means challenging yourself to take on board new things, ultimately keeping yourself mentally agile.
Your personal brand
Millennials and Gen Z-ers expect to move jobs regularly throughout our working lives. For these generations, there's no automatic respect, wealth or security for simply staying put for decades. Your personal brand, as you move from place to place, is what will bring you those things. Professionalism in the form of punctuality, smart self-presentation, honesty and courtesy to others will never fail to win points.
But it now needs to go beyond your immediate physical presence; check who you are online as well. Maybe ask a friend or family member to take a cold look at your social media and see if anything you’ve posted is frankly not painting you in the best light. We’re not talking about deleting every picture of you on a night out but simply making sure no ill-advised Twitter rants or potentially offensive jokes are lurking, just waiting for your future employer to see them, and therefore you, in the worst possible light.
Don’t underestimate the power of transferable skills – make a list of yours, and feel empowered by the fact that what truly makes you of value to an organisation is way more than what’s written on your CV!