There are two interesting trends shaping employment in tech right now: employers are increasingly hiring based on skills, not university degrees, and there’s a growing demand for technology workers with more interdisciplinary and transferable skills. What this means is that the industry is opening to more people from diverse backgrounds and that the barrier to entry just got a lot smaller.
So, what skills do employers look for if you don’t have significant experience in a career, or haven’t formally studied the subject? For many businesses, the right transferable skills are enough to prove that you can do the job.
What are transferable skills, and why are they important?
Transferable skills are a core set of skills and competencies that can be applied to a wide range of jobs and industries. They may be soft skills like collaboration and problem-solving or hard skills like data analytics or coding. They’re picked up over time and can be developed through work experience and personal pursuits, too.
Often called “portable skills,” transferable skills are the abilities you can take with you from one role to another, regardless of industry or job function. Unlike industry-specific skills such as accounting software expertise or investment banking knowledge, transferable skills remain valuable throughout your entire career, making them essential for long-term employability and career growth.
The difference between hard and soft transferable skills
While all transferable skills are valuable, they fall into two main categories:
Hard transferable skills
These are technical abilities that can be applied across different roles, such as data analysis, coding, project management software, or digital marketing tools.
Soft transferable skills
These are interpersonal and cognitive abilities, such as communication, leadership, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, that help you work effectively with others and navigate workplace challenges.
Both types of skills are pivotal for career success, and the most sought-after professionals typically possess a strong combination of both.
For a deep dive, look at the current research from the City of London Corporation that shows which human, transferable skills for students and workers are regarded as a top priority right now. The ones high on the list are oral communication and presentation, collaboration and teamwork, initiative, problem-solving, organisational skills, adaptability, and being able to work independently.
Transferable skills are important because:
- they never expire
- they give you more career potential and make you more employable
- they make you more well-rounded and versatile
- they can improve your confidence and impact
- they make it easier to switch careers or industries
- they can help you to go further in your career, faster.
Top 15 transferable skills employers look for
Whether you’re entering the job market for the first time, changing careers, or looking to advance in your current role, these transferable skills are consistently in high demand across industries globally:
1. Communication (written and verbal): The ability to articulate ideas clearly, listen actively, and convey information to diverse audiences.
2. Problem-solving: Identifying challenges, analysing situations, and developing effective solutions.
3. Critical thinking: Evaluating information objectively, identifying biases, and making well-reasoned decisions.
4. Collaboration and teamwork: Working effectively with others toward common goals, both in person and remotely.
5. Adaptability and flexibility: Adjusting to new situations, technologies, and working methods with ease.
6. Leadership: Motivating others, taking initiative, and guiding teams toward success.
7. Time management and organisation: Prioritising tasks, meeting deadlines, and managing multiple responsibilities efficiently.
8. Emotional intelligence: Understanding and managing your own emotions while empathising with others.
9. Digital literacy: Comfort with technology, digital tools, and the ability to learn new software quickly.
10. Analytical skills: Using data and evidence to inform decisions and solve complex problems.
11. Creativity and innovation: Thinking outside the box and developing novel approaches to challenges.
12. Attention to detail: Ensuring accuracy and quality in your work.
13. Research skills: Finding, evaluating, and consolidating information from multiple sources.
14. Initiative and self-motivation: Taking action without being prompted and driving projects forward independently.
15. Active listening: Fully concentrating on what others are saying and responding thoughtfully.
How to identify your transferable skills
Many people underestimate the valuable skills they already possess. Here’s how to uncover your transferable skills:
Review your past experiences
Look beyond just your work history. Consider past part-time jobs or internships, volunteer work and community involvement, and even academic projects and coursework.
List your achievements
Write down specific accomplishments from any area of your life. What did you do? What was the outcome? What skills did you use to achieve it?
Identify the action verbs
Look at your list and highlight the action words: Did you organise, lead, analyse, create, solve, coordinate, teach, or communicate? These verbs reveal your transferable skills.
Identify the action verbs
Look at your list and highlight the action words: Did you organise, lead, analyse, create, solve, coordinate, teach, or communicate? These verbs reveal your transferable skills.
Match skills to job descriptions
Review job postings in your target field and note the skills employers request. Compare these with your own skills list to identify your strongest transferable abilities.
Match skills to job descriptions
Review job postings in your target field and note the skills employers request. Compare these with your own skills list to identify your strongest transferable abilities.
Ask for feedback
Sometimes, others can see skills in us that we take for granted. Ask colleagues, friends, or mentors what they think your strongest abilities are.
Apply your transferable skills to a career in data analytics
Knowing how to use tech tools to manage data is an important skill, but even better is knowing what to do with that data once you’ve run it. The best data analysts come with a set of soft skills (and often come from diverse backgrounds) that enable them to better use their technical abilities in order to get great, insightful results that made an impact.
Here’s a real-life example of transferable skills: Elodie Hudson was a teacher with a science background, wanting to transition to a career in data analytics. Because of her background, she was already an analytical thinker who could research, problem-solve, and communicate effectively. While studying on the LSE Data Analytics Career Accelerator, Elodie was able to combine her existing transferable skills and new data abilities to change her career and land a new job (in just three months). Her transferable skills ultimately made her a better data analyst. You can read her story here.
Become a data analyst with these transferable skills
- Analytical skills: If you have analytical skills, you’re able to use data to examine a problem from different sides and help break down the options for solving it.
- Problem-solving skills: If you love solving problems, you’ll love working with data. By identifying patterns, trends, and correlations, you can come to unique insights that solve business challenges.
- Communication skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders or present your findings to a broader audience.
- Research skills: The ability to find, organise, evaluate and present information is a particularly key skill for data analysts. Previous experience with research will help you to know what questions to ask to get the right answers.
- Critical thinking: Once all the data is in, your critical thinking skills will be put to the test as you evaluate data quality, identify biases, and assess the reliability of your findings.
- Adaptability: The field of data analysis is constantly evolving, and you’ll need to be flexible and able to adopt new technologies and methodologies to stay relevant.
Transition to product management
People often think product managers only need a technical background, and while it’s a vital skill set, certain soft skills are non-negotiable. These are transferable skills like design thinking, product marketing, and people or stakeholder management.
Say you’re a graphic designer looking to rework your previous experience to become a product manager. The transferable skills you likely already have and will help you transition are time management, attention to detail, collaboration, creativity, and a knack for visual communication.
Become a product manager with these transferable skills:
- Collaboration: You’ll need the skills to work in cross-functional teams and collaborate with various stakeholders. Effective communication, listening to feedback, and working together to achieve common goals are essential.
- Creativity: Product managers must think creatively when problem-solving, developing innovative solutions, and envisioning new features or product improvements.
- Visual communication: Excellence in visual communication is a must – as is applying design principles to communicate product ideas and concepts.
- Attention to detail: You’ll pay meticulous attention to details, ensuring that layouts are visually appealing and product specifications, user stories, and requirements are accurate and well-defined.
- Problem-solving: You’ll enjoy challenges and finding solutions to visually communicate complex ideas. You’ll identify and solve product-related problems like user pain points, market gaps, or technical limitations.
- Time management: Effective time management skills allow you to work on multiple projects while managing timelines, coordinating resources, and ensuring timely product releases.
The King’s Product Management Career Accelerator focuses on both the technical and soft skills needed to become a successful product manager. You’ll have the opportunity to apply the skills you learn to a live business project that’s six weeks, and set by a leading industry employer. So no matter if you’re starting your career or making a change, you’ll get practical experience – and a portfolio of work – to launch your career.
Transferable skills across other high-demand industries
While data analytics and product management are excellent career paths, transferable skills open doors across many other growing sectors:
Cybersecurity
Professionals with problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and continuous learning mindsets are highly sought after in this field.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Beyond technical expertise, AI professionals need critical thinking, creativity, ethical reasoning, and communication skills to explain complex algorithms to non-technical stakeholders and consider the societal impact of AI systems.
Project management
Project managers with organisational skills, leadership abilities, stakeholder management, and strategic thinking are essential to national development.
Healthcare
With high demand for healthcare professionals, transferable skills like empathy, communication, problem-solving under pressure, teamwork, and attention to detail are crucial alongside medical knowledge.
Renewable energy
Professionals with analytical thinking, project coordination, problem-solving, and adaptability are needed to support this growing sector.
Digital marketing
Creativity, analytical skills, communication abilities, adaptability to new platforms, and strategic thinking make strong digital marketers across industries.
Developing and strengthening your transferable skills
The good news is that transferable skills can be continuously developed and improved throughout your career. Here are ways to build your skills:
- Take online courses and certifications in areas like leadership, communication, or project management
- Volunteer for projects outside your comfort zone
- Join professional organisations or networking groups
- Seek mentorship from experienced professionals
- Read widely across different industries and topics
- Enrol in FourthRev’s Career Accelerator programmes that combine technical training with soft skills development
In a constantly evolving job market, where skills gaps present both challenges and opportunities, your transferable skills are the bridge between where you are now and where you want to be. Whether you’re a student entering the workforce, a professional considering a career change, or someone looking to upskill for advancement, investing in your transferable skills is investing in your future.
Where will you go with your transferable skills?
Find out more about the LSE Data Analytics Career Accelerator, King’s Product Management Career Accelerator, and other programmes that help you develop both technical expertise and essential transferable skills for career success.
