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Transferable Skills: Key to Professional Resumes &

Interviews

Karen PowellCareer Services Centerwww.careers.wwu.edu

OM 280 ~ 360.650.3240M – F; 8 am – 5 pm

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“Secret” to demonstrating your value….

Use the

Employer’s

“Language” to

Communicate

Skills

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Identify Your Skill Sets

• Content skills

Specific skills acquired on the job or in major (i.e. WCE, Practica)

• Self-management skills

How you perform your work

• Transferable skills

Can be a combination of above & other skills

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What are transferable skills?

• Skills from the variety of life

• Gained through work experience, travel, volunteer activities, internships, hobbies, education &

home life

• “Transferable” because they travel with you from job to job

• May be “soft” skills; people/interpersonal,

cognitive, practical

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Do you have them?Yes!

• Begin to think about them

• Build a list

• Backtrack over the past

• How do present experiences relate to future goals?

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Do they count?Yes!

• Employers hire people:

who have people skills

who can think analytically and creatively

who will contribute to the team

• Employers & education will teach you the “specific content” skills, but don’t have the time or energy to teach the intangible skills

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“Transferable” Skills Administrators Desire in Teachers

• Verbal/Written Communication

• Teamwork• Motivation/Initiative• Leadership• Interpersonal• Technology Proficiency• Dependability

• Flexibility/Adaptability• Organization• Honesty/Integrity• Problem-Solving • Foreign Language;

Multi-Cultural Sensitivity

• Work Ethic

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Entries from Current Listings…

• “Competency in both written and oral English”

• “Ability to adapt to change and remain flexible”

• “Willingness and ability to contribute new ideas”

• “Ability to model positive behavior”• “Ability to use necessary equipment,

machinery, tools, or software”

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Change your language from Duties to focus on skills…

• Nanny: “Provide care for two active children” to• “Communicated proactively with parents about

charges’ discipline and behavior.”• Barista: “Prepare coffee orders to customer

specifications” becomes• “ Collaborate with team members to provide

quick, pleasant and accurate service”• Cannery: “Stem and package frozen strawberries”• “Conversed in Spanish with co-workers using

culturally sensitive strategies”

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Collect Experiences to Communicate Skills/Traits

• Leisure activities

• Volunteer Work

• Professional &Other Positions

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Resources

• Workshops

• Individual Consultations

• Mock Interviews

• Special Events

www.careers.wwu.edu

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Questions?

Thank You!