Transferable
Skills
Career Guide
A guide to landing a job based on
your real-world experience
A collaboration with
Radical Ideas
from
Radical - adjective / [ rad-i-kuhl ]
Relating to or affecting the
fundamental nature of something;
far-reaching or thorough.
Radical Thinkers
ConCreates is a creative agency powered by
incarcerated and formerly incarcerated
individuals. ConCreates exists to give radical
thinkers the chance to harness their creativity
in a positive way. ConCreates gives brands the
diverse, authentic and breakthrough thinking
they need and formerly incarcerated people
the second chance they deserve.
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Table of Contents
Radical Ideas from Radical Thinkers
03
Foreword
04
Why are Transferable Skills Important in the Workplace?
05
Part 1 – Real Stories
Incarceration
07
Motherhood
10
Entrepreneurship
13
Part 2 – Transferable Skills
Transferable Skills Defined
16
Hiring the Human
17
How To Identify Your Transferable Skills
19
Top 25 In-Demand Skills in 2022
20
Part 3 – How to Take Action
Game Plan
22
Three Things You Can Do Right Now
23
Obstacle: Gaps in Your Resume
24
Obstacle: Career Change
25
Afterword + More Resources 26
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
Foreword
If you're looking for new ways to market yourself in today's economy,
this guide shows you how to highlight an accumulation of skill sets
you’ve gained throughout your life. Some of these skills are ones that
an employer might not see the true value of right away, but you can
show how your background makes you uniquely qualified for the job.
Transferable skills are important because our shifting job market
requires hiring managers to look for something different. Beyond
technical skills, qualities that show your ability to wear multiple hats
are now in high demand. Once you become in tune with these non-
traditional transferable skills, you’ll be able to embrace and utilize all
the unique experiences you’ve gained throughout life.
Just as we at ConCreates have redefined ourselves, it’s refreshing to
work with a company like Indeed where there’s a strong alignment
around the notion of “hiring the human.” We’ve led with our flaws
and challenged the world to see us for the ingenuity and genius that
we possess. Indeed champions the mission of helping all people get
jobs, and we’re grateful to bring you this guide to share our
experiences of turning transferable skills into confident career paths.
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
Why are
transferable
skills important
in the
workplace?
Transferable skills are a way for you to show that you can do the job,
even if you don't meet every single requirement or skill match in the
job description.
Adaptability – Being versatile is important when searching for a new
role. Employers are seeking “all-rounders” — those who are able to
complete multiple things and fill different roles if and when needed.
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
1
Real
Stories
Where some
see a criminal
record
We see a
unique skill set
Real Stories:
Incarceration
Speak Your Truth
Despite having a leadership background in his community Key Takeaway
and creative spaces, Vincent found himself behind bars Mind Over Matter
after getting involved with selling drugs.
No matter where you find
yourself in life, dedication
While incarcerated, he remained curious and open minded, to a cause you believe in
learning about the people around him and avoiding the can transcend any physical
negativity of prison culture. He used his charisma to his circumstances. By trusting
advantage, befriending guards in order to access himself, Vince was able to
educational and creative opportunities.
reclaim his incarceration
experience and channel it
He soon realized that prison is a breeding ground for into a force of positivity.
creativity. Launching several initiatives while incarcerated,
and later ConCreates, Vince took ownership of his felony
record and turned it into a force of positivity.
“My charisma is my
currency; my ability
to see opportunity
where most people
see problems. I don't
see problems, I only
try to solve things. I
look at problems as
an opportunity to
solve them.”
Skillset Transfer
Real World Transferable
Experiences
Skills
Learning to embrace and Empathy
respect different races and Cultural Awareness
cultures, a must while Problem Solving
incarcerated. Relationship Building
Learning to stay Discipline
focused on oneself, not Goal Orientation
minding other people’s Time Management
business. Self-Esteem
Finding ways to be in
Strategic Thinking
creative and thought-
Adaptability
provoking spaces while
Communication
behind bars.
Vision
Learning to put the needs
Compassion
of the incarcerated
Patience
community over personal
Teamwork
needs.
Leadership
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
Where some
see a stay-at-
home mom
We see an
accounts
manager
Real Stories:
Motherhood
Lead With Love
When she was 16, DeeAnna became pregnant with her Key Takeaway
boyfriend’s child and was quickly abandoned by her family. By Any Means Necessary
She had essentially no support and nowhere to live because It is often in times of
her friends’ parents considered her a bad influence.
despair when bare
necessity forces us to see
Eventually, she struck a deal with a single mother who let her a way back to the light.
stay in her two-bedroom in exchange for watching her Left with no choice but to
daughter during the work day. All the while, she continued to provide for her children,
attend school and had to make do with what little she had to DeeAnna learned to make
survive.
something from nothing
at a young age and has
Upon graduating high school at the age of 18, she had never turned back.
another child. But with the right mindset, she was able to
become stable and independent and has never looked back,
achieving great success as a result.
“I am proud of my
ability to use all of my
life experiences —
good and bad,
traditional and non-
traditional — to my
advantage and apply
them in a successful
legal environment.”
Skillset Transfer
Real World Transferable
Experiences
Skills
Learning to make her and Budgeting
her family’s home life Resource Allocation
comfortable with the bare Decision-Making
minimum when she was Planning
unable to work.
Learning to apply for, Application Skills
receive and maintain Attention to Detail
government Research
assistance. Digital Literacy
Learning how to provide
Crisis Management
the mental, emotional and
Empathy
physical needs for herself
Negotiation
and her children.
Prioritization Skills
Learning how to cook,
Leadership
clean and properly care
Organizational Skills
for a household so her
Safety Standards
family would be safe,
Communication
comfortable and well
cared for.
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
Where some
see a drug dealer
We see an
entrepreneur
Real Stories:
Entrepreneurship
Trust the Process
Born with a knack to hustle, Tommy realized his Key Takeaway
entrepreneurial abilities by selling candy in grade school. By Wealth in the
high school, his passion for profits took over and he started Knowledge of Self
to sell drugs.
Facing incarceration
forced Tommy to sit with
His eventual incarceration forced him to rechannel his discomfort and come to
energy toward drive and education. In prison, he continued know himself on a deeper
to explore entrepreneurial opportunities but with a focus on level. Beyond this
empathy and understanding human nature.
experience, Thomas has
sought further guidance
Doing the work to understand himself and others allowed on his lifelong pursuit of
him to make the best use of his skills, earning him an MBA self-awareness, which has
and the knowledge to pursue legal business once he got allowed him to clearly see
back home.
and achieve his goals.
“Integrity is an
important transferable
skill that often gets
overlooked. Being a
person of your word
and also being able to
deliver on time is worth
its weight in gold.”
Skillset Transfer
Real World Transferable
Experiences
Skills
Running businesses since Initiative
he was selling candy on Self-Confidence
the playground in grade Problem Solving
school. Self-Starter
Avoiding toxicity behind Emotional Intelligence
bars, becoming self- Consistency
aware and learning to Communication
control his emotions. Self-Control
Pursuing a business degree
Dependability
while incarcerated and
Leadership
encouraging his peers to
Organizational Skills
continue educating
Time Management
themselves.
Building and maintaining
Integrity
a diverse set of
Team Building
relationships and
Diplomacy
friendships; seeing the
Awareness
good in others.
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
2
Transferable
Skills
Transferable Skills:
Defined
Today’s rapidly evolving world calls for a new era of thinkers in the
workforce. As industry leaders feel the pressures of hiring shortages
and the ability to prepare for the future, the demand for adaptable
workers is at an all-time high. Now more than ever, people who come
from non-traditional backgrounds are at the forefront of what every
company needs.
Transferable skills are qualities that carry over from one role or
experience to a variety of others. Instead of needing a degree in a
specific subject to qualify for a certain role, employers are now
looking for individuals who can apply real-life experience to the
working world.
The following are some real examples of transferable skills:
Managing a Household
Budgeting, Scheduling, Conflict Management
Completing Chores
Digital Literacy, Initiation, Communication
Filling Out Applications
Attention to Detail, Execution, Dependability
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Hiring the
Human
Real people with real life experiences are what the world
needs right now.
Seeing Your Potential
You have probably overcome significant obstacles in your life.
Whether you learned to adapt to society after incarceration,
managed a busy household or turned your network into your net
worth, you have what it takes to rise above the rest in today’s job
market.
Realizing Your Value
In the past, the corporate world was largely powered by Type
A employees with specialized degrees in their respective fields.
Today, most employers are seeking team members who can bring a
unique perspective and an array of life experience to the table.
Your skills and experiences are in high demand.
Self-Confidence + Motivation
Possessing transferable skills is step one. To achieve your goals,
you'll need to remain motivated. What energizes you? What drives
you? Reflect on what brings you happiness and fulfillment. Picture
yourself achieving your dreams, set achievable goals and hold
yourself accountable to the life
you want to live.
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
How to Identify Your
Transferable Skills
It can be challenging to see yourself from an employer’s
perspective. Even those who come from more “traditional”
backgrounds struggle with this, which is why career development
resources are so popular. If you don’t come from a “traditional”
background, it can be very difficult to see where you fit into the
corporate world.
To take the pressure off directly answering the question, “What
transferable skills do I have?” we’ve created an assessment to help
you identify the strengths and skills that set you apart.
Take some time to reflect while answering and, if helpful, open up a
word document to capture your thoughts about the following
questions:
01
What non-traditional things have you done to earn money
or make a living?
02
What do you consider your strengths when it comes to
doing what you do?
03
What’s a significant challenge you faced?
How did you deal with it?
04
What do you see in yourself now that you did not used to see?
05
How have you learned from your environment/community?
Give a specific example.
06
How does dealing with adversity play a role in your skill set?
07
What’s something you bring to your community?
08
What are you most proud of in yourself?
09
Feel free to tell a story or make a list.
10 Why do you feel drawn to the work you do?
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
Top 25
In-Demand Skills
01
Communication
01 Communication
02
English
Experiences that deal with interacting with people
03
Caregiving
across different settings (e.g., cashier, teacher,
youth sports coach) can sharpen communication
04
Customer Service
skills. Understanding the value of this skill set can
05
Sales
help you qualify for positions such as:
06
Microsoft Office
Communications Executive, Public Relations
07
Computer Skills
Specialist, and Director of Human Resources
08
Microsoft Excel
Related in-demand skills include:
09
Manufacturing
Customer Service, Sales, Service Skills
10
Microsoft Word
11
Organizational Skills
04 Customer Service
Showing that you can interact with and build
12
German
rapport with people is a valuable skill that can be
13
Java
applied to a variety of jobs. Across fields and
14
Leadership
industries, people who can show empathy and
15
Driving
advocate for customers prove themselves to be
16
Analysis Skills
valuable additions to a customer-facing team and
17
Service Skills
for positions such as: Support Representative,
Retail Manager, and Director of Hospitality
18
Python
Related in-demand skills include:
19
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Office, Java, Python, SQL
20
Time Management
21
SQL
14 Leadership
22
Project Management
Coming from a culture where community is a high
23
Administrative Affairs
priority, many of us are forced to step up as leaders
24
Maintenance
at a young age. Whether it’s taking care of your
25 JavaScript siblings, leading within your religious group or
looking out for your neighbors, this skill set can
lead to roles such as: Chief Executive Officer (CEO),
Project Manager, and Hiring Manager
Related in-demand skills include:
Caregiving, Organization, Project Management
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
3
How
to take
action
The
Game Plan
A Brief Review and Steps Moving Forward
Defining Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are qualities that maintain value across a wide
array of career paths
Identifying Your Skill Sets
Transferable skills can come from life experience, community roles
and past jobs you might not expect. Take a moment to ask yourself
what your biggest strengths are and how you’ve overcome adversity
in the past, and look for roles that can leverage your unique skill set
superpowers.
Self-Confidence + Motivation
Knowing your strengths is just part of the process. In order to
actualize your goals, you’ll need to focus on what drives you.
Understand that your talents are needed to build a brighter future
and get after it.
Putting It All into Practice
We know this is a lot of information to take in. Take your time and
don’t be afraid to ask for help. This final section will suggest steps
you can take to employ your transferable skills right now.
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
Three Things You
Can Do Right Now
1.
Consider your obstacles
Take out a sheet of paper or open a new doc. Write out 5 obstacles
you’ve gone through in life and how you overcame them. Use this
guidebook to identify the skills you used in each scenario. Finally,
keep this list of transferable skills handy so you can add them to
your resume and speak about them in future interviews.
2.
Create a work-back schedule
A work-back schedule is an organizational tool used by project
managers to reverse-engineer their goals into reality so they can
apply to jobs, develop their skills or update their resume. Follow
these steps to create your own work-back
Set a goal and put a date on it
Find the halfway point; where will you need to be by that date
Continue to narrow down the steps as much as you’d like (we
recommend 5-15 steps)
Put a date on each task and hold yourself to it.
3. Use your network
Check in with your people. Your network is your net worth and you
never know when your next big opportunity could be a message
away.
It can be challenging to stay connected, but remembering to check
in with those who care about you can help keep you centered and
focused on your purpose.
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
Obstacle: Gaps in
Your Resume
Your Name Here
1(800)-SKILLED Email: noname@[Link]
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
WORK EXPERIENCE
A self-starter with a breadth of 2016-2022 — Unemployed
transferable skills.
How do you explain this gap?
SKILLS
If you’re just getting back to
society after being
When it comes to highlighting incarcerated, or have spent
your expertise on a resume, the last few years making sure
not everything has to come your infant was taken care of,
from “professional” there will be reasonable gaps
experience. in your employment history.
Getting educated while in Consider highlighting how you
prison = Time grew and what you learned or
Management accomplished during your gap,
Organizing a peaceful such as completing a
protest = Leadershi professional program while
Instilling positive values in incarcerated. A combination
your children = Empathy
or functional resume also may
be a better fit than a
EDUCATIO chronological resume.
Azusa Pacific,
Bachelor of Arts in 2009-2016 — Sales Associate
Marketin
Hollywood High
2002-2009 — Restaurant
Host
Obstacle:
Career Change
Remove focus from
After 25 years of customer service
less relevant skills
experience in the healthcare industry, Original
Latifha wanted to make a career change
Aetna/CVS Caremar
into remote executive administration.
Answered incoming member
and provider dental and
Take a look at some of the key medical calls. Resolved complex
claim and benefit issues as well
adjustments she made to her resume to
as balance billing problems
highlight her transferable skills:
Helped new and existing
Internet Response Team
Revised members as a resource for
troubleshooting challenging
Specified and
SENIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE issues. Did quality reviews for
capitalized
job title REPRESENTATIVE — AETNA, INC new Internet Response Team
Knowledgeable and skilled on employees as requested by
the Google Workspace their supervisor
Highlighted Worked on the Internet
platform
directly related
Maintained positive Response teams for medical
experience
relationships with team and dental. Responded to
(digital and
members and staff to promote questions online from
people skills)
healthy communication and [Link] and
inclusiveness [Link].
Helped new and existing
Internet Response Team
members as a resource for
By refreshing her resume,
troubleshooting challenging
Broke down
Latifha was able to draw more
issues.
a run-on
sentence to Did quality reviews for new attention to her unique
highlight more Internet Response Team transferable skills. By
than one skill employees as requested by
highlighting these technical
set.
their supervisor
and interpersonal skills, she
Worked on the Internet
Response Team and responded was able to showcase
to questions online.
something special about her
that might otherwise go
Removed redundant info for readability
unrecognized.
© 2022 Indeed. All Rights Reserved
Afterword
Congratulations! You’re now one step closer to filling the gaps in your
resume, speaking about your experience and securing your next
career move.
You've always known what you are capable of — now you have some
more tools to translate that knowledge of your strengths and
experiences into marketable skills. We hope that you’ve found new
confidence in your abilities.
The CONCREATES Team
More resource
Transferable Skills: 10 Skills That Work Across Industrie
7 Transferable Customer Service Skills And Related Job
Top 12 Job Skills Employers Look for in Job Candidate
How to Develop Your Skill Set to Advance Your Caree
10 Skills for Cover Letter
How To Explain Gaps in Employment on Your Resum
Functional Resume: Definition, Tips and Examples
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