Transferable Skills & Career Transition

Transferable skills are not only about adapting to change but also about the ability to apply skills and knowledge in new contexts.

What is a transferable skill?

Like many of you, I've had to adapt to the whirlwind of technological progress since I graduated and got my first job. My knowledge of database and algorithms in the 1990s can be considered a transferable skill because my understanding of how to collect, organise, and analyse data is still relevant to many different types of jobs today. For example, my knowledge of ATS demonstrates an understanding of how to optimise CVs to pass employer filters, or algorithms.

As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, career transition is becoming an inevitable aspect of professional life rather than a rarity. This constant evolution means that the idea of a single, lifelong career is becoming increasingly outdated.
CV Writer, Nottingham, UK

Showcasing your transferable skills

Understanding how to align your transferable skills with an employer's selection criteria is essential. Employers' selection criteria are the specific qualities, experiences, and skills that an organisation seeks in a candidate for a particular role. To effectively match your transferable skills to these criteria, it's crucial to carefully read the job description and identify the underlying skills required for the role. Then, illustrate through concrete examples from your previous experiences how these skills have been developed and applied successfully.

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What role do transferable skills play in successful career transition?

Transferable skills play a critical role in successful career transitions:

Transferable skills are the skills that you have acquired in your current job or previous jobs that can be applied to different industries or roles. These skills include things like problem-solving, communication, project management, and leadership.

Transferable skills: which ones to highlight?

By identifying transferable skills that are relevant to an employer's selection criteria, you can demonstrate that you have the ability to adapt and excel in new roles and industries. This can make you a more attractive candidate for job openings and can help to bridge the gap between your current experience and the experience required for your desired career.

Some examples of transferable skills include:

Transferable skills: Communication skills

The ability to convey information effectively and efficiently to individuals or groups.

Transferable skills: Leadership skills

The ability to lead, motivate, and manage a team of people.

Transferable skills: Problem-solving skills

The ability to identify, analyse and find solutions to problems.

Transferable skills: Time-management skills

The ability to prioritise tasks and manage time efficiently.

Transferable skills: Interpersonal skills

The ability to interact and build relationships with people from different backgrounds and levels.

Transferable skills: Technical skills

The ability to use specific tools and technologies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Executive CV Imperatives, The CV development process, inclusions, fees and packages

How do I engage you to write my CV?

Most people like to start with a phone call to chat about the options and my process. More...

This phone chat provides a valuable opportunity to ensure you select the most appropriate CV package that caters to your unique needs.

Click on the phone, anytime night and day, to book a complimentary 15 minute call at a time that suits you.
During this initial call, we will go through my process, and I will outline the kind of support and communication you can anticipate throughout our partnership. The primary objective here is to instil confidence in my ability to present your profile in a light that optimises your chances of securing interviews.

Ready to proceed? Kindly choose a package and complete your payment via debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Following this, we'll arrange an initial call to explore your requirements. Together, we'll refine your CV and any additional documents included in your chosen package until you're entirely satisfied. Should you require further assistance, additional CV services are available at your discretion.

If your needs are urgent, the best approach is to complete my form with as much detail as possible. This provides me with important context.

My process and my credentials

We will work together to carefully align your CV with the employer's selection criteria. More...

  • Review of selection criteria

    A detailed examination of the employer's specific criteria to ensure your application aligns precisely with their expectations.

  • Discussion about potential employer

    We explore the employer's culture, market dynamics, and broader industry factors to inform a nuanced application.

  • Personal attributes 'gap' analysis

    Evaluating the alignment between your attributes and the employer's criteria, we strategise to accentuate your strengths and mitigate any weaknesses.

  • Initial CV build

    This stage involves developing the first draft of your CV, highlighting your achievements and experience in a manner tailored to the role.

  • Review and Refinement

    Rigorous refinement of your CV ensures it presents a compelling narrative that aligns closely with the employer's requirements.

  • Preparation of supporting documents and social media profile

    We also prepare any necessary supporting documents and optimise your social media profile for a consistent professional image.

  • Application

    The final step is the submission of your carefully crafted application, maximising your chances of securing an interview.

CV Writer Certification and Memberships

I am a founder-member of the UK-based CVRA, which professionally certifies and educates CV and Resume Writers worldwide.

Certified CV Writer

Can we chat before I make a purchase?

Yes, we can have a brief chat before you place an order for any CV package. Once an order is placed, for the £205 and up CV packages, we can Zoom meet or phone at mutually convenient times to discuss your CV needs and the best approach, or to hone the documents. It's best for me to see your old or existing CV, and the job ad or job specification before we meet for the first time.

How do I select a CV package?

The job ad or description will set out exactly what an employer wants from you. More...

It's quite common for senior people to feel that they can skip certain aspects of the application because of their status, but if your resume doesn't align with the selection criteria it almost certainly won't pass the ATS, let alone be read by a human.

Executive CV Elements

The key elements of most executive job applications are: the CV, the Cover Letter or e-note, and the LinkedIn Profile.

  • A CV (referred to as a Resume in the USA and Australia) is a concise summary of your qualifications, knowledge, skills, experience, and achievements, tailored to the selection criteria of the job you seek.
  • The cover letter, often digital (an e-note) in today’s online application processes, distils your CV’s pertinent attributes into a succinct pitch.
  • Applicants are frequently required to "address the selection criteria," providing responses for both essential and desirable skills, knowledge, experience, and achievements.
Implicitly, your application should demonstrate alignment with the employer's selection criteria, even if not explicitly requested.
The cover letter (or its electronic counterpart) and LinkedIn profile derive from your CV, supporting your application for the specific role. LinkedIn is crucial for roles where a professional network is key and serves as a platform for potential headhunting.

If your needs are urgent, the best approach is to email me with as much detail as possible.

What exactly are 'selection criteria'?

Consider this your blueprint for differentiation, addressed to ensure your pitch precisely mirrors the attributes sought by the employer More...

Selection criteria delineate the exact qualifications, experiences, and personal attributes a company values in candidates, especially critical for executives poised to align with an organisation's strategic aims and culture.

Such criteria typically include a blend of essential and preferred qualifications, highlighting:

  • Demonstrated prowess in leadership and adeptness in team oversight.
  • Advanced educational qualifications and pertinent professional history.
  • Strategic acumen and sector-specific insight.
  • International experience, showcasing a global perspective and cross-cultural competency.
  • Notable accomplishments that have had a tangible impact on previous organisations.
Often referred to by various titles like Job Specifications, Position Requirements, and Competency Frameworks, these criteria provide a detailed blueprint of the expectations for applicants, addressing both technical abilities and behavioural virtues.

What sectors do you specialise in?

I have extensive experience across private, public, and third sectors on three continents. More...

I have authored executive CVs for, and/or been employed by, organisations in these sectors, among others:

    Executive and C-Suite CVs

  • CEO, Director, Senior Executive roles in the private, public and third sectors
  • Overseas postings and migration Resumes and CVs (USA, Australia, New Zealand)
  • Third sector Executive CVs
  • Pharmaceutical, Health & NHS Trust Executive CVs
  • Financial services and Insurance Executive CVs
  • Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education Senior Appointment CVs
  • Construction and Engineering Executive CVs
  • Transport and Logistics Executive CVs
  • Technology, e-Business and Digital Executive CVs
  • Retail & Hospitality Executive CVs
  • Government, County Council, political and Local Authority CVs
  • Marketing and Sales Executive CVs
  • IT and Information Management Executive CVs
  • Mining & Resources Executive CVs (extensive experience)
  • Franchisee application CVs (McDonalds etc)

CVs submitted to these organisations

The accomplishment checklist

A compelling CV must convey your potential capacity to drive success in complex corporate landscapes. More...

A compelling executive CV must showcase your capacity to drive success in complex corporate landscapes, focusing on significant and measurable achievements over duties and responsibilities.

Personal action accomplishments

In this context, consider problems as constraints on an organisation from a prospective employer's viewpoint. Reflect on challenges you've overcome or opportunities you've seized.

About the PAR Technique

The Problems->Actions->Results (PAR) method helps highlight your professional accomplishments, filling the 'experience' sections of your CV to show you meet an employer's needs.

1.Financial Accomplishments

Consider any actions taken to save or make money, boost efficiency, or enhance productivity. Have you expanded sales, developed new areas, or streamlined operations?

2.Innovative Accomplishments

Reflect on any adopted innovations or identified needs leading to new products, services, or strategies, showcasing your ability to think ahead and bring about change.

3.Interpersonal and leadership accomplishments

Your contributions to improving team relations, enhancing communication, or leading initiatives underline your leadership and collaborative skills.

4.Quality and added-value accomplishments

Have you improved training, recruitment, product quality, or customer experience? Highlight how you've raised standards or added value.
Alternatives to the STAR technique, include CAR (Context, Action, Result), PAR (Problem, Action, Result), SOAR (Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result), SCAR (Situation, Challenge, Action, Result), SAO (Situation, Action, Outcome), OAR (Opportunity, Action, Result), and DAR (Difficulty, Action, Result), offer versatile frameworks for articulating competencies and achievements.

Each model varies slightly, focusing on different aspects of a situation, whether it's the context, problem, obstacle, challenge, opportunity, or difficulty faced. This variety allows individuals to tailor their storytelling to best match their experiences and the interviewer's expectations, ensuring a concise and impactful presentation of their skills and successes.

How to Stuff Up Your Job Application

Numerous individuals submit applications for countless roles, only to be met with silence. More...

Here's where they often stuff up:

Overlooking the ATS

The primary stumbling block? Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). A staggering 70% of CVs are thought to be sifted out by these digital gatekeepers at the first hurdle because they fail to align with the employer's selection criteria, marking the downfall of the one-size-fits-all CV.

The Generic CV Trap

Distributing the same CV for varied applications is a guaranteed misstep. Personalise your CV for each role, highlighting how your unique skills and experiences position you as the ideal candidate.

Incompatibility with Job Specifications

If your CV doesn't echo the skills and experience the job advert demands, chances are it'll be passed over. Ensure your CV meticulously matches the job requirements detailed in the employer's specification.

Overly Stylised CVs

Avoid overly stylised CVs that prioritise aesthetics over functionality. Laden with colours and complex layouts, these CVs often confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), rendering them fatally ineffective. Also, many organisations and jurisdictions will reject applications containing photographs to avoid accusations of gender or ethnicity bias.

To avoid the pitfalls and boost your chances of an interview, focus on devising a CV that's not just clear and concise but also bespoke for the job in question and compatible with ATS requirements.
To avoid the pitfalls and boost your chances of an interview, focus on devising a CV that's not just clear and concise but also bespoke for the job in question and compatible with ATS requirements.

Like to chat first?

Please complete this form if you'd like a 15 minute chat prior to making a commitment to purchase my CV writing services. I will contact you to confirm a precise time and date.

If your needs are urgent please contact me by phone, FB or TXT.

Elle has consistently provided personalised, results-driven CV consultancy services, with a fifteen-year track record in delivering personal support that accentuates the achievements and aspirations of her clients. This means moving beyond a comprehensive job history to spotlight accomplishments and skills that directly address the employer's wants and needs (selection criteria).

Hitting the sweet spot with your CV

Board-level CV Writer

Selection criteria may not be explicitly stated in a job description, but addressing them is crucial if you are to align your application to the employer's needs, requirements, and circumstances.

  1. Your attributes: The first circle represents your (the applicant's) knowledge, achievements, and skills
  2. Job description: The second circle represents the employer's strategic and operational needs in filling the post
  3. The market: The third circle represents the broader trends and challenges facing the employer's industry

This succinctly illustrates why each senior executive CV and its accompanying documentation must be tailored to an employer's requirements, needs, and situation. Venn and the art of the CV (Bradshaw, Edwards 2022).

CV alignment with selection criteria

  • Begin with the employer's needs.

    This vital process entails deeply considering the employer's selection criteria. Understanding their demands allows us to precisely tailor your application to meet their expectations."

  • Your attributes versus their needs.

    We evaluate how your qualities, experience, and achievements align with the employer's selection criteria. This review guides our approach to accentuate your strengths and address or downplay any weaknesses, ensuring your application is best positioned.

  • Starting Your CV

    The groundwork of your application is laid here with the creation of your CV's first draft. Utilising insights from earlier steps, we showcase your achievements, skills, and experience in a pitch crafted for the role.

  • CV review and refinement

    Next, we carefully review and enhance your CV, focusing on crafting a narrative that aligns closely with the employer's requirements. Each aspect is examined to ensure optimal alignment and a compelling pitch.

  • Supporting documents and social media.

    We prepare requested supporting materials like cover letters and answers to questions. We also create or fine-tune your social media presence to ensure it reflects a consistent and professional image, further supporting your application.

  • Application submission.

    This final phase is where you submit the carefully curated and error-free application to the potential employer, ensuring it adheres to all specifications. This is designed to maximise your likelihood of being called for an interview.
This holistic approach aims to boost your success in securing interviews by meticulously aligning your profile with employer expectations and weaving a persuasive story of your skills and experience. Although our strategy adapts to each client's unique needs, this outline showcases our core methodology. In situations without a specific job target, we apply sector-wide or role-specific criteria to tailor your application, ensuring broad relevance and appeal. Nonetheless, this broad-stroke approach may not be as effective for executive positions, which require bespoke applications.

Aligning your CV

Tailor your CV to the prospective employer's specific needs and demonstrate how your accomplishments align with their requirements. Providing concrete examples with metrics strengthens your case and enhances your chances of securing an interview.

  1. Your attributes: The first circle represents your (the applicant's) knowledge, achievements, and skills
  2. Job description: The second circle represents the employer's strategic and operational needs in filling the post
  3. The market: The third circle represents the broader trends and challenges facing the employer's industry