How to Highlight Transferrable Skills on Your Resume
Finding a job description that perfectly aligns with your skillset is near impossible. A job search can feel even more daunting when you’re trying to change job titles, break into a new industry, or are a new graduate.
Perhaps you have read a job posting and thought, “I can do this,” despite the mismatch in what the employer has listed as a requirement. With the post, my goal is to explain how you can target your resume to align with the job posting. The key is to align your past experience to the role. Connect the dots for the hiring team. This is where transferable skills come in.
As an example, I will use the CLIENT LIAISON AGENT position with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, specifically the Family Responsibility Office. This is a fabulous opportunity for you to get your foot in the door with a provincial government role. This role could lead you to a case manager or investigator role with the Family Responsibility Office. As well, once you are a provincial employee, you will have access to internal positions that are not offered to external candidates.
Under the "how do I qualify?" heading, you will see 3 sections:
Client Relations, Interpersonal, and Communication Skills
Technical Knowledge and
Analytical, Organizational, and Time Management Skills.
This position will have hundreds of applicants. The Ministry will use computer software to filter applications. To make it through the filter, you must include keywords from the job application in your cover letter and resume. However, you can't just randomly toss in keywords. You need to provide examples. For those of you that have taken the Professional Development course, this is where you will use achievement-focused statements.
The more you break down your past experience into these transferable skills, the easier it will be for the employer to envision you in this role.
I hope that this helps you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
