Highlighting Transferrable Skills Can Improve Your Job Search in a Covid Economy

I’ve been blogging about resume writing (cover letter and LinkedIn too) and job search tips for a few years now. What we are currently experiencing in the U.S. – on a global scale – and how it’s affecting (and will continue to affect) the job market going forward is unprecedented. Over the past 4 months, we have reached record-breaking unemployment numbers; entire industries have been obliterated (some with no possibility of bouncing back); and many companies are initiating organization-wide and/or department-wide hiring freezes. We are experiencing a new normal.

What does this mean for job seekers?

It means that the way employers evaluate hiring from early February 2020 has changed; and the current state of uncertainty has led employers to re-evaluate the value of certain skills.

During pre-pandemic times, I stressed to my clients the importance of focusing their brand around a specialization and positioning oneself as an expert in a specific skill set. I have noticed that in the COVID Economy, employers are also looking more closely at applicants with relevant transferrable skills.

Transferrable skills are the versatile abilities that we carry from one job to another. They can be a key selling point, enabling you to adapt and thrive in different organizational cultures and work environments. Examples of common skills considered most valuable are communication skills (verbal and written), problem-solving skills, and interpersonal/collaboration skills.

Establishing yourself as a specialist in your profession/industry is still important in building professional credibility. Many of today’s leaders elevated their careers by specializing; but in the current job market, this should be balanced by also capturing key transferrable skills that spotlight your ability to quickly adapt in different companies, titles, and industries. In today’s world those who are agile and flexible are better equipped to pivot and adjust their course of action and navigate rapid changes and uncertainty successfully.

Photo by Branko Stancevic on Unsplash