Transferable Skills: Key to Professional Resumes & Interviews

1. Transferable Skills: Key to Professional Resumes & Interviews Karen Powell Career Services Center www.careers.wwu.edu OM 280 ~ 360.650.3240 M – F; 8 am – 5 pm

2. “Secret” to demonstrating your value…. Use the Employer’s “Language” to Communicate Skills

3. 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

4. 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 What are transferable skills?

5. 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?

6. 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 Do they count?Yes!

7. 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 “Transferable” Skills Administrators Desire in Teachers

8. 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”

9. 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” Change your language from Duties to focus on skills…

10. Collect Experiences to Communicate Skills/Traits • Leisure activities • Volunteer Work • Professional & Other Positions

11. Resources • Workshops • Individual Consultations • Mock Interviews • Special Events www.careers.wwu.edu

12. Questions? Thank You!