Most skills today are transferable, with modern workplaces valuing learning agility, teamwork, and proactiveness over rigid expertise. Many industries now seek executives from diverse sectors and functions to bring fresh perspectives, breaking traditional boundaries around skills. To identify transferable skills, I’d start by asking the right questions: What are their proudest achievements? Which tasks energize them? What challenges have they overcome? These reveal core soft and technical skills. I’d also guide them through self-reflection using tools like SWOT analysis to uncover strengths and opportunities. Finally, it’d be about matching these skills to industry trends and role requirements, ensuring alignment with career aspirations.

To identify transferable skills, I start by conducting a comprehensive review of the individual's past roles. I analyze job descriptions, responsibilities, and accomplishments to highlight core skills and competencies. I then delve into their soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and leadership, as these are valuable in any career. Finally, I match these identified skills with the requirements of potential new career paths to highlight their transferable potential. This approach helps individuals recognize their hidden strengths and position themselves effectively for a successful career transition.

Another effective approach is to explore their achievements and identify patterns of success. Asking questions like, “What accomplishments are you most proud of, and how did you achieve them?” often reveals hidden transferable skills like leadership, initiative, problem solving or strategic thinking. Additionally, consider conducting a skills-mapping exercise. Encourage them to list tasks they’ve excelled at and link those to broader competencies. For example, managing team projects could translate to project management or organizational skills in a new field. Finally, encourage them to leverage their unique perspective. Industry crossovers often bring innovative insights, turning their background into an advantage in a new career path!

I’d start by reviewing their past experiences to uncover the skills they’ve consistently used and excelled at; sometimes people have a hard time seeing that in themselves. I’d ask questions about how they’ve solved problems, led teams, or adapted to challenges; and also, what tasks they find to be particularly unpleasant. By matching their strengths to their new career path, I’d help them see how their existing abilities can seamlessly transfer and add value in a new context.

1. Additionally, it is good to review feedback from supervisors, colleagues, or clients. Look for recurring strengths or compliments, as these often indicate transferable skills. 2. Identify skills common to multiple industries. For example, project management, customer service, and data analysis are often transferable across fields. 3. Engage with professionals in the target field to understand the skills that are most valued and match those with the individual's existing expertise.