Identifying Transferable Skills // Interdisciplinary Major in International Affairs // Marquette University (2024)

Transferable Skills

1. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
   • 57% of job seekers aren’t confident in their ability to identify their transferable skills.
   • 50% of job seekers don’t know how to convey their soft skills or hard skills in a cover letter or resume.
   • Are you one of them?
2. WHAT ARE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS?
   • They are skills that you use in every job, no matter the title or the field. Some transferable skills are “hard skills” (e.g., data analysis, typing speed, a foreign language). Some transferable skills are soft skills (self-control, empathy, assertiveness).
   • Think of transferable skills as part of your career tool belt.
   • Every worker gains transferable skills from each career experience including part-time jobs, volunteering, internships, conferences, full-time jobs and student organizations.
3. WHAT SOFT SKILLS AND QUALITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO EMPLOYERS?
   According to the 2021 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook Survey, the top 10 qualities/skills employers seek are transferable skills:
   1. Ability to work in a team: 81%
   2. Problem-solving skills: 79%
   3. Analytical/quantitative skills: 76.1%
   4. Verbal communication skills: 73.2%
   5. Written communication skills: 72.7%
   6. Initiative: 67.8%
   7. Leadership: 67.8%
   8. Technical skills: 67.8%
   9. Flexibility / adaptability: 65.9%
   10. Strong work ethic: 65.4%
4. OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP SKILLS AT MARQUETTE

   Leadership

   • Group project work
   • Mentoring
   • Part-time jobs
   • Recreational sports teams
   • Student organization leadership roles
   • Volunteering

   Communication

   • Class participation
   • Emailing instructors
   • Group project work
   • Interview prep from the Career Services Center
   • Making friends
   • Mentoring
   • Presentations
   • Recreational sports teams
   • Student organizations
   • Volunteering
   • Writing essays and exams

   Problem Solving

   • Internships
   • Part-time jobs
   • Problem-based learning
   • Student organization leadership roles
   • Study abroad
   • Volunteering
   • Working out roommate issues

   Time Management

   • Balancing academics and extracurriculars
   • Commuting
   • Effective use of free time
   • Meeting deadlines
   • Part-time jobs
   • Prioritizing your coursework
   • Studying for midterms and final exams

   Teamwork

   • Event planning
   • Group project work
   • Internships
   • Part-time jobs
   • Recreational sports teams
   • Student organizations
   • Volunteering
5. IDENTIFY YOUR TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
   Try this exercise to identify your transferable skills.