In a rapidly changing jobs market, what you know matters, but it could be argued that how you adapt matters more.

Whether you’re switching industries, returning to the workforce, or gunning for a promotion, your greatest asset isn’t just your job title, it’s your toolkit of transferable skills.

Often called ‘portable skills’, transferable skills are the abilities and attributes you’ve picked up throughout your life – through jobs, volunteering, hobbies, or education, that can be applied to a wide range of roles.

Unlike hard skills (like knowing how to write computer code or operate a forklift), transferable skills are more about the ‘how’ of your work than the ‘what’.

They are the universal adapters of the professional world. If you can prove you have these, you’re a long way towards a job offer:

Communication

Key to pretty much every role, the ability to convey ideas clearly, listen actively, and bridge gaps between different departments is top of every employer’s wishlist.

Critical thinking and problem solving

‘Bring me solutions, not problems’ – being able to identify a problem is one thing, but being able to figure it out and solve it is another entirely. Employers actively seek out employees that show initiative and who can come up with effective solutions using creative, critical thinking.

Adaptability

In 2026, the ability to pivot when technology or goals change is non-negotiable. If you stand still in terms of your skills or your willingness to work with new strategies and systems then you’ll be left behind. Employers want someone who can and wants to move with the times.

Leadership and collaboration

You don’t need a ‘manager’ title to lead. Leadership and collaboration are about being motivated, motivating others and working well within a team environment. Be open to ideas and be open with your ideas.

Time management

The ability to meet deadlines, organise your workflow and get the job done in an efficient manner without a supervisor hovering over you is a big one. Time is money after all.

It’s vital that you highlight your transferable skills at interview.

Walking in and saying ‘I’m a great communicator’ is a bit like saying ‘I’m a nice person’ – it doesn’t mean much without evidence to back it up.

To truly sell your transferable skills, consider the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

This is a structured technique used to answer behavioural interview questions, e.g. ‘Tell me about a time when...’ or ‘Give me an example of...’

Since interviewers use your past behaviour to predict your future performance, this STAR framework helps you tell a concise, compelling story without rambling.

• Situation: Set the scene. Give the context of what was happening.

• Task: Describe the specific challenge or goal you needed to address.

• Action: This is the most important part – explain what you specifically did to solve it.

• Result: The outcome – use data or specific praise to show a successful result.

By identifying your transferable skills and backing them up with concrete stories, you make yourself a good bet for any employer.

Don’t be afraid to lean on them in addition to your ‘hard’ skills.