How to Map Transferable Skills to Career Goals

Thinking about a career change? Here’s how to actually make it happen, step by step. I’ve spoken with hundreds of people stuck between “I don’t want to do this anymore” and “But where do I even start?” Here’s the truth: Changing careers isn’t about starting over. It’s about repackaging what you already know, and proving you can solve a new set of problems. Here’s how to do it (with examples): 1. Start with your story. What’s pulling you away from your current path—and what’s pulling you forward? ✅ Example: “I’ve spent 6 years in education, but what I really loved was designing systems and learning tools. I’m now pivoting into UX design for edtech.” Make the shift clear and intentional. 2. Identify your transferable skills. You’ve built real value, name it. ✅ Example: Sales → Relationship-building, persuasion, handling objections Ops → Process design, cross-functional collaboration, execution List your strongest 4–6 skills and align them with your new target role. 3. Learn the language of the new industry. Every field has its own lingo. Start speaking it. ✅ Tip: Search 10 job listings in your target role. Write down the top 5 repeated words/phrases. Mirror those in your LinkedIn, resume, and pitch. 4. Rewrite your resume to match the direction, not the past. Lead with relevance, not chronology. ✅ Example: Add a “Career Summary” section: “Operations leader transitioning into product management, with 7+ years leading cross-functional teams, driving process improvements, and delivering results.” 5. Build proof fast. Don’t wait to get hired to show your skills. ✅ Options: Freelance Volunteer Build your own project Take a short course and create a case study Demonstrate that you’re not just interested, but also taking action. 6. Apply smart, not just often. Instead of applying everywhere, focus on quality roles in flexible environments. ✅ Pro tip: Use DailyRemote to find legit, remote-friendly roles across industries. It’s especially helpful for career changers who want fresh opportunities and a bit more breathing room. 7. Network with purpose. Start with conversations, not asks. ✅ DM example: “Hi Alex, I saw your post about transitioning into UX. I’m making a similar shift from content strategy. Would love to hear about your journey, no pressure at all.” Career changes take courage. But they’re absolutely possible. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience. Now package it with purpose, and go get what’s next.

In an interview I was asked how my experience could translate to data analytics, I said: "If I can draft legal documents, I can write SQL queries." One of the biggest challenges I faced when changing careers from paralegal to data analyst was being able to explain my transferable skills. How does being a paralegal relate to data analytics?  ✅ Attention to detail - If I can find a tiny comma in a legal document then I can spot inaccurate or missing data.  ✅ Communication - If I can work with high profile clients on legal cases I can work with stakeholders and their needs. ✅ Problem solving - If I could research legal cases then I can figure out how to write a query or create a dashboard. I had the skills to become a data analyst. I just had a difficult time communicating it. But once I figured it out, my interviews went a lot better. ❓ How have you described your transferrable skills in an interview?

These are 3 things I did that helped me the most to become a Product Manager 👇 1. Network with Product Managers the right way Understanding what Product Managers do was critical for me to prepare for creating my resume, my LinkedIn Profile, and understand my transferrable skills. Most people fail when networking because they immediately ask for a job or a referral. When connecting with Product Managers, your goal should be to LEARN about the role - referrals will come later. Here's how I increased my chances of getting a response from PMs on LinkedIn. I searched for PMs who met any of these criteria: - Went to my same college - Are from the same country/city - Transitioned from my current role into Product Management - Transitioned from my current/past company into one I'm interested in ⭐️ Your message should be short and concise, be respectful of their time, and ask for advice and not a referral. Your request should be simple: think about "How can I make it easy for them to say yes?". 2. Work on your story Your story will shine through your resume, your LinkedIn profile, and how you introduce yourself on a call. Everyone who becomes a PM, regardless of their background, becomes an expert in 2 things: a. Understanding transferrable skills they have related to Product Management b. Using those transferrable skills on their resume, profile, and story It should be clear on your resume and LinkedIn that you've done the work of a PM even if you didn't have the title (transferrable skills 😉). Transferrable skills are more than keywords like "working cross-functionally". transferrable skills are about how you influenced a cross-functional team to create/implement/change/achieve something that had an impact on the organization and/or customers ⭐️ What if you don't have many PM transferrable skills? It's time to either (a) plan how to exercise them on your job and/or (b) start working on a side project that allows you to build those skills. 💎 Need help with your resume or LinkedIn? Check my comment below! 💎 3. Create a good plan to become a PM Becoming a Product Manager is a marathon, not a sprint. Applying to a PM job and waiting for a call won't work for most people. Create a good transition plan that works for YOU. For example: a. Internal transfers: work with PMs at your company to become on. b. Change jobs, then internal transfers: No PMs at your company? find a job similar to what you do at another company with PMs, then work on an internal transfer. c. Leverage your expertise at a startup: Have X+ years of experience in an industry? Use that to negotiate with startups on getting a PM title and leverage your experience. c. Volunteer: Find non-profits or organizations around you to help them with projects as their PM d. Build your product: Nothing stops you from being a PM of your product! ⭐️ Certifications WILL NOT get you into Product Management, but hard work, networking, and a good plan WILL. #productmanagement

IS CAREER CHANGE STILL POSSIBLE IN MID-CAREER? Q. Hi Liz, I want to change careers but who would hire me in a new career path at my age? A. I remember how happily surprised I was when I realized that most jobs have a lot in common with one another. If we're talking about office jobs, most of the relevant skills are transferable. You'll learn new methods and new terminology in a new career path but everything else -- your brains, your wisdom, your ability to spot problems and solve them, your communication skills and so on - carries over from one career path to the next. Here are the steps to executing a career change at any age: 1) Decide which career path you want to explore. (That is a big question! If you're stuck on this point or any of the other points in this list, drop a note in my LinkedIn inbox and we'll brainstorm.) 2) Brand yourself for the new career path you're entering. That's going to involve changing some of what's on your resume now. You're branding yourself for a new audience, and hiring managers in that audience care about different things that the managers you wrote your old resume for. 3) Read job ads and research your target career path to understand the pain points hiring managers run into. They won't be obscure or mysterious. Common pain points are things like losing customers to competitors, checked-out employees (or turnover), a shortage of leadership bench strength, poor response to job ads, cost overruns, overburdened tech, etc. 4) Recall and reclaim some of your favorite Dragon-Slaying Stories(TM) - stories about times when you came, saw and conquered in your career thus far. Your stories illustrate your abilities far better than a list of skills ever could. 5) Create a Target Employer List. That's a list of employers who employ people in the new career path you're focused on. 6) Put together your strategy, and launch your job search! Need ideas? Drop a note in my LinkedIn inbox. Here's to your career adventures! #careerchange #midcareer #branding #rebranding #newyou #newpath #transferableskills #yougotthis

#DearPhDs, did you know that one of the most valuable transferable skills you bring to industry is often overlooked during the hiring process? I’m talking about YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN. You studied more than 98% of the world's population. You found answers to the world’s hardest problems. You learned things you never thought you could. Your ability to learn is your superpower. Applying learnings to new contexts is its sidekick. Use this duo to mitigate recruiter concerns. So the next time an interviewer mentions your 'lack of industry experience' or 'an excessive academic background', structure your response in three parts:  (1) reiterate how your transferable skills fit job requirements; (2) explain how you'll apply these skills to perform job duties; (3) highlight how you’ll use your ability to learn to fill any gaps. Learning is your superpower. Use it to stand out during your job search. During your industry interviews, make a point to highlight your ability to learn quickly and comprehensively and how you will use it to get up to speed in the role. Good luck with your interview! 💛

“Have you ever felt a stigma associated with changing careers?” A #transitioningteacher asked me this in my Messages yesterday. Here’s how I responded: Career changes are increasingly common, but it's all in how you "sell" it. 👉 It's on you to convince the hiring manager that you have the transferable skills; don't assume they know what you can do. 👉 Whether you are pivoting out of education, making a #militarytransition, or switching industries, you have to showcase the value you bring. Do this in your resume AND during interviews. As a job candidate, don't assume anyone knows what you've done. 👉 This is one reason I don’t recommend using “Transitioning ______ "(fill in the blank) in a headline. That puts the responsibility on the hiring team or #recruiter to unpack what that means. That's YOUR job. I interviewed with companies where being a #formerteacher wasn't an issue, and where I was encouraged to use my teaching experience in my responses about #projectmanagement. I also had interviews where they seemed fixated on the fact that I was "just a teacher" and they couldn't envision how my skills would transfer. I would avoid those places, anyway.  👉 Go where you are appreciated for your superpowers. ______________________________________ 🔥 Summary: It’s on YOU to showcase your value in a resume or interview. Clearly demonstrate how yours skills will transfer to a new role or industry. 🎤 #CareerPivoters: Have you experienced a stigma for changing careers?  How would you answer this question? Share in the comments! #transitioningteachers #transitioningservicemembers #interviewskills #careerpivot #careerchange

“I don’t think anyone is even seeing my resume, Isaiah. I’m either instantly rejected or I get an automated rejection. How can I tell if my resume is being seen.” This is what a job seeker asked me yesterday. The only way to 100% know you’ve been seen by an employer right now is to get an interview where the employer shows up to the interview and doesn't ghost you. You can't control ghosting. What you can control is making your resume correctly so it gets through today’s AI and so the gatekeeper likes it too and reaches out for an interview. What we’ve found is that diving into the world of transferable skills and mastering these skills and their unique nomenclature is the best way to do this. Highlighting transferable skills in your resume is crucial, especially for PhDs seeking positions in academia or transitioning to industry roles. Transferable skills are the abilities and expertise that are applicable in a variety of roles and sectors. They demonstrate your versatility and potential to contribute beyond your specific field of study. Here’s why they are important: First, transferable skills broadens employment opportunities. Transferable skills, such as critical thinking, project management, communication, strategic planning, documentation, reporting, presenting, problem solving, and leadership, can open doors to a range of job opportunities. They show potential employers that you can adapt and thrive in different environments, not just in the niche area of your research. Second, they bridge gaps. For PhDs transitioning from academia to industry, transferable skills help bridge the gap between academic experience and the business world. Employers may not be familiar with your specific area of research, but they will recognize and value these broader skills. Third, they enhance your resume. In a competitive job market, transferable skills make your resume stand out. They provide a holistic view of your capabilities and demonstrate that you are a well-rounded candidate. Fourth, they support career advancement. These skills are often linked to leadership and management potential. Highlighting them can position you for roles with greater responsibility and upward mobility within an organization. Fifth, they reflect adaptability. Employers value candidates who can adapt to new challenges and environments. Transferable skills showcase your ability to learn and evolve, which is particularly important in fast-paced or changing sectors. To effectively convey these skills on your resume, reflect on your academic and professional experiences to identify your transferable skills. Prioritize those most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Then, provide concrete examples of how you’ve used these skills in different settings. Are you communicating transferable skills on your resume? If so, which ones? Share this post to inspire another job seeker.