All change all change, bus terminates here

Having doubts about changing sector? More questions than answers? Can I change? Should I change? How do I change? What about my CV?

Firstly, yes you can change sector. Secondly, only you can ultimately decide if you want to change sector, or if it is the right thing for you to do, however I would say it is your life to live the way you want to as best you can.

If changing to another sector is your dream, or maybe you’ve been furloughed, the way forward is the same – transferable skills and a cover letter.

So, what are transferable skills exactly? They are skills and attributes which can be used in many roles regardless of sector.  And the good news is that we all possess them. We may not have thought about what they are, but we do all possess them. Below are few examples:

People skills

The Cambridge dictionary defines people skills as “the ability to deal with people in a friendly and effective way that achieves good results”.

Based on that definition, does your current or most recent role use people skills? For example, perhaps you are in a customer facing role or perhaps you have a volunteer role, that sees you meeting or speaking to people all the time.  

Problem solving

We almost all possess some problem-solving capability, we just may not be aware of it or have dismissed it as a skill we don’t have based on a particular definition.  For example, if your definition of problem solving is how to cross a river using a barrel and two planks of wood, SAS style, then the answer to “Do I have problem solving skills?” You are likely to say “No, I don’t”. However, perhaps you are an accomplished cook and have had to improvise when you don’t have key ingredients? Then you are likely to have problem solving skills as you can think around a problem and not panic, which is ultimately what a prospective employer is looking for.  So, ask yourself, “Can I think around problems?” Be sure to have some examples in mind.

Organisational

Have you ever been on holiday? If so, then you have some organisational skills. If you’re thinking that is a bit of a leap, then maybe, however think about what you did to go on holiday. You maybe planned where to go, researched the destination, booked the tickets and finally you packed your bag and turned up on time for the plane, train or bus. All of that takes organisation. This is a simplistic example but demonstrates how we all possess transferable skills we just need to think a little.

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