Why You Should Consider Transferable Skills When Hiring

In the past, your average employee would stay with one company until their retirement. In the modern workplace, this rarely happens. You can put partial blame for this on technology, as it allows workers to easily pivot their current experience and any transferable skills to jump into a completely different industry. 

Regardless of the causes of this trend, one thing is certain: businesses can capitalize on the newfound career mobility exhibited by many modern employees. Since quality candidates are hard to come by in 2023, attracting them from different industries may just be the solution you need to finally expand your talent pool and overcome any hiring challenges.

Before you’re able to do this, you need to know how to spot valuable transferable skills.

What Is The Definition Of Transferable Skills?

The definition of transferability, or more specifically the definition of transferable skills, centers on skills developed through a specific job that can be transferred and put to good use in a different job.

A good real-world example of the definition of transferable skills is the scenario in which a candidate doesn’t have the necessary experience for the role, but they’re still a perfect fit. In other words, what they lack in experience they more than make up for with their abilities that can be useful in the position a company is hiring for.

The main question to ask here is how you can potentially attract these types of people. Well, quite simple - reduce the number of nonessential demands in your job description. 

Here’s what we mean by it. If a master’s degree with 10 years of experience is not necessary, leave it out of the job posting and you’ll receive applications from a wider variety of candidates who just may be what you’re looking for.

What Transferable Skills Are The Most Important?

Now that we got over the definition of transferable skills, it’s time to clarify what these capabilities are. Absolute essentials that increase your (and your potential employee’s) chance of success are skills such as:

1. Technical skills

Nowadays, everything takes place in the digital world, and as such, you should demand a higher proficiency with a variety of technologies when hiring.

Since digital knowledge and computer skills in general overlap heavily between industries, you can bet that someone who possesses any of these transferable skills will always have a competitive advantage over someone who only knows the fundamentals.

2. Adaptability

Nine times out of ten, companies that can adapt to shifting business tides and are prepared to be flexible will win out over those dead set in their ways. The same can be said about your workforce. 

Making the best out of any situation is a valuable skill and someone who can adjust to different circumstances and work conditions will consistently be a valuable asset to your company. 

3. Growth mindset

An employee with a growth mindset will be motivated to try new things and will most likely pounce on the opportunity to take initiative. More importantly, failure won’t shake them and they’ll look at it as a valuable learning experience.

4. Critical thinking

By putting together a team of critical thinkers, you’ll leave your competitors in the dust - plain and simple.

This skill is quite rare and requires a hefty amount of evaluation of evidence-based thoughts, along with the ability to anticipate a multitude of outcomes. To put it differently, it’s about leveraging data and using it as a basis for make strategic decisions to solve a critical challenge.

5. Time management skills

When working in fast-paced environments, it’s important to be able to organize your schedule efficiently. This is becoming even more important lately as hybrid and remote working are slowly becoming a mainstay in most industries in the US.

6. Communication skills 

For candidates pursuing a career path in a different field, communication is paramount. In short, articulating ideas clearly ensures any confusion in the workplace is kept to a minimum and that the new hire can quickly find footing in the new position.

As a plus, if communication skills are combined with charisma and other people-centric qualities, this person can be ideal for various roles, including sales and marketing. 

7. Attention to detail 

The modern workplace is moving at a rapid pace and as a result, mistakes are bound to happen. Nevertheless, no matter how small the error is, it can be devastating if it occurs during a business-critical process. 

This is why attention to detail is vital when trying to attract an employee without experience in your industry. 

Just one person with a keen eye can empower the entire organization and put everyone at ease because they can see to it that nothing falls through the cracks. As such, we recommend insisting on this skill when scouting for new employees.

8. Leadership skills

Regardless of the industry, those in senior leadership can seemingly switch between companies that are completely different from one another. For instance, it’s common to see CEOs running a SaaS company one day, and then jump to an organization in the financial sector without any experience.

This is where leadership skills kick in.

Most people in leadership roles tend to inspire people, think strategically, and make the best decisions for the business. So if you’re hiring someone for a management role, make sure to test their leadership skills, as this can make the difference between a good or a bad hire.

9. Positive attitude

We don’t want to come off as overly new age-y, but a positive attitude in the workplace can go a long way: it reduces stress levels, helps everyone stay motivated, and since it’s quite contagious, your entire office will feel more productive and comfortable. 

When interviewing and you’re getting positive vibes, it may be worth giving them a shot, even if they don’t have as much experience as you would want.

Simplify Your Hiring Process Now

Knowing the definition of transferable skills and key elements you should look at will allow you to be more mindful during your hiring process. Ultimately, this helps you future-proof your ranks and makes certain you don’t end up with a bad hire in times of uncertainty. 

However, it’s also worth noting that recognizing the right candidate is only a small part of the process. You still need to do all the legwork associated with hiring.

If you don’t have the time nor the resources, yet want to minimize your team’s involvement in a long and arduous hiring process, feel free to reach out to us - Griffin Global.

We’re recruiters who cover a wide range of industries, and if there are no candidates available, we can easily source favorable applicants who have the transferable skills you need. Our experts will take on the brunt of the work, from writing job postings and conducting pre-screening interviews to background checks - all you have to do is choose who you feel is the best option from the list of action-ready candidates we’ll provide.

Want to learn more? Send us a message through our contact form or call (855) 747-4334 and ring in the new era of hiring in your organization.