Transferable Skills

A brand-name employer we work with was hoping to hire more sales consultants for their IT services division. “You know,” the hiring manager said. “Some of our most successful employees are former teachers.” The manager had noticed something: these former teachers — because of their experience working with students, parents, and administrators — had exceptional skills in understanding and adapting to the needs of different customers. Put another way, the…

It’s commonly mentioned that the work that people do outside the paid workforce when they’ve taken a pause for caregiving gains them skills and experiences that are valuable in the professional environment as well. But it’s less common to find good advice on how to translate those experiences in a way that recruiters and hiring managers will understand. The better you are able to articulate how your experiences have gained…