Your ability to unlearn and learn again. When you move to a new industry, it's highly likely that you are a subject matter expert in your field. Don't fall into the trap of doing the same job in the same way in every industry - instead, unlearn previous processes and strategies that no longer fit with the new industry. Then, absorb and learn everything there is about the new industry. Set up virtual/in-person chats, attend conferences/networking events, read trade publications, research industry awards, find mentors, and keep on top of trends and industry news. And, don't be shy to leverage platforms/tools like LinkedIn and ChatGPT to help you with your learning efforts! Having a growth mindset and always learning will distinguish you and set you up for success when pivoting industries.
I've worked in HR for nearly 25 years and have observed that skills required for the actual job can almost always be trained, but "soft skills" -- or perhaps more appropriately termed "power skills" -- are proven indicators of success across all industries. Skills like communication, feedback, listening, collaboration and teamwork are more difficult to teach, but are essential for success in most organizational roles.
In my experience coaching women navigating career transitions, I've observed a not-so-obvious skill that propels 'job changers' forward and helps them transition successfully: courage. While often perceived as an innate trait rather than a cultivated skill, my experience working with leaders around the world shows it's the one thing that will embolden individuals to step into the unknown, confront fears head-on, and seize new opportunities with confidence. Only then can they use their transferable skills such as adaptability and communication. Without courage, individuals won't get out of the starter's block. Female leaders, in particular, need courage when transferring careers, particularly in traditionally male-dominated industries and leadership roles. My clients often recount pivotal moments of courage – from making their bold career shift to speaking up in unfamiliar settings – as instrumental in their journey towards success.
While hard skills are often specific to a role or industry, most soft skills are transferable and universally applicable. For me, my written communication skills allowed me to transition from the advertising industry to the recruiting industry. Though it may prove more useful in some professions than others, the ability to communicate well is advantageous to employees and highly valued by employers. In this age of texting abbreviations and social media shorthand, employees and job seekers who prioritize and polish their written communication by posting original, insightful content and actively working to improve their writing knowledge and skills can gain visibility in their industry and increase their job prospects in a tight labor market.
My career journey from entrepreneur, broker, to headhunter showcases the power of sales proficiency when switching industries. Sales is not just about closing deals; it's about being comfortable facing prospective clients in unchartered territories, understanding market dynamics, extracting valuable insights, and building relationships. My experience taught me to approach sales from multiple angles, adapting strategies to suit different scenarios. This adaptability was crucial in each career transition, allowing me to connect with clients in unfamiliar industries. Beyond adaptability, sales fosters resilience. Facing rejection builds a "can-do" attitude, valuable in any role. This translated well to headhunting when my focus shifted to business development, where I needed to create brand awareness and establish myself as a specialist while penetrating a new market - skills honed in sales. Ultimately, sales proficiency isn't selling; it's understanding, connecting, and communicating value. sales proficiency equips individuals with a versatile toolkit for success in any industry. Seek hands-on experience, embrace continuous learning, and cultivate a proactive mindset to unlock its potential.
When switching industries, consider the move as a step up. In 2022, I pivoted from a career in public relations to nonprofit executive leadership. While there was some overlap between the clients I had served in PR and the demographic the nonprofit helped, the business landscape was entirely different in structure, language and priority work. I learned outside knowledge can offer valuable, fresh perspective when you look for connections. My approach was to find talent who was great at the things I wasn't and make time to fill in my knowledge gaps with professional development courses in the evenings so I could apply what I was highly skilled at during the business day. As a result of transferring my experiences as a publicist, a digital marketer and entrepreneur, we doubled the reach of the organization to a community size of 50,000, launched new digital media products, and invited new groups to participate that had were historically excluded or disadvantaged. It is possible to be hugely successful when transferring skills and experiences to a new industry. Curiosity and a bias toward action apply anywhere you go.
The soft skills you are able to develop will almost always transfer from one industry to another. My initial career in sales taught me how to adapt my personal interactions based on the needs and style of the person I was engaging with. Those same people skills have been a huge part of my success as I shifted into B2B marketing. The emotional intelligence skills I learned help as I craft marketing messages, but more importantly it has shaped my leadership style. I'm better at leading the people I work with in marketing because I learned how to engage with prospects while I was in sales.
When people think of transferable skills, they think of skills such as communication, dependability, teamwork, organization, and adaptability often referred to as soft skills. However, in my experience providing career development guidance to hundreds of staff members at multiple major corporations, success is often dependent on Managing Up - Managing Your Manager. Managing Up is typically overlooked because it encompasses so much including communication style, conflict management, and goal setting. In addition, subordinates typically don't think they can or should manage their managers. Managing Your Manager is a transferable skill that is the cornerstone of performing well in any job. At the most basic level Managing Your Manager requires answering two basic questions. What is success for you, and what is success for the Manager's team? Where your success and the manager's success meet is the sweet spot where your performance makes an impact. As with any transferable skill, Managing Up takes practice and it is an ongoing process. The most basic skills of Managing Up is listening to your manager's expectations, voicing your opinions, and aligning your performance to the team's goals.
In my role as a managing attorney, I've witnessed individuals hailing from social work, counseling, HR, and journalism backgrounds turn to a career in law. This field demands a commitment to rigorous education and training, often involving further studies and examinations. However, the passion to make a difference and contribute to societal change serves as a powerful motivator for many. As for the transferable skills—critical thinking is perhaps the most common one I’ve seen that’s helped these professionals transition—and of course their desire to make a positive change. For example, social workers and counselors both excel in empathetic critical thinking, a skill highly prized in legal contexts. Their ability to understand and navigate complex human situations seamlessly translates into effective legal problem-solving. Similarly, journalists bring with them a knack for scrutinizing information, identifying key details, and presenting a compelling narrative—attributes that align seamlessly with legal research and case preparation. The surprising part is that simple practices like joining debate clubs, participating in moot court competitions, and even chiming in thought-provoking discussions with peers helped most of these professionals develop their critical thinking skills a lot further.
Mastering the art of anticipation is a versatile and valuable transferable skill. Foreseeing trends, challenges, and opportunities is pivotal for maintaining a competitive edge. While honing this skill requires keen observation prowess, its payoff lies in enabling proactive decision-making and strategic planning. Think of 'Radar O’Riley' from the iconic show M*A*S*H – his uncanny ability to detect incoming choppers ahead of others is a great analogy for the power of anticipation. Always prepared with the Colonel’s paperwork before it was requested, Radar exemplified how anticipation acts as an early warning system, ensuring readiness to navigate any situation with precision.
One universally transferable skill across industries is building and maintaining client trust. Before launching my consulting firm, I led several notable sales team in NYC. This experience taught me the crucial role of trust in client relationships. Success wasn't about pursuing hefty commissions but about genuinely addressing clients' business pain points, ensuring they felt valued and benefited from our partnership. Maintaining open lines of communication, celebrating successes, and navigating challenges together were fundamental practices. These client-centric lessons from sales have become a cornerstone of my agency's operations. It's about showing clients that their success is your priority. This approach not only fosters loyalty but also sets a solid foundation for any professional role, regardless of the industry. Adopting a customer-first mindset and practicing transparent communication can be developed through real-world experience, mentorship, and a genuine desire to contribute positively to client outcomes.
Whether switching industries, learning a new role, or just trying to make a connection at a cocktail party, curiosity is the quality that I have found to be most impactful. Luckily the skill of asking great questions is transferable across any industry. Regardless of your role, getting curious about how the business and bringing a genuine sense of interest has been a true differentiator for myself and many I have managed and mentored. Recently, I interviewed for a VP level human resources role. At the end of the interview with the CEO, he asked if I had any questions. He was expecting questions about the culture and the company's HR needs, but what he got was my deep curiosity about the business. I asked about how the product works, the external market and regulatory forces that may get in the way of growth, and about product market fit and the company's ideal customer profile. He stated, "I didn't expect you to ask those kinds of questions," and seemed pleasantly surprised about my curiosity for the business and industry. As you enter a new industry, tap into your deepest sense of curiosity. Not only will it help you quickly acclimate, but it has a nice added benefit of helping build strong relationships. Being curious and asking great questions makes others feel valued. People want to have their opinion asked and their expertise tapped into. So think deeply about what makes you say, "hmmmm?" and don't be afraid to ask.
After enduring the soul-sucking void of economics at university, where the highlight was nearly succumbing to the sheer, unadulterated boredom, I decided it was high time for a radical change. So, off I went, chasing the siren call of my passion, which led me to the hallowed halls of SAE in London, diving headfirst into the world of audio engineering. But, as it turns out, spending endless hours in a dimly lit studio, isolated from the rest of humanity, was a tad too suffocating for my taste. I needed more than just oxygen to thrive, I craved the company of creative, entrepreneurial, and analytical minds. That's when I stumbled into the universe of digital marketing and SEO. Over a decade of hopping from one digital lily pad to another, I've come to realize that one skill, in particular, has been my trusty helper: the art of effective communication. Whether I was trying to make sense of economic models, convincing a band that their sound needed tweaking, or explaining to a client why their website's bounce rate was sky-high, being able to articulate complex ideas in simple, digestible terms has been my golden ticket. How did I polish this gem of a skill, you ask? Well, it wasn't by talking to myself in the studio (though that did happen on occasion). It was through a mix of trial and error, a ton of networking, and, let's be honest, a healthy dose of charm and sarcasm. Presenting ideas, negotiating deals, and even schmoozing at industry events—all of it was practice for the big leagues. Here's a nugget of wisdom for you: mastering the art of communication is like learning to play an instrument. It takes practice, patience, and a bit of improvisation. You've got to know your audience, tune into their frequency, and sometimes, play to the gallery. Whether you're crafting an email, pitching a project, or just chatting up a storm on social media, every interaction is a chance to fine-tune your skills.
As a Founder, CEO, author, speaker, and global influencer with companies in security, emergency management, and digital marketing space, I've observed and experienced firsthand the value of adaptability as a transferable skill across industries. Adaptability has been the cornerstone of navigating diverse roles and sectors in my journey. Whether transitioning from security and emergency management into corporate leadership or sharing insights on global platforms, the ability to adapt to new environments, cultures, and different challenges has been indispensable. Adaptability encompasses several key components: learning agility, openness to change, and the capacity to innovate in response to new information or contexts. For instance, the ability to quickly assess situations and pivot strategies is crucial in emergency management. This skill directly translates into corporate leadership, where market dynamics and organizational needs can shift rapidly. Embracing change and being prepared to adjust one's approach enhances personal growth and contributes to the resilience and agility of the organizations one serves. My diverse career path underscores adaptability's role as a critical, transferable skill that facilitates success across various industries.
I'm a great example of shifting between industries and I have to tell you it's not so bad. It's actually simple as long as you have proper reasons for doing it. I transitioned from fintech startups to running an event planning company, and I have to say that I've found project management to be an invaluable transferable skill across industries. In fintech, project management involved coordinating with developers, understanding user needs, and managing timelines for product launches. These turned out to be skills that were extremely useful in event planning. In that industry success largely hinges on coordinating with vendors, understanding client visions, and ensuring events are executed flawlessly and on time. You need to catch opportunities to lead, organize, and manage projects, regardless of scale or industry. This is the best tip I can give. It's good to start by volunteering for project-based tasks in your current role, paying attention to planning, execution, team coordination, and outcome evaluation. It's not a bad idea to do some online courses and certifications in project management methodologies like Agile or Scrum. It can bolster your understanding and even more importanly your credibility. I think this might actually be the biggest issue for you when changing between industries. Likely if you are thinking about doing it, you are skilled enough to do the job and do well in it. The problem might be people not taking you seriously. That's why especially as a young entrepreneur, you shouldn't overlook education.
One of the most highly transferrable skills when switching industries is effective team management. I have had several clients who were able to switch industries largely due to their success at managing people and large teams. In a recent SHRM survey, 84% of U.S. workers blamed bad managers for creating unnecessary stress and according to Gallup, employee disengagement cost U.S. companies up to $550 billion in 2023 and resulted in a 33% decrease in earnings. Smart companies are hiring strong leaders for senior and middle manager roles, creating happier and more productive employees AND a better bottom line.
I've had career clients switch from acting to international relations, from publishing to academic advising, from global diplomacy to local nonprofits, and the one defining skill that enables them to not only transfer industries but then be successful is the ability to build trustworthy, authentic relationships. It doesn't matter what industry you are in, you always are working alongside others and need be able to manage up, down and sideways to thrive. Before pivoting, workers need to do their research, with informational interviews being especially helpful for insider insights, about not only that new industry but also specific employers in that field. A small start up is going to attract different colleagues than a large multinational corporation; the vibe from colleagues at a charter school will not be the same as being employed at an Ivy League college. My clients who have nuanced relationship building skills are the ones who have been vulnerable and open to feedback from colleagues and have dug into their failures. One client, who is now in the C-Suite level of a different industry, recognized that while people knew he was smart, they didn't want him to lead their teams. He worked closely with his supervisor to identify new management approaches, had heart-to-hearts with colleagues, learned from an executive coach and studied his missteps. By the time he was ready to switch industries, he not only had people willing to champion for him but employers wanting his leadership.
As someone who has transitioned between diverse roles, I've found that a crucial skill for switching industries is the ability to seek advice and perspectives from a varied network of people. It is important to move beyond the familiar circle of friends and family and actively engage with individuals who offer fresh insights which can help you gain valuable new perspectives. This process helps you expand your knowledge, maintain an open mind and pushes you to keep learning. These are essential traits that have proven transferable across different industries in my experience. As industries evolve, the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new environments can be a significant asset in any transition.
From my vantage coaching hundreds of candidates through major transitions, the meta-skill enabling smooth industry switching is adaptability - specifically the ability to rapidly absorb alien concepts, environments, and norms then intelligently apply one’s existing strengths accordingly. Early on, I lacked patience for the learning curve when recruiting beyond my initial sector. However, after nearly botching a key healthcare search, I realized each vertical has unique rhythms and terminologies - trying to force-fit generalizations leads to culture clash. Now, through models leveraging AI, we assess transferable core competencies underpinning sector fluency. I coach candidates to embrace temporary disorientation in a new industry as the precursor to mastery. Demonstrate value from day one through strategic listening, thoughtful pattern recognition, and applying specialized insight from past experience to novel challenges.
Communication is one of the most essential and transferable skills in any industry. It involves the ability to express your ideas clearly and effectively, listen actively to others, and adapt your message to different audiences and situations. Communication skills can help you build relationships, collaborate with others, persuade and influence, and resolve conflicts. As a writer and digital marketer, I rely on communication skills every day. I have to communicate with my clients, understand their needs and expectations, and deliver high-quality content that meets their goals. I also have to communicate with my readers, capture their attention, and provide them with valuable information and insights. I use different modes and channels of communication, such as writing, speaking, email, social media, and video, depending on the purpose and context. Communication skills can be improved by practicing and getting feedback. You can practice by writing or speaking about topics that interest you, joining online or offline communities, and participating in discussions and debates. You can get feedback by asking for opinions, suggestions, and critiques from others and by observing how they react to your communication. You can also learn from other effective communicators, such as authors, speakers, leaders, and influencers, and emulate their techniques and strategies.