Starting Over: Leveraging Transferable Skills for a New Career Path

Starting over in your career can feel both thrilling and terrifying.

One moment, you’re energized by new possibilities. And the next, you’re questioning if you’re making a mistake. That internal push and pull is normal — it just means you’re stepping outside your comfort zone. 

Your job is to lean into that uncertainty and take intentional steps forward. And one of the best ways to do so is to learn how to leverage your transferable skills so you can chart a new career path. (This is one of the most common reasons coaching clients reach out to me!)

Easier said than done? 

Thankfully, I’ve created a guide just for you. Keep reading to learn how you can take the skills you’ve already acquired to set yourself up for success in your next role.

Step 1: Outline your most transferable skills

Start by identifying the skills you’ve gained throughout your career that can apply to different industries or roles. These could be technical skills (also called hard skills) like data analysis or graphic design. Or soft skills like leadership, communication, and problem-solving.

To pinpoint your transferable skills, ask yourself:

• What feedback have I received from colleagues and supervisors?
• What skills have I used in multiple roles?
• What tasks do I excel at?

Once you have a list, categorize your skills into hard and soft skills. This will help you see how versatile your experience truly is.

If you need help remembering, pull out your most recent resume and look through your job responsibilities.

 Here’s an example chart to help inspire you:

Step 2: Research new career paths that align with your skills

Now that you’ve outlined your skills, research career paths that line up with them.

Look at job descriptions in industries that interest you and highlight where your skills match.

For example, if you’ve spent years in customer service, you likely have strong communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills — skills that may translate well into sales, HR, or project management.

You can also use career assessments or informational interviews with professionals in your target field to get deeper insights into potential career paths. Make sure you have your questions ready to go if you decide to host informational interviews.

Here are five example questions you might consider asking:

1. How did you get started in this field, and what advice would you give someone entering it now?
2. What resources (books, websites, networks) would you recommend for further learning?
3. What trends or changes do you foresee in this industry over the next few years?
4. What skills and experience are most important for success in this industry/role?
5. Can you describe a typical day in your job and the challenges you face?

After researching, choose one role to focus on. (You can also create a pro/con list to help narrow down your options.) 

For instance, maybe you realized that your customer service experience aligns well with both sales and HR, but you prefer building long-term relationships over closing deals. In that case, HR might be a better fit. Or maybe you enjoy fast-paced problem-solving, making project management a better option.

Step 3: Bridge the gap with new learning opportunities

Does your target role require certifications, technical skills, or industry knowledge you don’t have yet?

Even with strong transferable skills, you may need to fill in some knowledge gaps to be competitive in a new industry. (In other words, you may need to educate yourself a bit more!)

The good news? 

Unless you’d like to transition into law or medicine, you likely don’t need a full degree to do this.

Consider options like:

• Taking online courses via LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, or Udemy
• Volunteering or freelancing to gain hands-on experience
• Getting certifications relevant to your new field
• Attending workshops or industry conferences

Learning while transitioning also helps you boost your confidence. You’ll feel much better showing up to an interview knowing that you’re actively working on building more knowledge. (Plus, it’ll help your resume stand out to potential employers, which is a major bonus!)

Step 4: Rewrite your resume and LinkedIn profile to highlight your transferable skills

Once you’re clear on your transferable skills and target role, update your resume and LinkedIn profile to reflect this shift.

Here’s a mini checklist you can use to get started:

• Frame your past roles in a way that emphasizes transferable strengths instead of industry-specific jargon.
• Rewrite your summary to focus on how your background aligns with your new field.
• Use keywords from job descriptions to tailor your experience to your new industry.
• Highlight accomplishments that showcase your adaptability and relevant skills.

Your goal is to make it easy for hiring managers to see how your experience applies to their needs. 

Step 5: Leverage your network to uncover opportunities

Reach out to former colleagues, mentors, and industry connections to let them know about your career shift. Many will be happy to support you and connect you with relevant contacts. (Some may even know about job openings that aren’t publicly posted.)

I can’t stress this enough …

Many job opportunities come through referrals, so don’t underestimate the power of simply starting a conversation. 

I once had a client that had been applying to job opportunities for three months without any leads. I asked them who they’d contacted in their network about their transition, and they mentioned that they hadn’t reached out to anyone. After encouraging them to start having conversations, something shifted.

They reached out to a former manager about their new ambition. And as it turns out, there was a new job opening at a sister company that was the perfect fit for my client. That conversation quite literally changed the course of their career path!

Step 6: Submit job applications 

After you’ve reached out to your network, start applying for jobs. 

You may need to use a few different job platforms, like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor to find relevant openings. FlexJobs and We Work Remotely are also great if you’re looking for remote opportunities.

Tailor the new resume you created slightly for each position you apply for. (Make sure to emphasize your transferable skills and relevant experience to show hiring managers why you’re a strong fit.)

Consider reaching out to hiring managers directly to check in about your applications. The more proactive you are, the faster you’ll gain traction in your job search.

Wrap up

Switching career paths can feel like a lot to take on. 

But the right opportunity is out there for you, and your past experience is more valuable than you may think.

Just take it step by step. 

Remember to: 

1. Outline your most transferable skills.
2. Research new career paths that align with your skills.
3. Bridge the gap with new learning opportunities.
4. Rewrite your resume and LinkedIn profile to highlight your transferable skills.
5. Leverage your network to uncover opportunities.
6. Submit job applications.

PS: Need expert guidance to map out your next move? I’d love to help.