Whatever level of qualification you study, there is a range of skills you develop throughout your learning. While many will be geared towards your course goals, the same skills may also be transferable to a wide variety of life situations and professions. Understanding how you can use transferable skills is a great way to open up your job prospects. Plus, don’t forget to shout about them on your resume cover letter to showcase everything you can do alongside your traditional job experience.
So what skills do you learn in education that are transferable? Find out below.
1. Time management skills
Whether you’re taking a full or part-time course, time management is something everyone learns throughout a course. There are also different levels of time management due to the intensity of the work and external commitments to factor in. For example, you’ll have a deeper understanding of organizational skills from previous studies when you undertake a Human Resource Management degree online alongside working full time. Time management is also crucial in the workplace and life routines. You can use these skills learned to manage your daily life better and focus on hitting deadlines and project timescales in your profession.
2. Research skills
While you may think research is something you mainly do at college and university, it’s a skill you can take into the workplace too. Excellent research skills are sought after in the workplace. This attribute showcases how well you can find reliable sources, collate relevant data and interpret your findings. In some jobs, researching skills are a valuable asset and can boost your career chances.
3. Decision-making skills
Every task you undertake in work, study, or everyday life is made up of decisions (even subconsciously). Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong, but this is part of the process. Education is key to learning and practicing effective decision-making. Study projects and exams will test your knowledge by giving you a range of decisions and solutions to implement. How you go about this is the crucial part, and the valuable lessons learned here can be taken through to the working environment.
4. Discipline and self-motivation skills
Studying can be challenging, especially if you are combining learning alongside full-time work and other commitments. However, being disciplined in your approach and motivated to succeed is a valuable skill. This attribute is often underestimated by students but should certainly be included in a resume cover letter. The willingness to improve oneself by studying and professional development shows determination, perseverance, and organization, all skills employers value.
5. Improves confidence
Studying for any type of diploma or degree course enables you to gain better knowledge of the subject. This, in turn, boosts your confidence in the subject matter to go further in your professional development. When students conquer challenging topics and progress confidently, this confidence is transferable to other areas in life and work.
Other transferable skills students learn include:
- Listening
- Problem-solving
- Networking
- Reasoning
- Organization
- Communication
- Presentation