Students and new graduates, as well as those re-entering the job market, often bemoan the fact that they lack relevant job experience and that they have little of value to add to their skills on their resumes.  Beyond the obvious technical skills required by the positions for which they are applying, there exists a myriad of other very relevant job skills, eagerly sought after by recruiters.  These are commonly known as “soft skills”.  I prefer to call them “transferable skills” and in helping clients to identify theirs, I use the analogy of a Swiss army knife.

A Swiss army knife consists of a variety of very useful and adaptable tools from which one can select in order to handle a range of issues.

Every person possesses a plethora of transferable skills developed throughout their life through life experiences (eg child rearing, caring for an elderly or disabled family member); citizenship (navigating the vagaries of securing accommodation, opening a bank account, understanding bureaucracy); part-time work (customer service, cash handling, team involvement); volunteering (empathy, cross-cultural communication, following direction); and extra-mural activities like sport and societies (committee roles, project management, team collaboration).

From these, you develop valuable and marketable “tools” for your resume.

For 2026, employers are prioritizing soft skills that AI cannot easily replicate, with problem-solving, emotional intelligence (EQ), adaptability, and communication identified as top priorities to drive performance in AI-driven, hybrid workplaces. These skills are essential for managing complexity and fostering collaboration, according to research from LinkedIn and NACE.

Others are

• Adaptability & Resilience: The capacity to “unlearn and relearn” and adapt to changing technologies
• Communication & Active Listening: Essential for virtual, remote, and cross-cultural teams to ensure clarity, reduce errors, and foster collaboration.
• Creativity & Innovation: As AI handles routine tasks, humans are expected to provide creative thinking and new ideas.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: The ability to work across different functions and locations (remote/hybrid) is crucial.
• Leadership & Initiative: Even in non-managerial roles, taking initiative and guiding peers is a key differentiator.
• Curiosity & Lifelong Learning: A proactive mindset to stay relevant in an evolving job market.

Data shows that 9 of the top 10 skills sought by 2026 are soft skills, making them essential for a competitive edge in 2026.

Identifying your marketing transferable (soft)skills.

• Make a list of these transferable skills and then start with choosing those that you possess, also noting where you developed and used them.
• Make a list of the transferable skills that you currently do not possess, then consider how you might acquire these. Take relevant action to do so eg join a society, sign up as a volunteer, do Lifeline training

Finally, make them count.

Read through the job advert carefully to discern which of these transferable skills the recruiter is wanting and add only those to your skills list.  Do not list twelve transferable skills, even if you possess an abundance, if they are clearly focusing on five important ones for them.  Rather craft those five to highlight how you attained them and give evidence of where you used them and the positive outcomes of your doing so.

Your transferable skills are as important as your technical skills, academic record, or previous work experience.   They can make the difference that gets you the interview!