What are transferable skills? – How to use them to land a new career

If you want to apply for a new job, then you need to speak the language of that job. When it comes to teaching, nobody really understands what we do everyday. This is why knowing what transferable skills are is SO critical – they’re the “make it or break it” of getting out of teaching.

If you’re thinking about leaving teaching and changing careers but feel stuck because you “don’t have the right experience”, let me stop you right there.

You already have valuable, marketable skills—you just need to learn how to translate them into corporate-friendly language. These are called transferable skills, and they’re the secret weapon for making a career switch.

In this post, I’ll break down:

• What transferable skills are and why they matter
• How to identify YOUR most valuable transferable skills
• How to rewrite your resume to highlight these skills for a new career

What Are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills are abilities you’ve gained from previous jobs, education, or life experiences that can be applied to different roles, industries, or career paths. When you align your skills with what recruiters are looking for, your odds of getting an interview increase drastically.

Think about it this way: If you’ve ever managed a classroom, led a project, handled conflicts, solved problems, or trained someone, then you already have high-value corporate skills—you just need to know how to present them in the right way.

👉 Examples of transferable skills:

• Communication – Writing emails to admin or parents, giving presentations, leading meetings or PLCs
• Leadership – Managing small group instruction, coaching a sport or team, mentoring new teachers
• Project Management – Planning lessons, organizing schedules, meeting deadlines
• Problem-Solving – Handling student behavior, troubleshooting tech issues, crisis management
• Data Analysis – Tracking student progress, reviewing student data, evaluating student growth

Every teacher has skills that employers want.

🔹 Want to save time and frustration of figuring out your skills? Then download a full list of resume-ready transferable skills here! 101 Transferable Skills for Teachers Guide

Why Are Transferable Skills Important?

Understanding and translating your transferable skills is the key to landing a new career because people need to know what it is you do and how it’s valuable to them.

Here’s why they matter so much:

1. They Help You Transition Into a New Industry

Hiring managers care less about job titles and more about what you can do. If you can show how your skills align with the job you want, then you’re in a much stronger position to get hired—even if you’ve never worked in that industry before.

2. They Make You Stand Out to Employers

Most people applying for jobs list generic skills like “hardworking” or “fast learner.” 🙄 But employers want specifics. By highlighting the exact transferable skills that match their job description, you make it easy for them to see why you’re a great fit.

3. They Give You the Confidence to Apply for Higher-Paying Roles

If you only look for jobs that match your exact job experience, you’re limiting your earning potential. Understanding transferable skills allows you to aim for higher salaries and better opportunities, therefore standing out in fields like corporate training, instructional design, HR, or project management.

💡 Not sure what careers align with your skills? Check out my Transferable Skills for Teachers Masterclass, which will walk you through how to identify and reword your duties for a corporate job.

How to Identify Your Transferable Skills

Now that you understand what transferable skills are, let’s go step by step to identify yours.

Step 1: List Out Your Daily Work Tasks

Think about what you do every single day in your job. Write down everything—big or small—that contributes to your work.

For example, as a teacher, your daily tasks might include:

• Lesson planning → Curriculum Design & Content Development
• Classroom management → Team Leadership & Operations Management
• Parent communication → Stakeholder Relations & Client Management
• Data tracking for student progress → Data Analysis & Performance Metrics

Do this exercise for your own job—even if it’s unrelated to your new career goal.

Step 2: Match Your Skills to Corporate-Friendly Terms

Employers won’t recognize education-specific or industry-specific terms, so it’s important to reword them into corporate-friendly language.

Here’s an example:

Teaching Term → Corporate Equivalent

• ❌ “Lesson Planning” → ✅ “Training & Development”
• ❌ “Parent Communication” → ✅ “Client & Stakeholder Relations”
• ❌ “Classroom Management” → ✅ “Team Leadership & Operations”

🔹 Want 101 pre-written transferable skills for your resume? Download the free guide here.

Step 3: Rewrite Your Resume

Once you’ve identified your strongest transferable skills, then it’s time to showcase them in your resume.

Follow this formula for writing strong, skills-based resume bullet points:

[Action Verb] + [What You Did] + [Result or Impact]

✅ Example: “Developed and implemented training programs that improved employee performance by 25%.”

🔹 Need help optimizing your resume & LinkedIn? My Transferable Skills for Teachers Masterclass walks you through the exact steps to rewrite your resume and attract recruiters.

How to Tailor Your Transferable Skills for a Specific Job

Every job is differen,t so you’ll need to customize your resume for each application. Here’s how:

1. Study the Job Description

Find keywords and skills that the company is looking for.

For example, if a job posting mentions:

• Project management
• Leadership
• Process improvement

Then highlight those exact skills in your resume.

2. Plug Your Transferable Skills Into Your Resume

Instead of writing:
❌ “Managed a classroom and taught 30 students.”

Try:
✅ “Led a team of 30+ individuals, implementing training strategies to improve engagement and performance.”

When you make this small change, it shifts the focus from teaching to leadership, training, and operations management—skills that are valued in corporate roles.

3. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Most recruiters check LinkedIn before scheduling interviews, so make sure your profile reflects your new career direction by:

• Updating your headline with your target industry
• Adding your skills to your About Me section
• Using a professional profile picture & banner

🔹 Want help optimizing your LinkedIn? Grab the masterclass here.

Next Steps

Now that you understand what transferable skills are and how to use them to land your next job, here’s what to do next:

• Step 1: Download my 101 Transferable Skills Guide to get ready-to-use corporate-friendly resume phrases.
• Step 2: Apply these skills to your resume, LinkedIn, and cover letters.
• Step 3: If you need step-by-step resume & LinkedIn guidance, check out the Transferable Skills for Teachers Masterclass.

🚀 You already have the skills, so now it’s time to make your move!

If this post helped you, leave a comment below—What’s one transferable skill you’re excited to highlight on your resume? ⬇

🔹 Share this post with another transitioning teacher who needs to hear this!