Focus on skills not sectors

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Did you know that many of the skills learned from working in one industry can be easily transferred across others? Transferable skills allow you to broaden your search for new roles in an array of different directions. If you are going through career transition or looking at your options post-lockdown, there’s a risk that you will look for the exactly the same job in exactly the same industry. However, it is important to remember that your opportunities are not limited to your existing role or sector. Many industries go hand-in-hand when it comes to skills. It’s worth looking at where the intersections occur.

Acquired skills

Each new role you have had within a company allows you to develop numerous additional skills. Some skills are targeted at specific roles and require a level of expertise. However, even with some of these, there are elements that are transferable. For example, if an operations manager has developed excellent knowledge of processes within the pharmaceutical industry, this can easily be transferred into the food sector. This is due to the importance of processes, which is a major element of both sectors.

Widen your outlook

Recognising and identifying these transferable skills allows you the flexibility to work in different sectors. This in turn provides a broader horizon of career prospects. Having a wider outlook can be particularly beneficial during times of transition and redundancy, where finding a new job can be more challenging than normal. Opening new opportunities and routes can be positive and uplifting. This will work to build the confidence of any jobseeker, particularly in times of uncertainty such as these. It is also useful to research which sectors are thriving in the current climate, as well as identifying sectors that remain stable and those that are suffering.

Identifying opportunities

Having someone on hand who understands exactly what acquired skills can mean for future prospects can be a huge advantage. An outside, independent voice can steer candidates into new directions, instigating great new opportunities. A Career Consultant can help you through the process of identifying your skills and matching them to new roles. These could be within industries you might always have wanted to work in, or never even previously considered. It might be that expert advice will be the springboard to launch your career, not only to brand new heights, but also in new directions.