The Value of Transferable Skills Lisa Schwartz and Christiana Wu Associate Directors, Working Professional and Alumni Programming May 15, 2014

Learning Objectives Why transferable skills are important How to identify your transferable skills Communicating the value of your transferable skills

Skills for a modern economy Rapid & continual change in industries & roles Increased career change Need for versatility & adaptability

Transferable skills….. Skills used in one job or career that can also be used in another Can be leveraged for advancement or career change Need to know them, sharpen them, sell them

What Counts? -Hard skills – quantifiable i.e. software skills, language,… -Soft skills – subjective, harder to quantify i.e. leadership, team management, flexible, entrepreneurial, analytical -Industry knowledge – Healthcare, Financial Services,… -Functional knowledge – program management, client service, B2B management. -Subject matter expert – hobbies, passions. *Cambridge Dictionaries Online

Examples of Transferable Skills Transferable Skill Identification Integrative Problem Solving Commitment Leadership Analysis Attention to detail Flexibility Learning quickly Communication Team Player Cross Functional team work Perspective/Interaction Make or Buy Decisions Presentation Skills Cultural competence Dealing with ambiguity Managing multiple priorities Personal Impact Persuasiveness/Influencing Creative Thinking/Innovation Quantitative Analysis Negotiation Customer Focus Planning & organizing Strategic Thinking/Strategy Development Academic Achievement Technical Expertise: Financial Modeling, Analysis, Valuations, Merger Competitive Analysis Computer Literacy Benchmarking Balancing the needs of various customers while keeping eye on the big picture Networking

Key Skills by Function/Field/Industry Consulting Big Picture (like seasoned insider) Rooting Out Problems Ready, Willing and Able Client Facing Financial/Quantitative Skills (stories in the numbers) Industry/Functional Expertise Teamwork Initiative Curiosity Structured Thinking Analytical Problem Solving Creativity Achievement – Promotions/Career Progression Results-oriented Leadership Extracurricular activities / active involvement in something other than school/work General Management Leadership Strategic AND Implementation Enthusiasm Maturity Strategic Thinking Analytical Skills / Analytical Thinking Intellectual Curiosity Adaptability Cross Functional Team Experience Quantitative Skills- Comfort with numbers Team Player (Leader and Member) Results-oriented

Key Skills by Function/Field/Industry Banking Quantitative Analysis Familiarity with balance sheets, spreadsheets, & income statements Very traditional work environments Modeling Energy & Stamina Specific business/industry knowledge Thrive in fast pace Judgment Highly motivated Teamwork Competitiveness Social – comfort with clients High level of commitment Perform under pressure Private Wealth Management Sales Strong client facing Financial Market Awareness Portfolio Construction Communication Skills Self-motivation

Key Skills by Function/Field/Industry Marketing Visionary sense / Creativity Understanding of why specific brands stand out and what qualities make brands stand out Comfort with numbers – analyzing, speaking about, presenting Cross functional skills - leveraging opinions of everyone, getting input from Market Research, Finance, Sales, Product Supply Strong Project Management Skills Risk Taking Consumer Savvy Teamwork Leadership Analytical thinking / Analytical skills Communication skills Solutions-oriented Decision Making abilities High Tech (Technical) Strong with numbers Project management skills Creative problem solving Multi functional team involvement Flexibility Comfortable with change Cutting edge Entrepreneurial

Personal Skills Drive Assertiveness Character Values Creativity Intelligence Initiative Persistence Confidence Motivation Judgment People Sensitivity Integrity Energy Self-awareness Open-mindedness

Identify and communicate the value of your skills Review past accomplishments, successes & feedback Highlight benefits & impact Align with market needs & determine transferability

List your accomplishments Oversaw strategic market analysis and implementation plan of a new product line, leading to inclusion into CEO’s strategic growth priorities ​. Analyzed key quantitative and qualitative operations metrics to reduce gap between existing service level and necessary online fulfillment expertise. Led an initiative across multiple internal departments (Product, Sales, Operations) to reformulate the criteria and metrics used by the core Manufacturing Group to evaluate long-term sustainability of processes. Developed and presented recommendations around new process improvements to senior leadership, leading to approval to implement by end of fiscal year with projected savings of $50M within first 2 years.

Transferable Skills Strategic planning Analysis Cross-functional leadership Leading change Presentation to senior leadership

Align skills with needs Analyze job postings and descriptions Understand needs, gaps & opportunities Sell your most relevant features -

Q&A