How to List Transferable Skills on Your CV

Many people changing careers worry about “lack of experience”. It’s normal to feel that way — especially when stepping into a new industry or role. But here’s the truth: you probably already have more relevant experience than you think.

That’s where transferable skills come in. These are the skills you’ve built across your career that easily apply to different roles — communication, problem solving, leadership, teamwork, planning, analysis, customer service, and much more. Highlighting them well can bridge the gap between where you’ve been and where you want to go.

What Are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills are abilities that remain useful no matter what job, industry or environment you work in. They work across roles — for example:

• A Web Developer moving into Project Management already has problem solving, communication, analytical thinking and prioritisation skills.
• A Retail Assistant moving into Administration already has customer service, time management, multitasking and organisational skills.
• A Tradesperson moving into Safety or Operations already has risk management, compliance, scheduling and stakeholder communication experience.

They are the soft skills and practical capabilities you’ve built through real work — and they can be just as valuable as technical expertise.

Do Recruiters Care About Transferable Skills?

Absolutely — yes.

Recruiters and hiring managers look for transferable skills because they demonstrate:

• your ability to adapt,
• your potential to grow,
• your readiness to perform the role, even without direct experience, and
• how you’ll work with a team, stakeholders and customers.

They can also help you answer behavioural interview questions more confidently and give you meaningful talking points during screening calls and interviews.

How to List Transferable Skills on Your CV

1. Identify Your Transferable Skills

Start with a clear self-assessment. Think about:

• skills you use daily in your current or previous roles,
• major challenges you’ve solved,
• projects you’ve contributed to,
• feedback or praise you’ve received,
• skills you’ve developed outside of work — volunteering, mentoring, study, hobbies.

These can include soft skills (communication, leadership, teamwork) and hard skills (writing, data analysis, budgeting, scheduling, IT skills).

2. Match Your Skills to the Job Description

This step is essential. Read the job ad carefully and identify the skills the employer is prioritising. Then choose the transferable skills that best align.

This tailored approach shows:

• you understand the role,
• you have the right capabilities,
• you’re making an intentional career transition.

3. Use the STAR Method to Prove Them

Anyone can claim they have “great communication skills”. Real impact comes when you demonstrate them.

Use the STAR framework:

• Situation – What was happening?
• Task – What needed to be done?
• Action – What did you personally do?
• Result – What was the outcome?

This turns vague claims into persuasive, credible evidence.

Where to List Transferable Skills on Your CV

There are three strategic places to highlight these skills effectively.

1. In Your Career Summary

Place this at the top of page one. It’s your headline pitch and the perfect place to show how your transferable skills align with your target role.

Example:

“With over 7 years of experience across customer service and operations, I bring strong stakeholder communication, problem solving, team coordination and workflow management skills that support fast-paced administrative environments.”

2. In the Skills Section on Page One

Use bullet points or a two-column layout to highlight your key transferable skills. Better yet — include a short achievement for each.

Examples:

• Problem Solving: Improved inventory tracking at ABC Warehouse, reducing waste by 20%.
• Leadership: Coordinated a team of 10 and delivered a major logistics project that increased revenue by 30%.
• Communication: Presented weekly updates to stakeholders across three departments.

3. In Your Work Experience Section

Integrate transferable skills into your achievement bullet points — especially when your past roles seem unrelated to your target role.

Example format:

Project Coordinator – A1 Logistics Australia  
2021 – 2024
• Delivered a scheduling overhaul that improved on-time delivery by 15%, demonstrating strong time management and process improvement skills.  
• Coordinated cross-department communication to resolve service delays, showcasing communication and stakeholder engagement skills.  
Transferable Skills: Leadership, Time Management, Stakeholder Communication

This makes it easy for recruiters to connect the dots between your past experience and the role you want next.

Final Thoughts

Transferable skills are often the reason someone gets an interview, even without direct experience. When you present them clearly — with examples, evidence and relevance — you show employers that you are capable, adaptable, and ready to step into a new challenge.

If you’re struggling to articulate your skills or position yourself for a career change, our team can help. With over 20 years of experience, our Australian CV Writers know exactly how to translate your background into compelling, job-winning content.

Book a FREE consultation to get personalised guidance on your CV and career direction.