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Employers are not just interested in your technical skills (what you have studied, jobs you have done) but also in what you have learnt from all your experiences, at university, in a part-time job, through extra curricular activities – including your interests and hobbies (your transferable skills). Before you even start to compile your CV or fill out an application form, it's a good idea to do an audit of your transferable skills.

Self-reliance: self-management, self-awareness, pro-activity, willingness to learn, self-promotion, networking, planning action;

People skills: team working, interpersonal skills, oral communication, leadership, customer orientation;

General skills: problem-solving, flexibility, business acumen, IT/computer literacy, numeracy, commitment;

Specialist skills: occupational skills, technical skills, understanding commercial goals, company-related expertise, professional expertise, strategic planning skills, foreign languages.

You can gain these skills through all manner of activities but the most crucial thing is that you are able to provide evidence of them. Write down all the skills you have developed and how you would provide evidence of them. Download this template to help you.

Here's an example:

You could have developed teamwork playing for the university hockey team. Write your evidence in a format which you could use in an application.

Skill:

• Teamwork

Activity:

• Playing hockey

Evidence:

• Being an active member of the university hockey team was essential both on and off the pitch to ensure our success.  I made sure that I actively participated in all team meetings and social activities and took responsibility for introducing new members of the team and making sure they felt included.

Have a look at some ideas to try

Read on for how to compile a CV or fill out an application form.

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