Transferable skills are proficiencies that are useful in a variety of jobs and industries. Transferable skills can be used to position your past experience when applying for a new job—especially if it’s in a different industry.

Knowing the skills you already have and can transfer to a new role will help you craft a strong resume that demonstrates you have the knowledge, competencies, and abilities that match the requirements of the advertised job.

Learn how transferable skills are viewed by employers, how to identify your own, and find a list of five common transferable skills with examples to help you better identify your own.

Sometimes the barriers between you and your desired job seem too large to overcome, especially when your areas of expertise don’t line up with the requirements for the role you really want. But the truth is, you probably have many of the skills needed for a new job, you just need to think about them in a new way.

Knowing your transferable skills—and how to highlight them—is helpful when entering or changing careers or industries. Here, learn the definition of what transferable skills are (and are not), plus get examples—and learn expert advice from Muse career coaches on how to highlight them in your next job search.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.