Your graduate or postdoctoral work is already giving you valuable, transferable skills like research, communication, leadership, and data analysis. These skills are in high demand across many industries outside the professoriate. The key is learning how to recognize, strengthen, and apply them in new contexts.
What Are Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills are abilities you gain in one context (like teaching or research) that can apply to many others. Recognizing and articulating these skills is key to showing your value to employers and identifying areas for growth.
Consider how your experiences have built the following:
Communication, Leadership & Management, Patience & Empathy, Problem-Solving
Critical Thinking & Analysis, Project Management, Data Analysis & Interpretation, Problem-Solving & Innovation, Independent Work & Self-Motivation
Teamwork & Collaboration, Organization & Planning, Interpersonal Communication, Initiative & Responsibility
Digital Literacy, Writing & Editing, Time Management, Adaptability
Explore & Reflect on Your Skillset
Your skills matter. Use these resources to understand how your advanced degree experiences translate to various careers and identify areas for growth
- Values, Skills, and Interests Assessments from ImaginePhD: Identify your values, skills, and interests to clarify career direction.
- Transferable Skills Video Lessons from Beyond the Professoriate & Beyond Graduate School: Learn how to identify and communicate your most marketable skills.
Gain Relevant Experience
- Check Handshake for internships and other roles.
- Explore Parker Dewey Micro-Internships for flexible, short-term projects to apply and sharpen skills.
- Consider volunteering to gain professional experience and expand your network. Benefits of Volunteering
If you're interested in hands-on experience, consider approaching companies and organizations with ideas for how you might contribute. (Leverage your networking for referrals!) How to Write an Internship Request in 7 Steps
- Explore funding sources to support relevant skill-building and experiential learning for your career path:
- Graduate Student Career Accelerator Fund
- Career Development Grant from the Council of Graduate Students
- Ray Travel Award for Service and Scholarship from the Council of Graduate Students
- Graduate Student funding through the College of Arts and Sciences
- Critical Difference - Professional Development Grants from The Women's Place at OSU[KM1]
Let's Build Your Plan
Need help identifying what skills to focus on—or where to get them? Our career coaches can work with you to build a personalized development plan.
If you have a Disability and rely on a screen reader or the keyboard for access to your computer you will experience difficulty using this application. As the University works with Handshake to improve accessibility, please contact handshake@osu.edu for assistance in navigating and using this application. A member of our team will respond within 2 business days to assist you.