How three people pivoted their skills to change careers

Wanting to make a career move, but feel unsure if you have the right skills?

Chances are, you already have some of the skills you’ll need in a new role – whether it’s elsewhere in your workplace, or in a whole new industry.

Transferable skills are those core skills and abilities that go beyond a single job or industry and are useful in almost any role. They include things like communication and resilience.

In many work environments, transferable skills are just as important as experience, and they could be your ticket to a new role.

As roles and industries change and evolve, it’s not always essential – or even possible – to have the exact experience required, but transferable skills can be a way in.

We ask three SEEK employees about how they transitioned to new roles and find out which skills helped them make the move.

Liam: Be proactive and resilient

“If you sit there in a role that you're not fulfilled in, no one's going to magically pick a new role for you and say, ‘Hey, here's your dream role’,” says Liam Bice, Commercial Sales Strategy Manager at SEEK.

That’s why proactivity is a key skill Bice used to change from a career in finance – which he was losing interest in – to one in commercial strategy.

“Now I feel like I'm in the career path that I should be.”

Working in finance, Bice didn’t have the opportunity to use his people skills to the level he wanted. “I felt like it was leaving some of my best personal attributes on the bench.

“I wanted to do more with my communication skills, and felt I had more value to add.”

Moving into sales allowed Bice to use more complex skills in communication and relationship management.

It also takes resilience to move from a career where you’re an expert to one where you need to learn – and may possibly fail, Bice says.

“If you change your career, don’t expect to be an expert in all the facets of it straight away. You can't be too wrapped up in your ego to ask for help.”

Kate: Communication and curiosity are key

For Kate Mayhew, Senior Ontologist at SEEK, proactivity was also a key part of her career change.

Mayhew started in customer service at SEEK. “I moved out of the customer service team by tapping people on the shoulder and saying, ‘Hey, I don't know what your role is, but could you tell me more about what you do?’”

That led to Mayhew’s move to the ontology team, where being proactive is a key part of her day-to-day job when searching for sources of data.

Ontology is an unusual role, even within the AI industry. When the recruitment team approached her about the ontology role, she didn’t know what the role involved but was driven by curiosity.

That skill still helps her in her job. “I have to ask a lot of questions and figure out what problems people are trying to solve, what we have the capability to do, and ways of solving it.”

When you’re looking for a new role, great communication skills are invaluable in any role, Mayhew says.

“Be comfortable asking questions or articulating what your wants and needs are.”

Mayhew says her previous role in a call centre helped her develop her ability to communicate with a wide range of people.

Gideon: Harness relationship management to find a mentor

After a few years working as Search Marketing Manager at SEEK, Gideon Epstein wanted to develop new skills.

Now a Digital Analyst, Epstein also says curiosity helped him move into his current role.

“I am constantly curious and always want to learn more. I’m quite comfortable saying ‘I don't know’, even if it leaves me open to feeling silly. That's okay, because I then find opportunities to learn and grow.”

Epstein recommends finding a mentor who understands you and is generous with their time. “Be open to asking questions and making yourself vulnerable.”

Communication and relationship management skills can help you know who to speak to about new opportunities, Epstein says.

Epstein spoke to a senior leader within SEEK who he could trust, who suggested pursuing digital analytics and introduced him to the head of analytics.

“I also needed to be resilient, because moving into this role I didn't necessarily have the university credentials such as a digital analytics or data science degree, and I needed to learn coding.

“You have to really tap into resilience to make it through impostor syndrome,” he adds.

Discover your own transferable skills

Wondering what skills you have that will help you change careers? Use this transferable skills checklist to work out what yours are, then try these tips on building your resume around those skills.

When you’re applying for a new role, focus on the skills you’ve built up throughout your career that will help in the role.

Tailor your application to the role, emphasising how your skills connect to the job description. During an interview, give examples of how you’ve used those skills and how they will benefit the new organisation.

Sometimes, considering a career move can leave you feeling like you’re lacking the right skills. But harnessing the skills you already have can help you grow or change your career, and open up opportunities you didn’t think were possible.

You've got more skills than you know. Discover your hidden talents today and put your skills to work.