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Recognize your experiences. Translate them into skills. Build your future.
Recognize your experiences. Translate them into skills. Build your future.
Every student arrives with strengths shaped by their life experiences. Whether you’re navigating college as a first-generation student, balancing family responsibilities, serving your community, returning to school as an adult learner, or honoring cultural traditions, these experiences build real skills employers value.
This page helps you identify those skills, learn to talk about them, and connect them to your next step.
What Are Transferable Skills?
What Are Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills are abilities that can be applied in various settings, including school, work, home, and the community.
They are built through experience—not just formal jobs.
Employers consistently value skills like:
Employers consistently value skills like:
Communication
Teamwork
Problem-solving
Dependability
Adaptability
Leadership
Organization and time management
The key is learning to recognize where these skills already show up in your life and describe them confidently to employers.
How Life Experiences Build Career Strengths
How Life Experiences Build Career Strengths
Family and Community Responsibilities
Family and Community Responsibilities
Many students develop core professional skills through caring for family, coordinating schedules, supporting loved ones, and participating in community activities. These responsibilities build consistency, judgment, and follow-through—qualities employers rely on.
You may have built:
You may have built:
Coordination
Time management
Conflict resolution
Reliability
Planning and prioritizing
How it shows up at work:
“I can manage competing needs, stay organized, and support others through challenging tasks.”
Cultural Knowledge and Community Involvement
Cultural Knowledge and Community Involvement
Participating in cultural traditions, community events, or intergenerational responsibilities often strengthens communication, leadership, and collaboration. These experiences help you understand diverse perspectives and contribute meaningfully to group goals.
You may have built:
You may have built:
Respectful communication
Teamwork across generations
Perspective-taking
Leadership in community projects
Responsibility to others
How it shows up at work:
“I’m comfortable collaborating with people from different backgrounds and contributing to shared goals.”
First-Generation College Experience
First-Generation College Experience
Navigating college as the first in your family builds resourcefulness, persistence, and the ability to learn new systems quickly. These experiences translate directly into professional environments where initiative and adaptability matter.
You may have built:
You may have built:
Self-advocacy
Resourcefulness
Perseverance
Navigating complex systems
Problem-solving
How it shows up at work:
“I know how to learn new systems quickly and find answers even when things feel unfamiliar.”
Military Service and Veterans’ Experience
Military Service and Veterans’ Experience
Serving in the military develops discipline, accountability, leadership, and teamwork under pressure. These strengths are highly valued in civilian workplaces, particularly where organization, communication, and reliability are essential.
You may have built:
You may have built:
Leadership
Discipline
Team coordination
Accountability
Operational planning
How it shows up at work:
“I’ve worked in high-pressure settings where preparation and teamwork matter.”
Parenting and Caregiving
Parenting and Caregiving
Balancing school, work, and family responsibilities builds organization, patience, and decision-making. Parenting and caregiving require strong time management and the ability to stay focused on long-term goals—skills essential in any workplace.
You may have built:
You may have built:
Prioritization
Multitasking
Decision-making
Reliability
Organization
How it shows up at work:
“I can handle complex responsibilities while staying focused on long-term goals.”
Work Experience (Any Job)
Work Experience (Any Job)
Every job—whether part-time, full-time, on campus, seasonal, or gig-based—builds professional strengths. Showing up on time, working with customers, learning new tasks, and supporting a team give you experience in real workplace expectations. These jobs develop habits and skills that help you succeed in any career field.
You may have built:
You may have built:
Customer service and communication
Teamwork and collaboration
Reliability and professionalism
Time management and punctuality
Problem-solving in fast-paced environments
Learning new systems and processes
Multitasking and prioritization
Accountability and integrity
Attention to detail
Conflict resolution and de-escalation
How it shows up at work:
“I know how to communicate professionally, adapt to changing tasks, support a team, and meet expectations consistently. I’m comfortable learning new systems and handling responsibilities that require focus, customer interaction, and follow-through.”
Explore Resources Tailored to Your Background
Explore Resources Tailored to Your Background
These pages are designed to help you recognize strengths shaped by different life experiences. Start with the communities you identify with, but also explore others. You may find ideas, examples, or stories that connect with your own experiences—even if the background is different from yours. Many strengths overlap across communities, and viewing them from multiple angles can help you discuss your skills with greater clarity and confidence.
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