What Are Transferable Skills?

February 24, 2025 byCharlotte Davies

3 min to read

An online school student smiling with her arms crossed

Acquiring transferable skills makes moving through life easier—whether that’s in school or at work. But what are transferable skills for students and why is taking the time to develop them while they are still in school beneficial for them now and in the future?

Transferable Skills Defined

Transferable skills are interpersonal and practical abilities that can be applied in a lot of different ways. Usually, this phrase is used to refer to skills that can be applied across many different workplaces, roles, and industries. Having transferable skills on your resume shows that you have what it takes to be flexible and adapt to change quickly and inform how we move through the world.

Transferable Skill Examples

Students who are preparing to head to college or enter the workforce after graduation can benefit from developing transferable skills early on and applying them at school, in their sports, clubs, or in their extracurricular activities.

Time Management

Managing time is a key part of staying on top of assignments, homework, or projects while in school and will continue to be an essential skill as students prepare to enter the workplace. Students can practice managing their time by using time blocking, the Pomodoro Technique, the Eisenhower Matrix, or whatever way works for them and how they think.

Clear Communication

Clear communication means you’re able to convey information, thoughts, instructions, results, or feedback accurately and with enough detail so that the other person understands what you’ve said and has enough to act on and respond to. Effective communication also requires engagement on your part. Asking clarifying questions about something a teacher or manager says helps set you up for success and ensures that you have what you need to move forward. Students can practice this skill by being mindful and intentional about what they say when they communicate with teachers or peers in class or when writing papers.

Collaboration and Teamwork

Being able to work as a team or with other people one-on-one is essential for creating positive spaces and learning how to give and take feedback gracefully. Efficiency, productivity, and relationships thrive when people feel valued and that their input and perspectives are appreciated both in the workplace and at school. Students can practice their teamwork and collaboration skills by volunteering or participating in sports or the performing arts. These activities are great ways to help students learn how to work with lots of different kinds of people and personalities.

Leadership

Leadership involves collaboration and communication, but it also requires empathy, a willingness to listen and learn, and being able to encourage, grow, and motivate others. It also helps students develop a sense of initiative, which will serve them as they move beyond their school years and into adulthood. Kids and teens can work on building leadership skills by working with a mentor, Learning Coach, teacher, or by participating in sports or afterschool activities as team captains or senior members. Stepping into an organizational or point-of-contact role for group projects is another way for students to develop leadership skills.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Being able to evaluate a situation, analyze information, and come up with an effective solution is an important career-readiness skill. The workplace often involves problem-solving on tight timelines when unforeseen delays or snags show up in the workflow. Students can develop these skills early through clearly explaining their reasoning while trying to solve a problem, questioning their biases or assumptions, thinking through potential outcomes, and exploring the issue from multiple angles.

Connections Academy Teaches Transferable Skills for the Future

Check out how we’re helping students build their resumes and learn transferable skills for college and beyond with career-readiness offerings like career-focused electives, and digital credentials in collaboration, time management, and leadership from our partnerships with Credly and Coursera.