Blog

Select the right tools for the job

26 May 2026

Julie Graham, Ingeus CEO of Employment Services, discusses the importance of transferrable skills, those that have helped her the most, and how to use your skills wisely in today’s job market. 

Growing up on an Australian farm taught me many important life lessons, one being to always pick the right tool for the job. My dad had sheds full of equipment with different tools to suit any eventuality, some in subtly different shapes and sizes. This is how I view transferrable skills – a toolkit of useful implements, some similar to each other, that I can call on to suit the task at hand. 

Transferrable skills are real world abilities that emerge in one context but can be used in others. Some are natural traits of your personality, others are built from your life’s experiences, but either way, they’re not job specific – they travel with you, transferring from one role to another.  

The jobseekers we support sometimes struggle to identify their transferrable skills, feeling they have little to offer after prolonged time away from work. Look further and I guarantee you’ll find them: the reliability and empathy involved with caring responsibilities at home, or the leadership and stakeholder management displayed while organising the school summer fair for instance. 

The beauty of transferrable skills is that we all have some and there’s so many of them. The trick is to start thinking about skills not qualifications. 

Why transferrable skills are important 

Transferrable skills are skills for life. You use them in personal relationships, work, and social settings. They shape how you approach and react to situations and help determine a positive outcome… remember all those useful tools in my dad’s toolkit. In a very fast-moving working world, they’re a vital part of your employability package.  

From an employer’s perspective, transferable skills are an indication of your potential, especially in the absence of relevant qualifications or experience. In fact, I hear a lot now about employers prioritising skills over qualifications. Job-specific skills are relatively easy to teach but demonstrating your transferrable skills helps employers assess how you might fit into the work environment, respond to company values, and adapt to change. 

My top five transferrable skills… and their buddies 

Any good toolkit will have more than five tools in it but in an almost 30-year employability career, progressing in roles and leading teams, these are the ones I’d reach for first: 

Communication – Such an important skill in every aspect of life. A very large part of my role, both leading teams at work and when studying for professional qualifications, has been to positively influence other people. Authenticity, negotiation, and empathy all fall into this category for me.  

Problem solving – Being able to look at things objectively and determine the right approach is just as important at home as at work. What did you do last time the Wi-Fi went down or the kitchen sink got blocked? The will to find a solution to a problem is always valuable. Open mindedness, innovation, and knowing when to seek further help sit well here too. 

Prioritisation – I learnt this very quickly in my early customer service roles. Being able to see what’s important, organise, and manage time is still a big part of my day. 

Adaptability – Change is a reality for everyone in today’s world. I’ve moved jobs (and continents!), and seen political, social, economic, and technological churn. Resilience is now a popular buzzword but it’s important. Being versatile, able to cope well with change and face new opportunities and challenges with optimism will make you more employable.  

Competitiveness – A slightly unusual one to end my list – and a term I’m using to describe being outcome focussed. Good performance is important in any role and employers will always look for enthusiasm to get a job done well. 

While these may be my top five, further tools I’d  rate include: teamwork, initiative, reliability, attention to detail, leadership, and delegation. 

Use your transferrable skills wisely 

Firstly, be selective. Pick your strongest transferrable skills and build them into your personal profile on CVs and networking sites.  

Next, look for keywords in role descriptions and on company webpages – mission statements and corporate values are a great start point – adapt your CV accordingly.   

Then think of interview-ready examples of where you’ve demonstrated those skills. Employers want to see clear evidence of skills in action, not just self-descriptions. If you don’t have a work-related example for each, offer an alternative: from walking your neighbour’s dog and organising family events, to attending appointments on public transport and negotiating children’s screen time, you’re flexing those skills at home.  

Filling your toolkit takes thought. It’s not always easy. Ask friends, family members and colleagues what your best skills are if they’re not immediately obvious to you – then make them obvious to others.

Julie Graham FIEP is Chief Executive Officer of Employment Services. She brings extensive executive experience across the non profit and social impact sectors, with a career dedicated to improving lives and delivering meaningful employment outcomes. Julie has a strong track record in organisational leadership, performance, and large scale service delivery, supported by expertise in HR and customer centred design. A Deakin University graduate, she combines strategic insight with operational excellence. She also serves on the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) board, helping advance sector standards and best practice.