What are transferable skills and why are they important?

Transferable skills are core skills which are of value in a wide range of situations, subjects and jobs.

Due to the fact that many of these skills are not subject-specific, they are not always developed directly by study, but are often honed through a variety of activities. Undertaking a research project is one such activity and gives you the opportunity to develop a wide range of transferable skills which will be of considerable help to you in your further studies or in your chosen field of employment, whatever that may be.

In this video, the team introduces you to a wide variety of skills which you could develop through undertaking a research project.

Through the course of an academic research project, you’ll have the chance to practice and develop many of these skills, along with a wide range of subject-specific skills related to whatever you choose to study.

Which of the skills mentioned in the video do you think will be most useful for you to develop?

Further information about understanding your skills is provided by the University of Southampton Careers and Employability Service. This will help you think about the skills you have and those you might develop on your research project, and how this can help you demonstrate your employability and plan your future career.

Why not conduct a ‘skills audit’? This can help you think about the skills you’ve developed during your research, how to develop them further, and how to present them on a CV.