Identifying Your Transferable Skills for a Tech Career

Still day 31 of 30 days share something challenge. As a follow up to my post earlier today, I thought I’d share some tips on transferable skills and from what I’ve learned from my own experience and from working with women who’ve successfully made the switch into tech.

If you're a woman who is considering a career change into tech, you might be wondering what transferable skills you can bring to the table. Fortunately, there are many skills that you may have developed in your current or past roles that can be valuable in the tech industry. We'll explore some transferable skills that women can identify to make a successful career change into tech.

Problem-Solving: Your Natural Tech Skill

One of the core skills you’ll need in tech is problem-solving, and chances are you’ve already been doing this in your current or past roles.? Whether you’ve been working in customer service, education, healthcare, or even the arts, you’ve likely spent a significant amount of time troubleshooting issues and finding creative solutions. That’s exactly what tech is all about, finding ways to solve problems using technology.

When I transitioned into software development, I realised that coding wasn’t just about writing lines of code, it was about approaching problems in a systematic way.? I remembered how in my previous customer service roles I often had to navigate difficult situations and find workarounds to achieve results.? That skill of analysing a situation, breaking it down, and coming up with a solution was directly transferable to debugging code or designing software systems.

Action Tip: Think back to times when you’ve had to troubleshoot or solve complex problems.? These could be anything from resolving customer complaints to streamlining processes in your workplace.? These are the problem-solving skills that are highly valued in tech.

Communication: An Underrated but Essential Skill

Tech might seem like an industry full of people sitting quietly behind computers with headphones on, but it’s actually a highly collaborative field.? Clear, effective communication is essential for working with teams, understanding user needs, and translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences.

In my early days in tech, I realised that being able to explain complex ideas in simple terms was one of the most valuable skills I had developed.? I had spent years talking to clients, interpreting their needs, and delivering solutions that they could understand.? This directly translated to communicating with teams of developers, project managers, and clients, making sure everyone was on the same page.

I’ve seen many women underestimate their communication skills because they don’t seem “technical.” But trust me, communication is key in tech.? Whether you’re writing documentation, giving feedback, or collaborating with cross-functional teams, the ability to express ideas clearly can set you apart.

Action Tip: If you’ve worked in roles where you had to explain things, lead meetings, or collaborate across departments, highlight these communication skills.? They are just as critical as technical abilities in many tech roles.

Analytical skills

Analytical skills are essential in tech, where data analysis and problem-solving are often required.? Women who have experience in areas like research, finance, or data analysis may have already developed strong analytical skills that can be transferable to tech.

Technical aptitude

While not all women who want to make a career change into tech will have a technical background, many may have developed technical aptitude through hobbies, side projects, or previous roles. Even if you don't have extensive technical knowledge, you may have a good understanding of basic coding concepts or a willingness to learn new technologies.

Project Management: Keeping Everything on Track

Many women come into tech from careers in management, administration, or operations, where they’ve had to juggle multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and manage resources.? These project management skills are incredibly valuable in tech.

Before my client CH transitioned into tech, she worked in a role that required me to oversee projects, allocate resources, and ensure things got done on time.? At the time, she didn’t realise that she was already doing many of the things a technical project manager or scrum master does, leading teams, coordinating tasks, and keeping projects on schedule.

If you’ve ever had to manage a project, track progress, or make sure that deadlines are met, then you already have a critical tech skill.? Tech teams rely heavily on project management to ensure that products are developed and delivered successfully.

Action Tip: If you’ve ever managed a project, big or small, add it to your list of transferable skills.? In this fast-paced tech world, the ability to organise, prioritise, and execute is invaluable.

Adaptability: A Key Tech Mindset

Tech is an industry that changes quickly.? New tools, frameworks, and technologies emerge all the time, which means that being adaptable and willing to learn is critical to success.? If you’ve worked in an environment where you had to adapt to change, whether that was dealing with shifting priorities, learning new systems, or navigating uncertainty, then you’re already demonstrating one of the most important qualities tech employers look for.

When I started my tech career, one thing I quickly realised was that I needed to be comfortable with constant learning. But I wasn’t starting from scratch.? I had already adapted to new challenges throughout my previous career, whether it was learning a new process, picking up a new skill, or managing unexpected changes.? Those experiences made me more flexible and resilient when tackling new technologies.

Action Tip: Think about times when you’ve had to learn something new quickly or adapt to a change in your workplace.? These experiences show that you can handle the fast-paced, ever-evolving nature of tech.

Customer or User Empathy, Designing with People in Mind

If you’ve ever worked in a role where you dealt with customers or clients, you’ve likely developed a deep understanding of their needs, frustrations, and desires. This is a key skill in tech, particularly in roles like user experience (UX) design, product management, and even software development.

I didn’t realise it at the time, but all the years I spent listening to clients, understanding their pain points, and finding ways to meet their needs gave me a unique perspective when I transitioned into tech.? I found that my ability to empathise with users made me better at designing solutions that people actually wanted and needed.

In tech, building products that work well isn’t just about writing clean code or using the latest frameworks, it’s about understanding the user and designing with them in mind.? If you’ve spent time in any customer-facing role, this is a powerful skill that you can carry into tech.

Action Tip: Highlight any experience you have working with clients, customers, or end-users.? This shows that you can build technology that solves real problems and enhances user experiences.

I say all that to say, if you’re considering a tech career, remember that you already have so many transferable skills.? Whether it’s problem-solving, communication, project management, adaptability, or user empathy, these abilities are not only relevant, they’re in high demand.

Making the transition into tech isn’t about starting from scratch, it’s about taking what you already know and applying it in a new context.? You have more to offer than you might think, and the tech industry needs diverse perspectives and experiences, especially from women like you.

So, take a step back and recognise the strengths you’ve built in your career so far.? The path to a tech career starts with a positive mindset and identifying those transferable skills and being confident in their value.

More power to you!