PhD Transferable Skills

Employers value many skills in addition to the technical knowledge in your discipline that you have honed while at Yale.  These skills are called “transferable” because they can be employed in a range of employer settings. The skills most cited by employers include:  written and oral communication, project management, collaboration, and leadership.  You already have developed many of these skills through your academic training, full or part-time jobs, and extra-curricular activities or hobbies.

While at Yale, seek out additional experiences that develop these skills. They will benefit your future career, whatever course it takes. Note that to employers, relevant experience does not have to be a paid job. It can be any experience that develops skills that are important to their work.

The resources below can help you identify your particular skill set. These skills are a key input into the professional narrative that you will employ in your resume, cover letter, and interviews.

Looking for ways to enhance your transferable skill set while at Yale?  Below is a list that can get you started.

By Yale Office of Career Strategy
Yale Office of Career Strategy