Transferable skills

There are many roles in the NHS which do not require a formal qualification or ‘hard’ technical skills. For these roles, employers are generally looking for ‘soft’ transferable skills which can be applied in a wide variety of jobs.

What transferable skills do I need for a role in health or care?

There are certain skills which most employers will be looking for regardless of the role. For example, communication, teamwork, organisational skills and time management. They will also be looking for good Maths and English skills.

For patient-facing roles, employers will also be looking for people skills and customer service skills that show you are able to care for patients and engage with members of the public.

For administration roles, they will be looking for IT and keyboard skills. 

Depending on the role, they may also be looking for problem-solving skills and the ability to work well under pressure.

For more information on transferable skills and advice on how to identify which transferable skills you have, visit these websites:

You may not even realise what transferable skills you have, so it is a good idea to take the time to think about these before you apply for a job. In an interview, you will be asked to provide examples of times you have demonstrated these skills, so make sure you have some ready.