Transferable skills
People skills
You may already be in a job where you are caring for people, whether it be the elderly or those with a disability or additional needs. Perhaps you have raised a family or you are a carer, with experience of looking after a family member or relative. You will need to be a people person, who would enjoy helping patients and families to feel comfortable and supported while they spend time in healthcare settings.
Teamwork
Examples of where effective teamworking may be important for healtchare roles include working with patients as a member of a healthcare team; working in the community, either in a multidisciplinary team with social workers, in a small team in a GP surgery or clinic, or working one to one with patients in their own homes. It is also important for non-frontline roles or in a management or support role, such as finance, HR, catering, estates and facilities
Data analysis
It may be the case that you will need to work with spreadsheets and databases, and collate data from multiple sources, for example, charts for presentations. Data analysis skills will allow you to find information quickly and effectively.
Science and technology
Providing direct care for patients requires a general understanding of some areas of science. A more detailed knowledge of biology, chemistry or physics is required for many roles in the NHS, where healthcare science staff, doctors, dentists and allied health professionals use their knowledge of specific areas of science on a daily basis.
There are other roles, such as medical research where an advanced knowledge and passion for specialist areas of science is required.
For more information on transferrble skills in healthcare, visit the NHS website.
