My whole life I had worked in restaurants as a server, bartender, etc. I realized I was beginning to get burned out with the late hours/long shifts and wanted to begin exploring new employment options. I wanted a job that didn’t rely solely on the generosity of others to pay my bills each month. The only problem was I felt like I was stuck in the food service industry.

The job I was applying for asked for 3 – 4 years office experience dealing with customers, the ability to prioritize efficiently and be driven to complete tasks with little guidance. I knew I could manage these successfully though I didn’t have any traditional office experience.

So, I made a list of what I considered “transferable skills” that I had inherited from my past that could be beneficial to me in other roles and used them to play to my strengths.

Strong Work Ethic Great Customer Service Skills Successful at Multitasking Team-Oriented Diverse Communication Skills

I was able to make it to the interview process where I discussed these transferable skills and how they will make me an asset to the team despite where I gained the experience.

I’m proud to say that I am officially the Office Receptionist at said company and I couldn’t be more excited!

If you’re looking into making a career shift and are hesitant to do so because of your “lack of experience,” make a list! Once you see all your great skills laid out, it will be so much easier to form your own experience story that you can use to fit the requirements of the position. If I can do it, you can do it!!

What would your list look like?