While people accumulate a wealth of expertise during their career, few take the time to really think how it could be further leveraged. Working life is in transition, duties change and entire industries undergo transformations. This is why transferring your existing competence to new circumstances is a crucial skill in working life. Here are five tips you can use to repurpose your competence.
1. Identify your competence
Your competence consists of knowledge, skills and metaskills – as well as the experience you have accumulated in your various roles across different environments. Motivation is also essential to your competence. A highly motivated individual is surprisingly adept at learning, and studies suggest that recruiters specifically look for motivation in applicants. Write down your tangible skills and think of the situations where you have used them in the past. Also detail you interests, hobbies, self-taught skills and strengths. And as you start seeing the big picture, you might realise that you have more skills than you expected.
2. Make a convincing case for yourself
When you consider the next step in your career, detail your competence clearly and with practical examples. Instead of “I work really hard,” you can say “I’ve kept the production line running even at peak hours error-free.” Or “I have provided onboarding for new employees and received good feedback.” Such examples help you make a good impression.
3. Target your message to the right audience
Think of who you want to offer your expertise to – and discuss it from their perspective. Employers are interested in the added value your bring, not merely what you have been doing. Always customise your message for the path you want to take: highlight different aspects in a jobseeking situation, when networking or in internal career development conversations.
4. Consider who might need your expertise
Not all opportunities are apparent in job listings. Often, the next step lies in hidden jobs – in situations where the employer does not yet even know they have a need for you. Consider where you might find demand for your competence and boldly approach employers through networking, taking contact and engaging in discussions. Each contact can be a new opportunity.
5. Share your competence and make it tangible
Make your expertise visible. Talk about your projects, your successes and your learning moments. Ask for recommendations and share examples on how you have used your skills in various situations. When you showcase your strengths, others can see the value you bring – even in new environments.
Transferring your competence does not mean giving up on the old but rather leveraging it in a new way. When you clearly identify and articulate your competence, you will find it easier to find places where you can grow, learn and succeed – perhaps on a new career path or in an entirely new role.
Join our webinar, or watch a recording of it later: Repurposing your existing competence, Tuesday Nov 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
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