Guest Blogger Dr. Lynne Orr is a Walden University instructor for both the MS in Adult Education and the MS in Higher Education programs. She is also a chair and committee member for the EdD doctoral study students at Walden University. Lynne Orr has been a professor, career counselor, and academic advisor in higher education for over 24 years.
I want to introduce six essential steps to help translate your academic knowledge and skills into transferable skills to share with employers and professionals in your field. Transferable skills are when you can apply your skill sets to another environment. For example, you can take skills you developed in the classroom and apply them to a specific career field or job opportunity. Learn how to translate academics into career opportunities in the six steps below:
Step 1: Understand What Employers Are Seeking
There are general skills required from most employers, such as communication, adaptability, and creativity, to name some of the top skills that employers are looking for in a candidate. There are also additional skills which are specific to a career field or job role. Refer to the following articles from the National Association of College and Employers (NACE) to learn more about what employers are seeking in their next candidate:
The Key Attributes Employers are Looking for on Graduate Resumes
What Are Employers Looking for When Reviewing College Students’ Resumes
Step 2: Review Course, Program, and Degree Outcomes
The process of transitioning your academics to potential careers includes reviewing course outcomes, program outcomes, and degree outcomes. To get started, refer to the WaldenU.Edu website and select a course or program that you are passionate about.
Let’s look at one example from the Certificate in Higher Education and review the learning outcomes for one of the courses in this program:
Course Title: “Leading Change in Student Support Services.”
Learning Outcomes:
- Analyze the characteristics of student support programs at different institutional types.
- Evaluate the costs and benefits of managing and implementing change in student support programs.
- Compare and contrast institutional approaches to leading, managing, and implementing change in student support programs.
- Plan for the use of assessment and data-driven decision-making in leading, managing, and implementing change.
Step 3: Brainstorm Potential Careers
The next step is to brainstorm possible careers related to the learning outcomes. When brainstorming be open, creative, and consider possibilities. From the course learning outcomes, generate a list of potential career titles that may align with the course topics. As an example, here are a few career titles related to the “Leading Change in Student Support Services” course in Step 2.
Program Coordinator
Dean of Students
Student Activities Coordinator
Career Director/Counselor
Special Programs Coordinator
Academic Advisor
Residence Life Director
Student Leader Coordinator
Retention Specialist
Step 4: Identify Careers That Interest YOU
Next, further investigate careers you may be interested in, now or in the future. Learn everything you can about your target role(s) and conduct informational interviews with people who work in those roles. Also, search the internet for jobs with the career titles you identified and review occupations in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. For additional career research tools and strategies, visit Career Planning and Development’s Career Exploration tab.
Step 5: Align Learning Outcomes to Qualifications
The next step involves aligning the learning outcomes to help demonstrate that you are qualified for your target position based on your academic knowledge and skills. Below are a few examples of how to develop strong accomplishment statements that align with the course learning outcomes in Step 2:
Example 1:
Learning Outcome:
Analyze the characteristics of student support programs at different institution types.
Sample Accomplishment Statement (to include on a resume):
Completed an academic research project that analyzed student support programs across six private and public colleges and universities, comparing in-person, hybrid, and online models.
Example 2:
Learning Outcome:
Compare and contrast institutional approaches to leading, managing, and implementing change in student support programs.
Sample Accomplishment Statement (to include on a resume):
Strong understanding of best practices and trends in leading student services departments through technology-driven change initiatives.
Example 3:
Learning Outcome:
Evaluate the costs and benefits of managing and implementing change in student support programs.
Sample Accomplishment Statement (to include on a resume):
Ability to evaluate the costs and benefits of implementing change initiatives in student services departments.
Example 4:
Learning Outcome:
Plan for the use of assessment and data-driven decision-making in leading, managing, and implementing change.
Sample Accomplishment Statement (to include on a resume):
Knowledge of using data analytics and assessment tools to drive decisions in student support programs.
Step 6: Add Academic Qualifications to Your Resume
The final step involves updating the Summary of Qualifications section of your resume to include not only your professional experience, but also accomplishment statements related to the academic knowledge and skills you gained during your academic journey.
Refer to the Custom Samples page for visual examples of how to structure your Summary of Qualifications section. Make sure to use your own language when updating your resume.
To sum up, understanding how to translate academics to a career can give you an edge in your job search and boost your confidence in communicating your value to others. If you would like additional career-related support, Walden’s Department of Career Planning and Development can further assist you with making your next career transition.
Additional Resources:
Walden University website
Career Planning and Development website
Career Exploration tab
Inventory of Professional and Academic Skills worksheet
Custom Samples page
Career Transition Checklist
Schedule an Appointment page
Written by Dr. Lynne Orr, Walden University Contributing Faculty
Edited by Dina Bergren, Manager, Career Planning and Development