Are You Snoozing On Your Transferables?

Last summer I had the opportunity to intern for the Cannes Lions Film festival. Interning at Cannes was 
amazing! I ran into a bunch of celebrities, got to attend seminars hosted by top agency leaders, had a chance to network with international professionals, and had a blast (can you say free alcohol + beach). When networking,  people are often immpressed that I was able to able to obtain such an opportunity. However despite knowing this and the amazing time I had, there was a time when I excluded Cannes from my resumes and CVs.

One night, while preparing my resume for a deadline my mother scolded me.

 "You should be highlighting you Cannes experience more." 

“But I didn’t really do 'professional work' for them,” I replied. 

“So what Nicole You interned for the Cannes Lions Film festival thats something employers should know."

Lol was she missing the point? While, I did do a lot of work for Cannes stuffing goody bags, sticking thousands of bar codes on the back of name badges, it wasn’t the "traditonal work" I was accustomed to--- helping clients with their adword accounts, analyzing website traffic, optimizing websites. In comparison to some of my other work, I felt, it just didn’t live up. But after thinking about it more, having Never traveled international, not knowing a lick of French (bonjur was as deep as it got for me), by myself I somehow managed to...

Travel to Paris, make it through customs, catch a bus to downtown Paris, get completely lost looking for the subway, find the subway, make it to the apartment I was staying in, visit the Eiffel Tower, take the subway again, vist the louvre, take snap shots of the Mona Lisa, negotiate a sale with street vendors, get dinner, take a train to South France (Cannes), get off at the right stop, find my professor who let me tell you, gave me some shaky directions, get familiar enough with locals to speak to them (in French) on my way to work, discover an amazing restaurant where the owners treated me like family, work for Lions (the event marketing company who host Cannes), develop professional relationships with the Lions staff, be responsible for delivering EXPENSIVE equipment  to multiple events in Cannes, go to a party where Neyo gave a surprise performance, meet a hot guy from Africa whom I’m still friends and keep regular contact with, makes friends with people from Switzerland, Netherlands, Brazil, London, and France--- to name a few--- who I also still keep in contact with,  annnnd make it back home while the Persian, air traffic controllers, taxi cab drivers, and train drivers were on strike yikes! This is an experience I’m proud of and Yes! Is something I want employers to know about me. Why?? Because not only is it a bad ass story, it is a story that shows I have the ability to problem solve, build relationships-despite language and cultural barriers, am resourceful, brave, and independent.

Transferable Skills

Skillsyouneed.com defines transferable skills as “skills and abilities you develop throughout your life.” Typically transferable skills are skills acquired from school, work, and various social experiences. It is important to have the ability communicate transferable skills to employers because lack of experience is not always a barrier to securing a new job. In fact, in addition to work experience, most employers take into account transferable skill during their selection process. Basically what it comes down to is, it isnt JUST about your expereince. In addition to a strong resume it is necessary to learn and identify your transferable skills.

My mom always tells me I left for France, terrified, unsure, and nervous she says I returned confident, fearless, and empowered.

Can you think of an experience that made you grow and and as a result you learned a new skill, or ability?  Maybe you got lost on a family vacation, or had to adapt to a new city.

Please share your stories!