Can a Transferable Skill Set Earn You a Higher Salary?

February 15, 2021 in Career and Job Search Tips

 

 

Each of us has that little voice deep inside that narrates our thoughts. Sometimes it makes us doubt ourselves; other times, it can reveal an important truth: You are more talented, smarter, and more capable than your co-workers.

But did you know, if you are that high-performer, your transferable skills can put more money in your pocket? A self-motivated, more efficient worker, who can single-handedly make or break a project and lead their co-workers through challenges while keeping their cool, one who gets more done in a single day than others can in three will be valued and prized in any food and beverage industry position.

Recruiters and headhunters are excited to find these rock stars and bring them to companies that appreciate their worth.


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Regardless of your current job title in the food and beverage industry, if you have one or more of these skills and feel you’re more adept at them than your co-workers, you could find yourself well-positioned to advance your career when the time comes.

 

1. Communicate well and the world will follow

The ability to take complex ideas and share them succinctly with others is priceless. Good communication skills take many forms.

  • The ability to listen and find the most important messages to focus on and carry forward;
  • The ability to speak well and effectively, bringing people to your way of thinking and helping them understand the most important facts of a situation or order; and
  • The ability to deftly explain the most complicated tasks or put thoughts and concepts into writing so that it is easily understood by others

These are highly sought-after skills that will be valued by any employer, any hiring manager, any recruiter looking for talented new employees.

 

2. Problem-solving superstar

As far back as the 1960s, people knew the computer industry was going to revolutionize the world. A study conducted in 1968 found that the best programmer wasn’t just a little better than their peers, but 20 times faster at coding, 25 times faster at debugging a problem and 10 times faster at executing programs compared with the weakest member of the team during a two-hour test.


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Someone who can take a problem, big or small, and work quickly, independently, and with few hiccups to find a solution is a rock star in the same way that programmer was back in the late ‘60s.

All industries, including the food and beverage industry, need problem solvers. People to source new raw materials, find new distributors, explore new markets, and do their work independently are often handsomely rewarded for their efforts. One person who can do the job of 10 justifies a much higher salary than a team of people solving the same problems. That’s the system adopted by Netflix and it’s one a food and beverage industry employer may consider, which can be personally rewarding for highly-skilled workers.

 

3. Lead the charge

Being able to find the way through a maze is one thing. Getting others to trust your decisions and follow you is another. Good leadership skills are easy to identify but harder to teach for those not born with them. People who have confidence in their decisions and trust themselves and their choices will attract and inspire confidence in those around them. C-Suite executives will look to directors and managers with these leadership skills to gain support for changes in the business plan or workplace; co-workers will look to these employees to respond positively to change and follow suit.


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People with strong leadership skills are very valuable to their employer and are best positioned for promotions or additional responsibility, leading to higher wages and better opportunities down the road.

 

4. Make the most of the time available

There are only so many hours in a day, yet some people can do more with their time than others. Time-management skills are in high demand in all industries. The more efficient a person is with their working hours, the more they are worth to their employer, manager, and team. If deadlines govern your job and you always finish with time to spare, you likely have exceptional time management skills that will benefit others.


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You’re also the person a manager will turn to with last-minute crises and demands, but that’s an indication of confidence and trust more than a burden of obligation. Keeping cool and calm under pressure and being able to prioritize tasks quickly, without too much supervision or guidance, makes you a rock star employee.

 

5. Motivation for days

We all have days when the inspiration and drive to work hard are lacking. People who can take a breath, size up the situation, and get back on track become influential leaders. They get themselves up and running, and they bring their colleagues along. They lead with poise and confidence and others are naturally drawn to their personality and uplifting outlook. The ability to handle stress and turn it into enthusiasm and drive is magnetic and will be appreciated in any job, regardless of title or employer, and can help you stand out from the crowd when interviewing for a new opportunity.


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Skills to pay the bills

If you’ve found yourself nodding along and recognizing your strengths are among these valuable and easily transferable skills, you have career opportunities ahead of you.

If you find a food and beverage industry job that interests you and have one or more of these skills, feel confident when sending your resume. Other skills are teachable; these skills are harder to learn, and sharp-eyed hiring managers, recruiters, and executives recognize them because they know what to look for in new hires.

If you’re looking for a new opportunity but aren’t sure where to start, contact Kinsa Group. For more than 35 years, Kinsa Group has helped highly skilled professionals and executives to find great new jobs with food companies that value their abilities.

Contact Kinsa Group today, and let’s help you advance your career.