How to Spot Your Transferable Skills (And Why They Matter So Much When You’re Leaving Ships)

How to Spot Your Transferable Skills and why they might be your secret weapon in landing a job on land

Transferable skills are the skills you’ve gained through one job, role, or life experience and can apply to something completely different. They’re not tied to a specific title or industry. Instead, they show how you work, not just what you’ve done.  Think of them as the muscle underneath the task. You didn’t just serve drinks you managed high-pressure environments, read people fast, handled conflict with tact, worked in diverse teams, and stayed calm under stress. Those are skills that transfer and land-based employers value them more than you think.

Whether you worked in housekeeping, entertainment, the engine room, or guest services, you have a powerful skillset that isn’t just “for ships.” You’ve just been calling it by job titles instead of naming the actual skills underneath.  

If you want to land a land-based job quickly, this is the skillset to start with. Why?  Because employers don’t need you to have done the exact job before. They need to know you have the skills to do it well.

You might not have “retail assistant” on your resume but if you’ve worked guest services, you’ve handled face-to-face customer problems, point-of-sale systems, and queues of demanding people. Same thing. Different outfit.

Transferable skills allow you to:

• Apply for jobs outside your current industry
• Stand out if you don’t meet every requirement on a job ad
• Tailor your resume and cover letter more powerfully
• Talk about yourself with more confidence in interviews
• Pivot careers without starting from scratch

In a competitive job market, being able to name and apply these skills is the fastest way to get noticed.  Here are some of the most valuable and often underestimated transferable skills that many ship crew already have:

1. Time Management – Managing tight turnarounds and schedules.
2. Problem-Solving – Thinking fast, troubleshooting issues on the spot.
3. Customer Service – Creating positive experiences, even under pressure.
4. Teamwork – Working with multicultural, cross-departmental teams.
5. Adaptability – Adjusting to sudden changes, policies, or challenges.
6. Attention to Detail – Spotting errors, maintaining standards.
7. Multitasking – Handling many tasks simultaneously without dropping the ball.
8. Conflict Resolution – Calming upset guests or handling staff tensions.
9. Sales Skills – Upselling, closing, and hitting revenue targets.
10. Emotional Intelligence – Reading the room and responding with empathy.
11. Initiative – Acting without waiting to be told.
12. Crisis Management – Staying calm and leading during emergencies.
13. Cultural Awareness – Working effectively across nationalities and customs.
14. Presentation Skills – Speaking clearly to groups or during training.
15. Leadership – Leading a shift, mentoring new team members.
16. Work Ethic – Long hours, demanding environments, and showing up anyway.
17. Technical Literacy – Learning company systems and apps quickly.
18. Hospitality Mindset – Anticipating needs, not just responding.
19. Physical Endurance – Being on your feet for long hours without slowing down.
20. Professional Demeanor – Holding yourself well even when exhausted.

Using your transferable skills when job searching makes the whole process so much easier. Start by breaking down your current role not just the job title, but what you actually do each day. Think about your actions, decisions, and the impact you make. Then, take a few job ads that interest you and highlight the skills they mention. Which ones do you already use? This is where the connection starts.

Next, use the right language to describe your experience. Instead of saying “I worked in the bar for five years,” say something like “I consistently exceeded sales targets in a high-volume, face-to-face environment.” It’s about showing your value in ways employers understand. You can even create a 'Transferable Skills' section on your resume to give hiring managers a quick snapshot of your strengths. And finally, practice talking about your skills out loud. Use STAR stories - Situation, Task, Action, Result,  to prepare for interviews and help your experience land clearly and confidently.

I’d like to think you’re feeling a little more excited after reading this because once you understand your transferable skills, everything gets easier. So where do you begin?

Ask yourself this simple question: What do people count on me for, every single day? That one question will often lead you straight to your strongest, most natural skills.

Here are some quick examples based on shipboard roles:
• Cabin Steward – attention to detail, time management, self-direction, customer satisfaction
• Bar Waiter – multitasking, upselling, conflict resolution, product knowledge
• Laundry Attendant – systems operation, efficiency, quality control
• Shore Excursions Staff – communication, crisis management, guest interaction, multitasking
• Security Team – observation skills, composure, conflict resolution, policy enforcement
• Crew Admin – documentation, confidentiality, digital systems, organization

The key is to go beyond the task and identify the skills underneath then tell your story through those.  Think of your transferable skills as your best friend. The more you get to know them, the more confident and clear your job search becomes and the more valuable you’ll realize you already are.

Ready to spot more of your skills?
Grab my free guide “100 Land-Based Jobs That Ship Crew Can Do”  it’s packed with job options that make your next move easier.
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