Be brave – Deviate!!
And yes, technical skills are transferrable across sectors!!!
You are a technical expert in your field. Once you have recognized that, its important to
be aware of all the potential applications of your knowledge – even beyond your current
industry.
Knowledge and skills are transferable, you just need to have a bold and flexible mindset.
For instance, you have learnt formulation in a pharma or chemistry school or gained
experience in the pharma industry and so you instinctively apply for opportunities in
pharmaceutical companies. However, if you have worked in the formulation of
dermatology products (in skin therapeutic areas) – dermal creams, lotions, and
ointments, you can definitely consider exploring a career in cosmetics companies as well. Similarly, trichology or hair & scalp therapeutics find applications in development
of hair care products.
To give another case, if you have worked around colors, pigments and dyes in the
coatings or automotive or decorative paints or in the stationery industry, you can still
transfer this expertise to the personal care industry. In the beauty industry, this color
expertise finds application in Color cosmetics (Make-up products) as well as hair
colours.
So please, relook at your technical expertise & skills and explore areas outside your
natural domains. You would enjoy the challenge of working in a novel application area
and the hiring company would benefit from a new perspective. Win-Win!
