Finding and Honing Your Transferable Skills as AI Changes the Workplace

Dr. Marcia F. Robinson is a senior certified HR professional, diversity strategist, and curator of TheHBCUCareerCenter.com job board. She advises organizations on building inclusive talent pipelines and improving diversity recruiting outcomes.

When I completed my doctoral dissertation almost seven years ago on the attitudes and perspectives of HR practitioners on the use of Artificial Intelligence in hiring, the writing was already on the wall. AI was not going away this time. Since then, a pandemic and massive investments in AI technology have accelerated the pace of workplaces changes. In 2024 alone, U.S. private AI investment grew to $109 billion according to HAI Center at Stanford University.

Consistent with the AI investments, workplace roles are changing or evolving and industries are transforming with a quickness that is dizzying. Imagine that at a rapid pace, the work skills that you once thought guaranteed your job security, are being redefined. 

Just like that, the remnants of job security are being eroded. Let’s face it - career and workplace observers like me, have been bearish on the concept of job security for quite a while. For years, I have shared with emerging and experienced professionals that no college major alone can protect you from economic uncertainty and no current job title can predict fully what you can become.

So, again, I find myself beating the drum of discerning what transferable skills can keep your career afloat so that you can continue to thrive and sustain yourself and your family for the future. 

Because, amid this change that AI brings, one truth remains steady: your transferable skills will always be your most effective professional currency.

The New Landscape of Work

AI isn’t just now automating routine tasks. It was already doing that almost a decade ago. Now, it’s redefining how humans add value overall. Many organizations have figured out that the real opportunity lies not in replacing people, but in refocusing talent toward more analytical, creative, and human-centered work. 

That means the question we ask ourselves today is not “Will AI take my job?” but “How do I take my skills into the next version of my current job or career?”

Start With What You Already Know

Your transferable skills are those capabilities or abilities that can move with you — across roles, industries, or even career stages. Oftentimes, they are attached to your values. You love using these capabilities and they are a strong part of your work persona. Start taking inventory of your skills like problem-solving, collaboration, communication, adaptability, and data literacy because they will remain essential no matter how intelligent our productivity tools become. 

Think carefully about where and how you’ve demonstrated these capabilities. If you have used our tools like Interview Like a P.R.O., you know that inventorying your past for career storytelling is a must-do step. Reflecting on your work and pulling out those capabilities that undergird your professional life, is key to your staying future-ready. 

Did you lead a project through unexpected changes? 

Have you trained others on a new system? 

Have you presented solutions that influenced decisions? 

Each of your stories about how you have mastered your transferable skills should include the receipts and the outstanding outcomes. Whether you work for someone else or yourself…this is how you will rage against the AI machines and fight for your long term sustainability. 

Hone and Reframe for the AI Era

As AI takes on more technical or repetitive tasks, your human skills gain value. As humans, we too evolve and our skills must evolve also. 

Data-informed decision-making, ethical reasoning, empathy, and the ability to translate complex AI insights into action are now part of the transferable skill set you want to build. If you don’t have these skills, set some goals and seek to get them.  

If you have them, seek to strengthen them through appropriate continuous learning: micro-credentials, workshops, project participation sor AI-literacy programs that help you understand the tools transforming your field. Look around your company right now for opportunities to learn.

Keep Your Career Portable

The future of work always favors those who can spot the pivot points, is prepared for them and can execute on the pivot. Whether you’re a mid-career professional, a new college graduate, or someone re-entering the workforce, treat your transferable skills as your passport. They allow you safer passage across career and industry lines, help you reimagine your role, and stay relevant as you go.

In this new era, your greatest advantage won’t be how much you know about AI. 

All you need to know is that it’s here. If you are using it in your daily personal life you should know it is here for your professional life. Let it work for you by figuring out how to intentionally grow the skills that AI cannot replicate. 

We have been talking about  transferable skills for years, so here is more from The HBCU Career Center: 

The Importance of Transferable Skills in Your Job Search
How to Market Transferable Skill in Job Interviews
Not Enough Work Experience? No Problem