Free Tools To Match Your Skills to Jobs
Are you looking to change jobs but aren’t sure what you’d like to do in your next position? The skills you have that can be applied to a variety of occupations are called transferable skills. Those skills can help you switch jobs or even careers without investing in continuing education or a degree.
When you’re job searching, you can find positions that match the skills you already have. If you’re looking for a career change, there are tools you can use to find occupations that fit your skills and interests.
Here’s information on matching your skills to jobs, free tools to find job listings and occupations, and how to showcase your most relevant skills in your job applications and interviews.
How To Use Your Skills to Get Hired
Deciding what you want to do can be hard, especially when you may not even be familiar with the jobs you’re qualified to do. It can be a challenge to discover how you can use the skills you have in a different occupation, but there are tools that can help you match your skills to jobs. These skill-matching tools are designed to help you decide what your next new position could look like.
Once you’ve generated a list of jobs, you can narrow down the list based on your preferences. You can include jobs that sound like they’d be interesting, pay what you need to earn to make ends meet, or get you on a career track that’s a better fit than your current one. You’ll be able to exclude jobs that don’t appeal or don’t tie in with your professional or personal goals.
Free Tools To Match Skills to Jobs
CareerOneStop Skills Matcher
Use CareerOneStop’s Skills Matcher to rate your expertise on 40 key workplace skills, then review a list of career options that match your highest-rated skills.
LinkedIn Career Explorer
LinkedIn’s Career Explorer tool works a bit differently. With this tool, you enter your current occupation, and LinkedIn will then show you similar jobs, how your skills overlap with the skills required for the new job, and openings in your area. If you’re in a hurry to make a change, you can use LinkedIn’s “Easy Apply” process, which allows you to apply using your LinkedIn profile.
My Next Move
If you’re new to the workforce or have been out of it for a while, use My Next Move to search careers by keyword, browse occupations listed by industry, or answer some questions to generate ideas for what you’d like to do.
O*NET OnLine Skills Search
Use this Skills Search to select from six primary skills groups to create a customized list of your skills. Then, you can view a list of occupations that use those skills and see how close a match you are to the job.
Tip: If you need help figuring out what you want to do, these free online career quizzes will suggest occupations that match your skills and interests.
Find Job Listings That Match Your Skills
When You’re Job Searching
Once you’ve spent some time exploring roles that could be a good fit, take the time to make a list of your most relevant skills for the jobs that are of interest.
If you’re job searching, you can use your skills list to search and apply for jobs and to ensure your resume, cover letters, and job applications match the position.
Here are some ways to find job listings that match your skillset:
Job Search Sites: The top job search websites — including Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and CareerOneStop’s Job Finder — have features that allow you to search for jobs based on specific keywords, skills, and locations. You can use these platforms to filter job listings that match your skills.
Niche Job Websites: Some industries have specialized job boards or websites that cater to specific skill sets and professions. Examples include Dice for IT professionals, Behance for creative and design roles, and FlexJobs for remote positions.
Company Websites: Visit the career sections of company websites to explore job openings and requirements. You can search for jobs that require the skills you have.
Job Alerts: Many job search platforms allow you to set up customized job alerts. You can specify your preferred job titles, skills, and locations, and the site will notify you when matching job listings are posted.
LinkedIn: You can use LinkedIn’s job search feature to find listings that align with your skills. Your LinkedIn profile serves as a dynamic resume, so be sure to add your skills to it.
When You’re Changing Careers
When considering a change, use your list of skills to explore new occupations and discover what you’d like to do in the next phase of your career.
If you're considering a career change later in life, many people successfully transition into new roles by leveraging their skills and experience, and you can explore how on How To Change Careers at 60 and Beyond.
How To Promote Your Skills
What if you have the right skills for the job you’re seeking but aren’t sure how to show employers you have them?
One easy way to promote your skills is to take some online skills tests and add your certificates and badges to your resume, LinkedIn profile, and the job sites where you have posted a profile.
When you apply for jobs, take the time to customize your resume and cover letters. Include your most relevant skills in your application materials. It’s important to show the employer that you’ve got the skills they are seeking in candidates for the job.
Tweak Your Resume
If you take the time to tweak your resume each time you apply for a job, it’ll be more of a match for the job you’re applying for. One way to do this is to add a professional summary that highlights the skills the employer is seeking.
Highlight Your Skills in Your Cover Letter
When you’re searching for a job in a different line of work, you’ll need to show the employer that you have the skills they are looking for. To up your chances of getting selected for an interview, take the time to write a cover letter that conveys to the employer how you match the job.
Look at the requirements listed in the job posting, and write a few sentences about how you meet them. That way, you’ll make it clear to the hiring manager how you’re a good fit. Our AI cover letter generator can create a tailored letter that highlights your skills and makes a strong impression on employers.
Use Your Interview To Showcase Your Skills
Your job interview will give you the opportunity to explain to the interviewer that you have the skills they need. Share examples of how you’ve gained the skills you need (even if you haven’t used them in previous roles) and how you’ve used them within your job roles.
As with your resume and cover letter, your goal is to show your prospective employer that you have the skills they need to be their next new hire.
How To Upgrade Your Skills
What should you do if you have some, but not all, of the skills you need for a job switch?
If you need more skills, Lifehack has a list of free online education sites you can use. These aren’t all free, but Lifewire has a list of the top 10 educational websites for online courses. If you’re interested in gaining certification, check out CareerOneStop’s certification finder.
Tip: Especially when it comes to computer skills, you may already have some of the skills employers are looking for.