A transferable skills analysis (TSA) is a systematic process used to identify skills developed through prior work experience, education, training, and life roles that may be applicable to other occupations. In vocational rehabilitation and disability evaluation, TSA is a foundational tool.
In the Social Security context, a VE may be asked to identify occupations that a claimant can perform based on skills transferred from their past relevant work — provided those skills transfer to jobs within the claimant’s residual functional capacity (RFC) and vocational profile. The rigor of this analysis matters enormously.
Categories of Transferable Skills
- Communication: writing, public speaking, interpretation, negotiation
- Organization and planning: scheduling, record-keeping, workflow management
- Documentation and reporting: data entry, case notation, compliance reporting
- Customer and client service: needs assessment, conflict resolution, relationship management
- Leadership and supervision: training, delegation, performance oversight
- Technical and computer skills: software platforms, data analysis, digital systems
- Problem-solving and critical thinking: research, analysis, process improvement
Why It Matters Beyond SSA
TSA isn’t only for disability proceedings. For individuals navigating career transitions, layoffs, or returning to work after an extended absence, a thoughtful skills analysis can open doors they didn’t know existed. Identifying transferable strengths — and the occupational titles that align with them — can reframe what feels like a dead end into a genuine starting point.
At Majid Rehabilitation Consulting LLC, transferable skills analysis is conducted using established vocational methodology, current labor market data, and an individualized approach that honors the full scope of a person’s work history.