Occupationally-Transferable Skills and Characteristics: Review of Literature and Research. Information Series No. 105.

In this synthesis of research and literature on the nature of occupationally-transferable skills, the author identifies skills that seem to be highly transferable in the sense of being general to a number of occupations. He then speculates about characteristics of skills that are generalizable or transferable and discusses some implications for educational programs, hiring, and employment search practices, and for research. Specific transfer questions also addressed are these: Are there optimal sequences for developing the component skills of complex behaviors? At what level of abstraction should a skill be taught? and Are some behaviors more amenable to training than others? Close attention is given to three studies: (1) the "Dictionary of Occupational Titles" classification of occupations according to common elements, (2) the generic skills project of W.J. Kawula and A. Smith, and (3) research on egometrics (application of psychometric principles and procedures to the study of human work) directed by J. William Cunningham. The author concludes that there is no nontransferable skill and that a good education through high school will provide an individual with a good repertoire of skills for the world of work. A further conclusion is that training programs should be designed to teach specific skills very well and to allow for skill practice in a variety of situations after ensuring utility for one situation. (JT)