Career Overlap Transition record Edition 1 · ESCO v1.2.1
Table 1Transition record

train cleanertowindow cleaner

A train cleaner already meets 42% of what the window cleaner role asks for. The move turns on 9 required skills not yet in the profile.

From train cleaner
42%
Overlap1
To window cleaner
13 Skills carried over
9 Required, not held
62.7 Difficulty2
Career overlap Partial match

42%

Learning distance Substantial retraining

62.7/ 100

1 Share of the window cleaner role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the train cleaner profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Why

Why this move works

A window cleaner role treats 8 of its required skills as things a train cleaner already does. These are the ones it depends on most.

  • clean glass surfaces
  • cleaning industry health and safety measures
  • complete report sheets of activity
  • follow organisational guidelines in the cleaning industry
  • handle chemical cleaning agents
  • maintain cleaning equipment

What stands in the way is 9 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 13 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A window cleaner role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a train cleaner background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held clean particular areas manually handling and moving
  • already held complete report sheets of activity information skills
  • already held manage routine waste handling and moving
  • already held follow organisational guidelines in the cleaning industry assisting and caring
  • already held carry out pressure washing activities handling and moving
  • already held maintain inventory of cleaning supplies information skills

All 13 carried skills, including the 8 the window cleaner role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 22 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier
01 handling and moving 5 required, 2 supplementary
  • required, not held prepare cleaning materials for window cleaning required
  • required, not held use a water-fed pole system required
  • required, not held follow procedures to control substances hazardous to health required
  • required, not held maintain personal hygiene standards when cleaning required
  • required, not held dispose of non-hazardous waste required
  • optional, not held clean building facade optional
  • optional, not held clean public furniture optional
02 constructing 1 required, 2 supplementary
  • required, not held protect window frames required
  • optional, not held perform glazing reconditioning optional
  • optional, not held apply proofing membranes optional
03 information skills 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • required, not held report on window damage required
  • optional, not held read technical datasheet optional
04 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required
  • required, not held follow reporting procedures required
05 services 1 required
  • required, not held risk assessment for window cleaning required
06 management skills 4 supplementary
  • optional, not held issue sales invoices optional
  • optional, not held manage a small-to-medium business optional
  • optional, not held supervise the work of cleaning staff optional
  • optional, not held maintain professional administration optional

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a window cleaner role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 13 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held clean glass surfaces skill
  • already held cleaning industry health and safety measures knowledge
  • already held complete report sheets of activity skill
  • already held follow organisational guidelines in the cleaning industry skill
  • already held handle chemical cleaning agents skill
  • already held maintain cleaning equipment skill
  • already held maintain inventory of cleaning supplies skill
  • already held personal protective equipment knowledge
  • already held carry out pressure washing activities skill
  • already held clean particular areas manually skill
  • already held manage routine waste skill
  • already held perform cleaning activities in an environmentally friendly way skill
  • already held perform outdoor cleaning activities skill
The 3 learning areas not shown above
Skill to acquire Tier
07 assisting and caring 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held follow safety procedures when working at heights optional
  • optional, not held select hazard control optional
08 business, administration and law 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held customer service optional
09 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held operate aerial work platforms optional
13 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to acquire Tier
  • optional, not held perform glazing reconditioning optional
  • optional, not held customer service optional
  • optional, not held issue sales invoices optional
  • optional, not held manage a small-to-medium business optional
  • optional, not held supervise the work of cleaning staff optional
  • optional, not held apply proofing membranes optional
  • optional, not held clean building facade optional
  • optional, not held clean public furniture optional
  • optional, not held follow safety procedures when working at heights optional
  • optional, not held maintain professional administration optional
  • optional, not held operate aerial work platforms optional
  • optional, not held read technical datasheet optional
  • optional, not held select hazard control optional
17 held skills the window cleaner role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role clean equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role clean public areas skill
  • not needed by the target role clean surfaces skill
  • not needed by the target role clean toilet facilities skill
  • not needed by the target role clean train interiors skill
  • not needed by the target role cleaning techniques knowledge
  • not needed by the target role communicate with customers skill
  • not needed by the target role cooperate with colleagues skill
  • not needed by the target role discharge of collected waste knowledge
  • not needed by the target role ensure compliance with waste legislative regulations skill
  • not needed by the target role operate floor cleaning equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role operate pressure washer skill
  • not needed by the target role perform cleaning duties skill
  • not needed by the target role remove dust skill
  • not needed by the target role train cleaning procedures knowledge
  • not needed by the target role vacuum surfaces skill
  • not needed by the target role work in shifts skill
2 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier
  • required, not held risk assessment for window cleaning required
  • optional, not held customer service optional
Index
Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.