Personal Skills Gap Analysis: How to Identify Which Skills You’re Missing

If you’re looking to break into a new industry, earn a promotion, or take your career to the next level, understanding which skills you need to develop is an important step.

But how do you identify which skills you’re missing, and how can you bridge those gaps? First, start with a personal skills gap analysis.

By assessing your current strengths and identifying the skills you need to develop, you can take control of your career and create a clear and structured development plan to reach the next level.

So, let’s dive into what that looks like.

What is a Skills Gap?

“A skills gap is simply the distance between what you currently know and what you need to know to be successful in your job,” says Dorie Clark, who teaches at Columbia Business School, and is the author of The Long Game. 

It doesn’t mean you cannot succeed, but it highlights where you need to gain additional knowledge or expertise in your field.

Skills gaps can be technical, such as the ability to use data analytics tools or understand coding languages, or related to soft skills like problem-solving and collaborating with others.

“For technical skills, of course, that varies in part by role. Not everyone needs to know how to program certain computer languages, for instance,” Dorie explains.

“But there are certainly commonalities. Most knowledge workers could benefit from better public speaking and communication skills, and especially the ability to delegate and to prioritize effectively, given the information overload we all face these days,” she adds.

Essentially: everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and there’s always room for improvement whether they may be in more general areas or a specific set of skills.

If you’re in finance, you might excel at financial analysis but want to improve your skills in Python or Tableau. If you’re in management, you may have strong leadership abilities but want to sharpen your technical expertise.

No matter your field, developing both technical and soft skills can help you grow and stay competitive.

Why Should you Work on Your Skill Set?

In any competitive field, having a strong skill set is crucial for finding a job, earning promotions, and securing your position in the long term.

If you’re looking at the job description of your dream role and realize your specific set of skills doesn’t align with what’s needed to land the position, you may miss out on opportunities.

As industries change, and grow, the demand for new workforce skills also changes, and staying knowledgeable and adaptable will help you remain competitive.

By working on your skills, you can stay up-to-date in your current role and continue advancing in your field.

Conducting Your own Skills Gap Analysis

To get started with your personal skills gap analysis, you will need to identify what your goals are, and where you would like to go next. This could mean advancing through education, being promoted, or pivoting from one field to the next. Understanding your goals will give you a clear sense of direction, helping you decide which skills you need in order to achieve them.

One effective strategy is to use a SMART goal framework. This means your goals are: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By setting SMART goals, you can more clearly see which skills you need to develop to achieve your career objectives.

For example, if you would like to move up from being a financial analyst to a senior financial analyst, or transition from a marketing specialist to a marketing manager, setting SMART goals will help you map out the specific skills you need to develop.

Specific – Clearly state what you would like to achieve. Example: I want to become a senior financial analyst.

Measurable – Determine how you will track progress. Example: I will complete two advanced financial modeling courses.

Achievable – Make sure your goal is realistic. Example: I will develop these skills over the next year while working in my current role.

Relevant – Align your goal with your plan. Example: Advancing my analytical skills will make me a stronger candidate for senior finance roles.

Time-bound – Set a deadline. Example: I will achieve this promotion within 18 months.

Now that you have defined your SMART goals, the next step in your skills gap analysis should be to identify the skills required to achieve them.

How to Identify Which Skills You’re Missing

To identify which skills you’re missing, start by reviewing job descriptions for roles similar to your target position. From there, look for any common skills mentioned across multiple job postings.

“Graduates and new professionals can usefully assess their skills gap by analyzing job adverts, paying close attention to the job and personal specifications,” explains Kate Sassi, career coach and advisor at University of Winchester.

Kate suggests asking yourself: What can I comfortably ‘tick off’ as experience, and what is missing? What do I still need to learn or gain experience in to apply for the jobs I want?

For example, if multiple roles require proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, or Python, it’s a clear sign that developing these skills is essential if you don’t have them already.

Another way to assess your skills gap is by seeking feedback from your friends and colleagues.

“You can ask them where they feel you excel, and where you might consider studying or practicing further. A benefit in asking friends or colleagues you trust first is that you hopefully will be less defensive in hearing their feedback, whereas hearing it from a boss might cause you to feel the need to defend yourself,” says Dorie. 

However, it’s also valuable to seek feedback from your boss. When you’re comfortable to do so, she suggests enquiring in an informal way, something like: ‘You know I always want to improve my skills, so I can do the best possible job in this role. Where do you feel I might focus to have the greatest impact on my overall performance?’

“Most managers will be thrilled that you're motivated enough to initiate this conversation,” Dorie adds.

How to Fill Your Skills Gaps

After successfully conducting your personal skills gap analysis, it is time to address them. Ask yourself: Are there recurring themes or specific skills that stand out? You can use the information provided to create an action plan.

If you’re currently employed, look for opportunities within your company to refine your abilities. On-the-job training is an effective way to develop the skills you’re missing. This could include taking on a project or assisting a more experienced colleague. Hands-on experience is often a great way to gain new skills.

Kate advises to acquire relevant experience wherever possible, including voluntarily. She gives examples such as doing social media work for a fundraising campaign, offering IT help at a community center, or gaining experience by shadowing professionals in your chosen field.

If you’re interested in a more refined career development plan, you can also pursue certifications or specialized courses that directly target the skills you need. Online business certifications can provide opportunities to upskill in particular areas relevant to your own career journey.

If you’re considering a significant career shift, enrolling in a higher education program such as an MBA or business master’s degree could be the right move for your professional development.

These programs provide not only the technical and soft skills you need to progress, but they also open doors to valuable networking opportunities and long-term career advancement.

Whether through higher education, shorter certifications, or hands-on experience, bridging your skills gaps can help you stay competitive and advance in your career.

At the end of the day, explains Dorie: “The biggest difference between those who close skills gaps and those who don't is the motivation to try. If you're committed to improving yourself, you're already ahead of many other professionals, and you're very likely to see strong results.”

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