How to find your skills gap for the jobs you want
To find your skills gap, collect five to ten postings for the role you want, list the skills and requirements that repeat, and mark which you can show with real examples. What repeats and you cannot yet show is your gap.
By Justin KullaLast updated
The five-step method
- Save five to ten current postings for the same role and level.
- List every skill, tool, certification and experience that appears in at least half of them.
- Next to each, write a proof point from your own work, or leave it blank.
- The blanks are the gap. Sort them into “must have” and “nice to have” using the wording of the postings.
- Close the biggest must-have first, with a course, a project or a stretch task at work.
What counts as proof
- A result with a number, a project you can describe, or a certification the postings ask for.
- Adjacent experience that you can explain in one sentence.
- Work samples or a portfolio for roles where they are normal.
Gaps that are not gaps
Some requirements are wish lists. If a skill appears in only one posting, or the posting says “preferred”, treat it as optional. Talk to two people in the role and ask which requirements are real.
Frequently asked questions
How many postings do I need?
Five to ten for one role is enough to see what repeats. More postings from different employers make the pattern clearer.
Should I apply before closing the gap?
Yes, if you meet most of the must-haves. Applying while you close the gap is faster than waiting until you feel ready.
Do I need a certification?
Only if the postings you want keep asking for it. Otherwise a project or a result is often stronger proof.
Does AI change which skills matter?
Many postings now ask for comfort with AI tools. Add it to your list if it appears in the roles you want.
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