Sometimes, the next step in your career is obvious—a clear path to promotions and progress. But what about when it’s not? When you feel stuck, consider a change, or are simply curious about your untapped potential?

That’s when a strategic skills assessment becomes invaluable. It’s not just about listing what you can do – it’s about uncovering hidden talents, recognising undervalued abilities, and mapping out possibilities you might never have considered.

This guide will help you:

• Discover capabilities you might be taking for granted
• Identify skills that make you uniquely valuable
• Map out opportunities for growth and development
• Create an action plan to reach your career goals

Here’s your step-by-step guide to unlocking your full professional potential.

 

1. Review your job description and the skills required

The first step is to examine what you’re doing in your current role. Look over your job description, consider whether you’ve taken any extra responsibilities, and write down the skills needed to get the job done.

Referring back to your calendar and to-do lists can help you remember all of your wins and successes. Write them all down, no matter how small, and soon you’ll start seeing a pattern of what you do well.

Try this: Create a “Skills Matrix” with three columns:

• Required skills from your job description
• Additional skills you’ve developed
• Skills you’d like to develop

This visual approach helps identify gaps and opportunities. Remember to include digital tools and platforms you’ve mastered—they are increasingly valuable across all sectors.

 

2.  Think of the skills you use outside work

Your current job may not stretch you, and getting a truly satisfying role could require some additional skills. Luckily, you may already possess them – you might just use them outside of work with hobbies, volunteer work, or side projects.

“It may be helpful to ask your colleagues (past or present), close friends, classmates, or even family about your strong points. They may be able to identify your personal qualities and skills much more objectively than you,” says Yvette McKenzie at the training company Upskilled.

Consider these often-overlooked areas:

• Social media management for community groups
• Budget planning for household finances
• Project management for family events
• Leadership roles in sports teams or clubs
• Content creation for personal blogs or newsletters

 

3. Don’t forget your soft skills

So-called ‘soft skills’ such as communication or time management can become even more critical the further on you get in your career. So, it’s important not to neglect them in your audit.

“When I work with people coaching them in their career we look at their whole lives because we really need to take a holistic view of ourselves,” says career coach Belinda Jackson. “Most of us don’t have segmented lives and I believe we should look at all our talents and interests.”

Key soft skills to evaluate:

• Adaptability (essential in an increasingly AI-enhanced world)
• Cultural awareness
• Remote collaboration
• Digital communication
• Emotional intelligence
• Problem-solving under pressure
• Resilience and stress management

 

4. Test against your career plan

Now, you can match up your skills to your long-term goals or use the picture of your abilities that the audit has produced to think about where your talents could be best deployed. Careers consultant Michelle Gibbins recommends thinking about the future of your industry, too, so you stay relevant.

“Critically examine where your industry and profession is heading, and look at related and connected sectors,” she says. “What are you seeing in terms of change, and what does this mean for the skills, knowledge and competencies you need in the future?”

Future-proofing questions to consider:

• Which of your current skills will be more valuable in 5 years?
• What emerging technologies should you familiarise yourself with?
• How can AI tools complement your existing skillset?
• Which industries are growing in your region?

Use this reflection to help prioritise which skills to develop next.

 

5. Identify opportunities for developing new skills

Now that you’ve identified your goals and any gaps in your skillset, it’s time to think about how to bridge them. Just like a business audit highlights areas for improvement, your personal skills audit can guide you toward targeted growth. From formal training to hands-on experience, there are many ways to close those gaps and advance toward your career aspirations.

Modern ways to upskill:

• Returning to college for a part-time or distance learning course*
• Online learning platforms (LinkedIn Learning, Coursera)
• Industry webinars and virtual conferences
• Professional certification programs
• Mentoring (both as mentor and mentee)
• Side projects or freelance work
• AI tool proficiency (e.g. ChatGPT, industry-specific AI tools)

*Click here to find out more about our wide range of courses to help build your skills.

 

6. Creating your action plan

After completing your audit, create a structured development plan. Just as businesses develop strategic plans for growth, you need a clear roadmap for your professional development. Without a concrete plan, your skills audit insights might remain just a set of interesting observations! Here’s how to turn your audit into action:

1. Prioritise your skills based on:

• Job market demand
• Your career goals
• Personal interests

1. Set SMART goals for each skill (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound)
2. Choose learning methods that fit your life and schedule
3. Track your progress monthly
4. Seek feedback from mentors or colleagues

 

7. Making your skills visible

Once you’ve identified your skills, it’s time to showcase them effectively. In the digital-first environment of many sectors, having the right skills is only half the battle – you need to make them visible to potential employers, colleagues, and your network.

Here are some ideas on how to showcase your capabilities:

• Update your LinkedIn profile with keywords
• Create a digital portfolio
• Share your learning journey on professional networks
• Document your achievements and quantify results
• Prepare stories that demonstrate your skills in action