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How to Identify Which Skills to Develop Next
In a fast‑changing job market, knowing how to identify which skills to develop next can be the difference between stagnation and a thriving career. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a mid‑level professional, or a senior leader, the process of selecting the right skill set should be data‑driven, aligned with your goals, and realistic for your schedule. In this guide we’ll break down a step‑by‑step framework, provide actionable checklists, and show you how Resumly’s free tools can accelerate the discovery process.
1. Why Skill Selection Matters More Than Ever
- Rapid automation: A World Economic Forum report predicts that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 (source: WEF).
- Competitive advantage: Professionals who proactively upskill earn up to 20% higher salaries on average (source: LinkedIn Learning Report 2024).
- Career agility: The ability to pivot quickly reduces the risk of job loss during economic downturns.
Understanding how to identify which skills to develop next therefore isn’t just a nice‑to‑have exercise—it’s a strategic career imperative.
2. Foundations: Self‑Assessment Before Market Research
2.1. Conduct a Personal Skills Audit
| Category | Questions to Ask | Example Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Hard Skills | Which technical abilities do I use daily? Which certifications do I hold? | Excel, Python, Google Analytics |
| Soft Skills | How do I communicate under pressure? What feedback do colleagues give? | Public speaking, conflict resolution |
| Passions | What projects excite me? What topics do I read about for fun? | Data storytelling, AI ethics |
| Career Goals | Where do I see myself in 2‑5 years? Which roles attract me? | Product manager, data analyst |
Tip: Use Resumly’s free Skills Gap Analyzer to automatically compare your current skill set against industry benchmarks.
2.2. Identify Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are the bridge between where you are now and where you want to be. Write them down in a bullet list and highlight the ones most relevant to your target roles.
3. Market Demand Analysis: Where Are the Opportunities?
3.1. Scan Job Boards & Company Listings
- Search for 5‑10 job titles you’re interested in on LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor.
- Export the top 20‑30 job descriptions.
- Highlight recurring hard and soft skills.
Stat: According to Burning Glass Technologies, the top 10 emerging skills in 2024 include AI/ML, data visualization, and cloud computing (source: Burning Glass 2024).
3.2. Use Resumly’s Job‑Match Feature
Upload a sample resume and let the AI match it against thousands of real postings. The tool returns a ranked list of high‑impact skills you’re missing.
4. Prioritizing Skills: The Decision Matrix
Create a simple 2×2 matrix:
| Importance to Target Role | Ease of Learning |
|---|---|
| High | Low → Quick Wins (e.g., Excel Power Query) |
| High | High → Strategic Investments (e.g., Machine Learning) |
| Low | Low → De‑prioritize |
| Low | High → Optional learning (e.g., niche software) |
Action: Populate the matrix with at least 6‑8 skills you uncovered in sections 2 and 3. Focus first on the Quick Wins to boost your resume instantly.
5. Building a Learning Roadmap
5.1. Set SMART Learning Goals
- Specific: “Earn the Google Data Analytics Certificate.”
- Measurable: “Complete 3 modules per week.”
- Achievable: “Allocate 5 hours each weekend.”
- Relevant: Aligns with my goal to become a data analyst.
- Time‑bound: Finish by 30 June 2025.
5.2. Choose Learning Formats
| Format | When It Works Best | Example Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Online Courses | Structured learning, certification | Coursera, Udemy, Resumly’s AI‑powered tutorials |
| Micro‑learning | Busy schedules, quick refreshers | LinkedIn Learning short videos |
| Project‑Based | Hands‑on practice, portfolio building | Build a personal dashboard using Tableau |
| Mentorship | Real‑world feedback, networking | Join a Resumly Networking Co‑Pilot session |
6. Step‑by‑Step Guide: From Audit to Action
- Run a Skills Gap Scan – Visit the Skills Gap Analyzer and upload your current resume.
- Collect Job Data – Pull 20 job ads for your target role and extract required skills.
- Create a Matrix – Plot each skill on the Importance/Ease matrix.
- Pick 3 Quick Wins – Add them to your learning calendar for the next 30 days.
- Enroll in Courses – Use Resumly’s AI Career Clock to estimate the time needed for each skill.
- Build a Portfolio Piece – Apply the new skill to a real project (e.g., a data‑visualization case study).
- Update Your Resume – Use the AI Resume Builder to reflect the new skill with quantifiable results.
- Track Progress – Log completed modules in the Application Tracker to stay accountable.
7. Checklist: Are You Ready to Start?
- Completed personal skills audit (hard, soft, passions).
- Gathered at least 20 recent job postings for target role.
- Ran the Skills Gap Analyzer and saved the report.
- Populated the Importance/Ease matrix.
- Selected 3 quick‑win skills and added them to a calendar.
- Enrolled in at least one course or mentorship program.
- Created a portfolio project showcasing the new skill.
- Updated resume with AI‑enhanced language.
8. Do’s and Don’ts
Do
- Use data from real job postings.
- Focus on skills that have measurable impact (e.g., “increased conversion rate by 12%”).
- Leverage free AI tools like Resumly’s Buzzword Detector to avoid over‑loading your resume.
Don’t
- Chase every trending skill; relevance matters more than hype.
- Over‑promise on proficiency you haven’t practiced.
- Neglect soft skills—communication and adaptability are still top‑ranked by employers.
9. Mini‑Case Study: Sarah’s Path from Marketing Associate to Data‑Driven Strategist
| Phase | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Audit | Used Skills Gap Analyzer; identified missing data‑analysis skills. | Highlighted gap in SQL & Tableau. |
| Market Scan | Scraped 30 job ads for “Marketing Analyst.” | 78% required data visualization. |
| Matrix | Prioritized Tableau (high importance, medium ease). | Chose as Quick Win. |
| Learning | Completed Resumly‑recommended Coursera Tableau course (20 hrs). | Built a dashboard for campaign ROI. |
| Resume Update | Updated with AI‑crafted bullet: “Designed Tableau dashboard that reduced reporting time by 30%.” | Interview callbacks rose from 2 to 7 per month. |
Sarah’s story illustrates how a systematic approach to how to identify which skills to develop next can translate into tangible career growth.
10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How often should I reassess my skill gaps?
Aim for a quarterly review. The job market shifts quickly, and a quarterly check keeps you aligned with emerging trends.
Q2: Should I focus on certifications or practical experience?
Both matter. Certifications signal formal knowledge, while a portfolio project demonstrates real‑world application. Pair them for maximum impact.
Q3: I’m a non‑technical professional. Do I still need to learn coding?
Not necessarily. Identify the minimum technical literacy required for your role (e.g., basic Excel formulas) and prioritize accordingly.
Q4: How can I estimate the time needed to learn a new skill?
Use Resumly’s AI Career Clock. It predicts learning duration based on your current proficiency and the skill’s complexity.
Q5: What if I pick a skill that later becomes obsolete?
Choose foundational skills (e.g., data literacy, problem‑solving) that adapt across technologies. Complement them with niche skills that you can swap out later.
Q6: Can Resumly help me showcase my new skills?
Absolutely. The AI Resume Builder crafts achievement‑focused bullet points that pass ATS filters.
Q7: How do I know which skill will give the highest salary boost?
Check the Salary Guide for industry‑specific compensation data. Skills like AI/ML, cloud architecture, and data science consistently rank among the highest‑paid.
Q8: Is it better to learn one skill deeply or several superficially?
Depth beats breadth for most roles. Master a skill enough to produce a portfolio piece, then move to the next.
11. Final Thoughts: Mastering the Art of Skill Selection
By following the structured approach outlined above, you now have a clear answer to how to identify which skills to develop next. Remember to:
- Audit yourself – know your current strengths and gaps.
- Research the market – let real job data guide you.
- Prioritize wisely – use the Importance/Ease matrix.
- Plan and execute – set SMART goals and track progress.
- Showcase results – update your resume with AI‑enhanced language.
Ready to accelerate your journey? Explore Resumly’s suite of AI‑powered career tools, from the AI Cover Letter to the Interview Practice module, and turn your new skills into interview‑winning stories.
Start today, and watch your career trajectory rise.
