How to Answer Questions about Skill Gaps

Last update: 4 May 2023

When it comes to your next career move and applying for those new roles, you may not always have the required skills or experience that an employer is looking for. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t apply for the job. With the right approach, you can still be a strong candidate.

In this blog we delve into skill gaps and what they mean and we look at top tips to ensure you stand out from the crowd, even when you don’t have all the necessary skills for the role.

What is a Skill Gap?

A skill gap is the difference between the skills and abilities required by the role and the skills you already possess. In order to solidify your own career progression, we recommend continually addressing your own skill gaps.

Acknowledge the Gap

It’s important you approach the interview equipped to address any gaps honestly and in a positive manner. Interviewers are often willing to make exceptions if they see you have other skills and abilities that would benefit the role and the business.

This could also give the interviewer scope for training in areas where you lack experience. Therefore, it is recommended to acknowledge the gap, and in turn highlight your relevant experience and abilities.

Answering Questions about Weaknesses

Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to answering questions about weaknesses in your professional life. Avoid making up answers or creating fake scenarios, or worse, pretending you have no weaknesses at all, as this can come across as unprofessional, insincere and even arrogant.

Instead, mention your weakness first and then finish off with a strength that counteracts that. This shows self-awareness and a willingness to improve.

Here are a few of our top tips for answering questions about weaknesses:

• Be honest, positive and sincere
• Focus on discussing skills that are relevant to the job criteria
• Use this as an opportunity to offer self-reflection, showcasing that you are eager to work on improving your skills
• Practice answering common interview questions with a friend. This will help you to prepare and feel more confident

We’ve drafted 2 example responses to help you to structure your responses effectively:

Example 1: Are you happy to ask for help?

‘’I tend to find it hard asking others for help when it comes to carrying out tasks. I’m happy to work independently and I used to think that asking for help would reflect badly but since building up my self-confidence I’ve learnt that it can be really beneficial to have that communication and make sure projects are completed right the first time. It has also made me work a lot better within a team as I now appreciate having others knowledge around me for extra support.’’

Example 2: What systems have you used in your previous jobs that will help you in this role?

‘’I am aware that I could use more experience in Excel for this role but I have been trying to improve my knowledge of Excel by following online tutorials. In my previous jobs, I have focused closely on advancing my knowledge of the (relevant) software to input sales orders effectively. I also consider myself to be a very fast learner having learnt on the job in previous roles within fast-paced environments.”

Actionable Steps to Strengthen your Skillset

• Identify the required skills for the role: make a list of the skills you possess and those that you need to work on. Having a clear idea on where the strengths and weaknesses lie within your skillset will help to create a plan for improvement
• Training: there are many free resources and tools available online that will help to teach and train you on almost every skill you may need for a new role. We recommend talking to the interviewer to get an understanding of the company’s training policies as there may be scope for training within the role for the successful candidate
• Workshops and seminars: attending these types of events that are targeted to your industry and field of interest can help you learn from experts and gives you the opportunity to acquire new skills
• Certifications: these are a great way to showcase your abilities within a particular field or area. Consider taking a course to add credibility to your skillset
• Practice makes perfect: find opportunities to practice the skills you are trying to improve on as the more you practice, the better you become (this could even be in the form of volunteering. Volunteer work could be a great chance to gain experience and even learn a new skill or 2)
• Ask for feedback: mentors, colleagues and managers can help you to improve your skills as they’ve worked with you and have a better understanding of where your skills and abilities lie. Be open to honest feedback; this isn’t negative or a bad thing. Look at it as an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and work on them
• Create a portfolio: create a portfolio of your previous work to highlight your expertise and skills you are confident in. This is a great way to demonstrate your abilities to the interviewer and shows initiative

Remember that no 2 interviews are the same, but by following these tips, you can confidently address any skill gaps and weaknesses during an interview. Remember to focus on your relevant skills, show a willingness to learn and improve and be honest and sincere in your responses. This is sure to help you stand out from the crowd and land that dream job!

By creating a portfolio of work, you’re able to showcase and highlight your unique set of skills and abilities. You do also have the option to personalise your approach.

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