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Career management 101: the gap analysis
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An example gap analysis.
When it comes to setting goals for yourself, try a tool straight out of a training specialist’s toolbox; the gap analysis.
What is a gap analysis? Simply put, it is a tool that will help you visually brainstorm both short and long term goals. The gap analysis examines current state versus future state and looks at the “gaps” that are preventing you reaching future goals or levels of performance. To perform a gap analysis on your career follow these simple steps:
1. Draw the gap analysis diagram. Keep it simple. On a notepad; draw a line on the left-hand side of the page indicating where you are with your career now. Next, draw a line on the opposite or right-hand side of the page, indicating where you want to be in your career in the future. Between the two lines, draw a visual “gap” (see photo).
2. Label the diagram. On the left-hand side, write in your current job. On the right hand-side, write the job you want to hold in the future. When you are just starting out with this type of career planning, it is best to keep the gap analysis more short-term, meaning that if you are a recent college graduate and want to be a CEO, you may want to consider where you would see yourself in 2 -3 years before going for CEO.
3. Generate a list of your current skills. Write a list of your current skills, knowledge and abilities under your current or “now” column. This could be any of the skills you have acquired in current or past roles that are relevant to your future goals. Consider transferrable skills which are those skills that transfer from one job to the next regardless of what role you are in, for example, customer service or people skills.
4. Create a list of skills needed for your dream job. Consider what skills are needed for your future job. Jot those down in the future column. You may need to do some research to find out what those skills, knowledge and attributes are. One way to find out what hiring managers are looking for is to visit websites like Careerbuilder or Monster and perform a search to discover what those skills are that are critical to your future role.
5. Fill in the gaps. You know where you are now with your career, and hopefully you have your “future” line filled out. Now it is time to fill in the gaps. What skills, knowledge and abilities do you need to reach your future career goals? Do you need to consider going back to school? Perhaps a mentor in a field of interest to you? What other positions or jobs must you take before reaching your ultimate career goal?
6. Make your goals SMART. SMART stands for Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-sensitive. Now that you have a roadmap for what your career goals should be it is time to set some specifics around them. When you write out a goal, make sure that it meets SMART criteria. For example, if one of your goals is to learn a new software program to help you reach your long term goal, it is not enough to state “learn XYZ software program.” State what the software program is, how you will measure the accomplishment, how you will achieve/acquire the knowledge and when you plan to complete the goal.
7. Tell people about your goals. Telling someone about your goals binds you to them. Now that you have voiced what you would like to achieve – especially to your manager, coworker, family and friends – they will hold you to your goals.
Last but not least, post your gap analysis in a place where you can see it so it can keep you motivated. It is always satisfying when you can cross something off of the gap analysis that allows you to be one step closer to your future.
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