What should you do about skill gaps you identify?

• A. They are permanent; you cannot change them
• B. They reflect your past performance only
• C. Identify and improve them
• D. They determine your career path without any effort

Answer: (C)

Skill gaps aren’t fixed barriers; they’re signals you can act on to grow. The best approach is to identify where you’re lacking and actively work to close those gaps. That means assessing what you don’t yet do well, outlining a plan to improve, practicing deliberately, and seeking feedback to track progress. This mindset puts you in control of your development and aligns with professional growth and effective self-advocacy.

Thinking gaps are permanent ignores room to improve. Seeing gaps as only about past performance misses that you can address current abilities and standards. And leaving career direction to chance without effort assumes nothing you do matters, which isn’t true—your actions can shape your path.

To get started, pick one gap, set a clear skill goal, find appropriate learning resources, schedule practice, and check in on your progress regularly.