6. AI and Your Career: Identify Skills Gaps & Plan Your Development with AI
Introduction
The world of work is evolving quickly. AI, automation, and new technologies are reshaping industries at speed. To stay competitive, it’s no longer enough to just search and apply for jobs — you also need to keep developing your skills.
AI tools can make this process easier by helping you:
Spot skills gaps based on your career goals
Discover in-demand skills in your industry
Find learning pathways that fit your ambitions
But while AI can highlight what’s “hot” in the market, only you can decide which skills are right for you. That’s where coaching adds value — helping you prioritise, stay accountable, and focus on the skills that will keep you motivated long term.
💡 AI shows you the possibilities. Coaching helps you choose wisely and follow through.
1. Why Skills Mapping Matters
Employers increasingly expect candidates to show evidence of continuous upskilling. Whether you’re:
Planning a career change
Aiming for a promotion
Or simply investing in your career development
…knowing your current capabilities versus future requirements is essential.
AI makes this faster by analysing job descriptions, market trends, and learning platforms — giving you a snapshot of the skills that matter most.
2. Best AI Tools for Identifying Skills Gaps & Upskilling
LinkedIn Learning + AI Skills Match
Analyses your profile, identifies skills gaps, and recommends courses
Best for: Professional upskilling
Cost: Free / Premium £39.99
Prompt idea: “Based on my LinkedIn profile, suggest 5 in-demand skills I could add to improve my career opportunities.”
Coursera AI Coach
Matches your goals to curated courses and learning paths
Best for: Structured online learning
Cost: Free / Paid £35+
Prompt idea: “Which Coursera courses would help me transition from [current role] into [desired industry/role]?”
FutureFit AI
Maps career pathways, skills gaps, and industries of growth
Best for: Career pivots and long-term planning
Cost: Paid
Prompt idea: “Show me potential career pathways if I want to move from [industry] into [new industry], including key skills I’ll need.”
Skills Base
Creates AI-driven skills audits for individuals and teams
Best for: Visualising strengths and development areas
Cost: Free / Paid
Prompt idea: “Generate a skills audit highlighting my strongest competencies and the top 3 areas I should develop further.”
Perplexity.ai
Researches emerging skills in your sector using real-time data
Best for: Staying ahead of industry trends
Cost: Free / Pro £16
Prompt idea: “What are the top emerging skills in [industry] for 2025? Which ones are most relevant for professionals in the UK?”
ChatGPT or Claude
Summarises required skills from job descriptions or CVs
Best for: Rapid role-specific insights
Cost: Free / from £16+
Prompt idea: “Summarise the top 10 skills required from these three job descriptions. Highlight overlapping skills I should focus on.”
3. How to Use AI to Identify Your Skills Gaps
Follow these steps to use AI effectively:
Step 1 — Compare job descriptions to your CV
📌 Prompt: “From this job description, extract the top 12 skills required. Compare them with my CV and list any gaps.”
Step 2 — Analyse emerging skills
📌 Prompt (Perplexity): “List the top 15 skills employers are looking for in [industry] in the UK in 2025.”
Step 3 — Prioritise the right skills
AI tells you what’s in demand — but you decide which skills to develop. Reflection and coaching help you focus on the ones that energise you.
Coaching Advantage: Where I Can Help
AI is excellent at showing you what employers want. But it can’t tell you whether those skills are right for you. That’s where coaching makes the difference.
Through my Career Change Coaching and Career Development Coaching programmes, I help clients:
Separate “must-have” skills from “nice-to-have” trends
Focus on motivated skills — the ones you enjoy using and want to develop further
Build realistic learning plans that fit with your lifestyle and energy levels
Stay accountable and on track when motivation dips
Challenge unhelpful beliefs like “I’m too old to learn new skills” or “I’ll never catch up”
👉 AI gives you options. Coaching gives you clarity, confidence, and direction.
4. Building a Career Development Roadmap with AI
Once you know your gaps, AI can also help you plan next steps:
Find courses → “Suggest 5 online courses to build [skill] for a career move into [industry] in the UK.”
Create a plan → “Build a 90-day learning plan for developing [skill], with weekly goals.”
Track progress → Use tools like Notion AI to log completed courses and milestones
⚠️ But remember: a roadmap is only useful if you actually follow it. Coaching provides accountability and encouragement so you stay consistent.
Conclusion
AI makes skills mapping and career planning easier — helping you keep up with trends and build relevant expertise.
But career development isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about choosing the skills that:
Energise you
Align with your goals
Keep you motivated long term
That’s why combining AI tools with coaching gives you the best results — fast insights and long-term commitment.
👉 Want to focus on the skills that matter most to you?
Explore my Career Development Coaching or Career Change Coaching programmes — combining AI insights with personalised coaching to create a learning plan you’ll actually stick to.
About Diana
I’m Diana Dawson, Coaching Psychologist and Accredited Master Coach. At Working Career, I support professionals who want to grow, adapt, and thrive in changing workplaces.
Through my Career Development Programme, I help you:
Identify skills worth building
Balance growth with energy and motivation
Stay accountable while using AI to guide your next steps
✨ With over 20 years’ experience in career, executive, and well-being coaching, I specialise in combining human insight with AI tools to help professionals make confident, informed career moves.Introduction