Skills gap

A competency gap or skills gap usually means that the company considering a candidate does not find him/her suitable for a position because it requires different or more developed skills than those the candidate possesses.

The difference (gap) in competencies can be closed by the company itself if it agrees to make concessions and hire the candidate on condition that he or she completes the necessary training, and becomes qualified to perform the functions the company requires. This often happens with technical competencies, which can be acquired by doing the job if the person's communication, emotional and other "soft" skills are developed at a high level.

Often the opposite happens: the candidate may have technical and operational skills at a high level, but not possess, say, emotional intelligence at the level at which they can adequately conduct communication in the team and with the company's clients.