How do I make a skills inventory for a career change?

Updated October 2026 · How we answer

Listing what you already know

Start with a plain list of tasks from each job, volunteer role, or project. Include ordinary-sounding work such as scheduling, training others, or handling complaints, since many of these carry over to new fields.

Next, group related tasks into skills and rate your confidence in each one. Simple labels such as strong, developing, or new work well and make gaps easy to spot.

• Write down tasks from every role, paid or unpaid.
• Group tasks into broad skills.
• Rate each skill honestly.
• Note the outcome or example behind each skill.

Matching skills to the target role

Compare your list with job postings for the field you want. Highlight the skills that appear often, then mark which ones you already have and which need practice or a course.

Use the inventory to rewrite your resume summary and interview stories. A clear list makes it easier to explain how past work connects to the new role.

Once the inventory is complete, ask a former colleague or mentor to review it and point out strengths you may have overlooked. Outside feedback often reveals skills that feel too ordinary to mention but matter a lot to hiring teams.

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