What common pitfall must be avoided when utilizing skills matchers to assess existing competencies?
Overvaluing credentials while under-valuing demonstrable ability that allows for advancement.
A frequent error encountered during the skills matching phase is placing too much emphasis on formal credentials, such as degrees, while simultaneously minimizing the importance of skills that can be reliably executed right now. While a degree might serve to open an initial opportunity, the text stresses that competence—the actual ability to perform—is what sustains presence in a role and permits advancement. Users of skills matchers are advised to be honest and generous when evaluating what they can reliably execute across all experience types, acknowledging that observable competence is often more critical for long-term success than mere certification.
