Skill Adjacency
Skill adjacency is the degree of overlap between the skills in someone's current role and the skills required for an adjacent role. In a career conversation, you can ask AI to help map which skills transfer directly (durable), which are at risk from automation, and which need building. That turns a vague "where do you want to go?" into something concrete.
Transfer across roles and are hard to automate: judgment, relationships, facilitation, complex communication.
High-volume, rule-based, or pattern-matching tasks that AI is increasingly handling: data formatting, routine summarizing, template drafting.
The gap between where someone is and the adjacent role they want. Specific, not generic, and identified together in the conversation.
The Prompt
Prep prompt
"Help me prepare for a career conversation. Here is the role this person is in and the direction they are interested in: [details]. Map which of their current skills transfer directly to adjacent roles, which are most exposed to automation, and what specific skills would be worth building. Use this as a discussion frame, not a verdict."
Dana's story
Dana has a report who is quietly worried that AI will erode the value of their core skill. Dana prepares by asking AI to map skill adjacencies: which skills transfer to adjacent roles, and which are most exposed. The map gives Dana a concrete frame. In the conversation, Dana and the report use it together, not as a verdict but as a starting point, to identify two durable strengths to lean into and one new skill worth building. The report leaves with a direction instead of a worry. The AI structured the thinking. Dana and the report did the deciding, together.
Apply It Today
For one report, sketch (with AI's help) which of their skills are durable and which are more exposed. Bring it to your next career conversation as a discussion starter, not a conclusion.
Reflect