In this article, we'll answer your key questions about using Skill Levels with Kallidus. FAQs in this article are divided into sections, to help you quickly get the answer you're looking for.
- Do skill levels have to be used?
- How many skill levels can be configured?
- Can different skill levels be configured for different skills?
- Can a skill have different skill levels depending on who it is assigned to?
- Can a description be added for each skill per level?
- Can skill levels be edited or deleted?
- Can skills be self-assessed?
- Can someone go down a skill level?
- What is skill boosting?
- What lesson types can be used for skill boosting?
- Does every lesson auto-boost skills?
- Can target levels be set for skills?
- Can target levels be changed?
- Will learners see their current level and targets?
Do skill levels have to be used?
Skill levels are optional. In some cases, we even recommend not using them (see the relevant section). When levels are omitted, a simple "acquired" vs. "not acquired" approach is used, enabling organizations to identify skill gaps clearly and efficiently. Read about how to set up skill levels here.
How many skill levels can be configured?
Up to 7 skill levels can be configured. The default “acquired” label can be customized to suit your context when additional levels are added. We’ve set the maximum at 7 to align with frameworks like SFIA, which some customers use. However, adding more levels increases complexity and can introduce ambiguity around the meaning of each level.
We will monitor feedback on this, but it’s an intentional product decision not to allow more, currently due to this best practice. Each skill level can be given a name and description. Read about how to set up skill levels here.
Can different skill levels be configured for different skills?
No, skill levels are universal and will be applied to all skills. This includes the number of levels, their label and description.
Can a skill have different skill levels depending on who it is assigned to?
No, skill levels are universal and will be applied to all skills. This includes the number of levels, their label and description. However, different users can have different skill level targets set for them. Read about setting skill level targets here.
Can a description be added for each skill per level?
Not at this time, and this is a deliberate product decision. Currently, you can provide a description for each skill level, and that description applies consistently across all skills. While we’ve received requests to allow unique descriptions for each level of each skill, we’ve chosen not to support this due to the significant administrative overhead it would create - both during initial setup and ongoing maintenance.
To put it in perspective: with 5 levels and 150 skills, this would require managing 750 individual descriptions. Given how quickly skill requirements evolve, maintaining that level of detail would be challenging and resource-intensive.
That said, we’re always listening to feedback and monitoring demand. If this becomes a higher priority in the future, we’ll also explore how AI can help streamline the process and reduce the manual effort involved. Read about how to set up skill levels here.
Can skill levels be edited or deleted?
Yes, both actions are possible - but they come with different implications:
- Editing a skill level is straightforward and has minimal impact. Any changes to the wording will automatically update across all instances where that skill level is used.
- Deleting a skill level, however, can have more significant consequences. It may affect existing data and configurations, so we recommend reviewing the Delete Skill Level section for detailed guidance before proceeding.
Read more about editing and deleting skill levels here.
Can skills be self-assessed?
Yes, self-assessment is a key part of helping individuals progress through their skills. While we recognise that self-assessments can sometimes be influenced by positive or negative bias, we’ve included an approval step to help ensure accuracy and consistency. This gives organisations greater confidence in the reported skill levels. Read about how to self-assess Skill levels by requesting and approving changes.
Can someone go down a skill level?
Yes, but not automatically. This could be done through the self-assessment process, as skills will deteriorate over time when not used. It’s important that people keep their skills accurate to reflect true skill gaps.
Yes, but it doesn’t happen automatically. A decrease in skill level can occur through the self-assessment process, particularly if a skill hasn’t been used for some time and may have deteriorated. It’s important for individuals to keep their skill profiles up to date to accurately reflect their current capabilities and identify true skill gaps. Read about how to self-assess Skill levels by requesting and approving changes.
What is automatic skill boosting?
Automatic skill boosting is a method that allows organisations to automate skill progression in a scalable and efficient way - without the need to create detailed quizzes or assessments.
Administrators can configure lessons so that, upon completion, a specific skill is automatically boosted to a designated level. This streamlines development pathways and helps reinforce learning outcomes. Read more about how to Automate skill progression using skill boosting.
What Lesson types can be used for skill boosting?
Any lesson and competency checks can be used. Read more about how to Automate skill progression using skill boosting.
Does every lesson auto-boost skills?
No, skill boosting is not applied by default. It’s configured by administrators, who determine which lessons are appropriate for auto-boosting based on their content and learning outcomes. This ensures that only relevant and meaningful learning experiences contribute to skill progression.
We’re also enhancing this capability with the introduction of pathways, which will offer more structured and intelligent ways to automate skill development. Read more about how to Automate skill progression using skill boosting.
Can target levels be set for skills?
Yes, target levels can be set for skills. By default, each skill is assigned the lowest level as its target. This was a deliberate product decision, based on the assumption that if a skill is assigned to someone, there’s an expectation they’ll develop it to at least a basic level.
Target levels can be edited and are configurable within skill profiles or via the admin user view for any general skill. At this time, managers and employees cannot set or change target levels for assigned skills themselves. Read more about Setting skill level targets here.
Can target levels be changed?
Yes and no. Currently, only administrators can change target levels - either within skill profiles or for general skills. Managers and employees do not yet have the ability to set or modify target levels themselves.
However, this is set to change soon. We’re planning to introduce functionality that allows employees to add additional skills to their profiles. For these self-added skills - ones they’re interested in or already possess - employees will be able to set their own target levels. This will give individuals more ownership over their development, beyond the skills assigned through their role. Read more about Setting skill level targets here.
Will learners see their current level and targets?
Yes, learners can view both their current and target skill levels on their skills dashboard. This visibility helps them easily identify skill gaps and track their development.
When content is tagged with relevant skills, learners can discover targeted learning resources to help close those gaps. Combined with features like self-assessment and skill boosting, this creates a clear and accessible path for progressing through each skill level. Read more about the learner view here.
Discover more about Skills
Need quick answers? Check out the FAQ articles - they're packed with common questions and quick answers:
If you're ready to dive deeper into Skills, visit The Academy and check out the Skills Readiness Journey ebook to learn how to make Skills work for your organisation. Also in The Academy:
- Scaling Skills: From quick wins to future-ready workforce
- Skills: Basics, buy-in, and getting started
- Skills: playbooks to get you started
Don't have your Academy account yet? Contact your Customer Experience Manager or the Support Team to sign up today.