---
title: "Add New Skills in SkillPanel"
canonical: "https://help.skillpanel.com/space/TBG/2893283365/Add%20New%20Skills%20in%20SkillPanel"
format: markdown
---
Quickly expand or refine your company’s skill framework. SkillPanel lets managers add new skills, subareas, and groups directly from **Skills Manager**, keeping your skill ontology current as roles evolve.

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### When to use this

- When new technologies or tools appear in your teams’ workflows.
- When reorganizing existing skill categories or merging duplicates.
- When preparing for new job profiles or capability frameworks.
- When you need to define skill relationships (e.g., prerequisites).

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### Prerequisites

- Manager permissions for the **Skills directory** module.
- A defined structure of skill areas and groups (optional but recommended).

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### Quick start

1. Go to **Skills directory → Skills manager** (yellow arrow).

2. Find the area, subarea, or group you want to update.
3. Click **+ Add skill** (red arrow).
4. Enter the skill name, description, and location.
5. (Optional) Add relations or choose a scale type.
6. Click **Save skill** (yellow arrow).

![image-20251016-062706.png](media://5b7bbfb1-5357-4a7b-ac14-75849d765a75)

![image-20251016-062812.png](media://6920d625-3d0a-44f4-8ed7-bb93d7b1260a)

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### Detailed steps

#### 1. Add a skill to an existing group

From **Skills directory → Skills manager**, navigate to your chosen **skill area**, then **subarea**, then **group**.  
Click **+ Add skill**.  
→ A form appears to enter **Name**, **Description**, and **Location**.

If needed, define **Relations** to link skills logically (e.g., *Requires*, *Is prerequisite for*, *Counterpart*).  
Click **Save skill** to confirm.  
**Why this matters:** Accurate relations improve visibility of career paths and reduce redundant training.

![image-20251016-062838.png](media://9d553a70-f708-4b54-9f1c-06773d015396)

#### 2. Create a new skill subarea

Below existing subareas, click **+ Add skill subarea**.  
Enter a name in the pop-up and click **Save**.  
→ The new subarea appears immediately in your area list.  
You can rename it anytime using **Edit**.

![image-20251016-062910.png](media://44a74bf7-c4f1-4374-9d90-b51fdfffd4d8)

#### 3. Add a new skill group

Expand the subarea, click **+ Add skill group**, name it, and **Save**.  
Add skills to it by following step 1.  
**Why this matters:** Groups help isolate related skills, useful when aggregated to track skill levels or domain expertise.

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#### 4. Edit a skill or its relations

Click the three dots beside a skill → **Edit skill**.  
Use **+ Add relation** to define dependencies or skill progression paths.  
Save when done.  
**Why this matters:** Mapping relationships supports learning path automation and succession planning.

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### Use SkillPanel to go faster / clearer

| Step | Feature | Benefit | How? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Add skill | Hierarchical skill graph | Keeps all new entries instantly mapped in context. | Skills auto-link to parent areas and update analytics. |
| Create subarea | Nested structure | Prevents overcrowding and ensures cleaner reporting. | Each level rolls up metrics automatically. |
| Add relation | Skill ontology | Enables linked learning and growth insights. | Relationships feed directly into upskilling analytics. |
| Edit skill | Real-time update | Keeps dashboards and frameworks consistent. | Edits propagate instantly to assessments and reports. |

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### Example

**Scenario:** Your data team adopts a new AWS AI tool.  
**Action:** In *Cloud → Amazon Web Services → AI*, click **Add skill**, enter “Amazon AI CloudFX,” describe it, and save.  
**Outcome:** The skill appears in all relevant reports, frameworks, and learning paths without reconfiguration.

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### FAQ

**Can I delete or rename a skill later?**  
Yes, but note that removing a skill also removes its related links.

**Can subareas be nested deeper?**  
No. The hierarchy stops at area → subarea → group → skill.

**Does editing a skill affect existing assessments?**  
Only the name and description. Relations or scale changes do not retroactively alter past ratings.

**Can I bulk import skills?**  
Reach out to [support@skillpanel.com](mailto:support@skillpanel.com) and we will import them for you.

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### Pitfalls & tradeoffs

- Don’t duplicate skills with similar names, as it fragments analytics.
- Avoid creating empty subareas; they clutter the hierarchy.
- Overusing relations can make graphs harder to interpret. Keep only meaningful dependencies.