Most people use the terms “talent” and “skill” interchangeably without knowing their difference. You might often hear that “she is a talented writer” and “he is a skilled accountant.” However, most people fail to identify the difference between talent and skill. In this blog post, we will be explaining the difference between talent and skill and decide which is more important.

What Is Talent?

Talent is a natural trait often associated with creativity. You will hear people use talent with singing, drawing, art, pottery, and other creative activities that can’t be learned. You should note that a talented person will always be better at creativity than a skilled individual. For instance, writing is a talent and skill. However, those who have the talent to write compelling blogs and articles are often more successful than those who are skilled in it.

What are Skills?

Skill is a learned ability. It’s often related to coursework activities and activities that require rigorous practice to master. For instance, you will hear people use the term skill with marketing, accounting, and other fields. Skills can also be perfected through practice, and even a talented person can adopt new skills. However, it doesn’t work vice versa.

Difference Between Talent vs. Skills

Now that you know about talent and skill, you can easily understand their differences.

1.      Not All Talented People Are Successful

Talent is like an unfair advantage that people have from birth. However, not all talented people are successful. On the other hand, skilled people are often highly paid, and they achieve success faster. Perhaps, that is why most people give up on their talent in pursuit of skills.

2.      Talent Is Hidden While Skills are Evident

Talent needs to be discovered by others as well as the person who has it. However, skills are evident. For instance, if you complete your MBA in marketing, you have a degree to show your skills. On the other hand, there is no recognition of talent from an institution. Therefore, most talented people need to discover what they are naturally good at.

3.      Talent Requires coaching While Skills Require Training

Since talent is a born personality trait, it requires a mentor or a coach. For instance, if someone is talented in singing, that person won’t need to train. Instead, a mentor or a coach would be better for honing talent. However, skills require hours of practice and training to master.

In a Nutshell

Talent and skills are both equally important for better employment or success. Not all skilled people are employed, and in the same way, not all talented people are famous. The point of difference between talent is skill is the time invested in honing these two abilities. In the end, talent and skills are both important for professional success.