Free Competency Checklist Template (Excel Skills Matrix)
What's in the competency checklist template
The template is a single Skills Matrix sheet built around your own skill list — there's no fixed set of competencies baked in, because a warehouse crew and a support team need different ones. You add the skills that matter for the role you're evaluating.
Each skill gets a weight so the ones that matter most for the job count for more in the final score, and each team member goes on their own row across the matrix, scored 1-5 per skill.
How the weighted scoring works
Weights should sum to 100% across the skills you're tracking — the sheet is set up to make that easy to check. Once weights are set, you score each person 1-5 per skill, and the weighted score for each person calculates automatically.
Because everyone is scored on the same weighted scale, you can line up the whole team side by side and see immediately who's strong where, and where the collective gaps sit — rather than eyeballing five separate 1-5 columns per person.
Why this beats a blank spreadsheet
Building a weighted matrix from scratch means setting up the weight column, writing a SUMPRODUCT-style formula per person, and re-checking it every time you add a skill or a name. It's easy to get the weighting math wrong without noticing.
This template already has that structure in place — you're filling in skills, weights, and scores, not formulas. Add a row for a new hire or a column for a new skill and the weighted totals keep working.
How to use it
- List the skills required for the role in the skill columns.
- Give each skill a weight so they sum to 100%.
- Add each team member on their own row.
- Score every person 1-5 per skill — the weighted score calculates automatically.
- Sort or scan the weighted scores to see who needs training where.
Download the free Free Competency Checklist Template (Excel Skills Matrix)
No spam — template updates and new free templates only. Unsubscribe anytime.
PTO & Leave Tracker — with Automatic Accrual
Once you're tracking who's skilled where, the paid PTO Tracker ($19) covers the other side of workforce planning — automatic accrual, multi-policy support, and a dashboard so you know who's available before you schedule training.
See the full versionFrequently asked questions
Can I use this in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the downloaded file to Google Drive and open it with Sheets — File > Save as Google Sheets keeps every formula working.
Is this template really free?
Yes. You give an email address to download it, and it's yours to keep and reuse with no further cost.
How many skills or team members can I add?
The skill list and roster are user-defined, so you can extend both rows and columns as needed — just keep weights summing to 100% when you add a skill.
What's the usage license?
Personal use or use within one business. It isn't meant to be resold or redistributed as a template product.
Does the scoring account for different roles automatically?
No — you build one matrix per role or team, since the skills and weights that matter differ by job. Duplicate the sheet for each role you're evaluating.
Can I track scores over multiple review cycles?
Yes, reuse the same matrix each cycle with the same skills and weights so you can compare a person's progression review over review.