Maybe Being a Jack of All Trades Isn’t Such a Bad Idea After All
Let’s go get the bag.
Ed Note
“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life because you become what you believe.” — Oprah Winfrey.
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So Shall We?
I don’t know about you, but I am currently in a headspace where I feel like I need to do more to become a force to be reckoned with. The job market is getting more competitive, and I’ve realised the best way to stay competitive is to be different, and I don't mean to just be better, I mean UNIQUE.
Anyways, after doing some digging, I found something really interesting, so if you are anything like me, you know, someone who is eager to stand out and build something solid, walk with me.
You know what, I think you have walked with me long enough, so let me just spill the tea: It is skill stacking!
Yep, Skill stacking and it works like crazy. Let me break it down for you.
Let’s say you are a designer, but instead of just stopping there, you take a copywriting course, then you level up with digital marketing skills.
Now, imagine I am a recruiter looking for a web designer. I see your portfolio and realise not only can you design for my website, but you can also write a good conversion-focused copy, optimise it for SEO and build an email capture system to grow my audience.
You are getting the job; I will personally single you out from the rest.
That is what skill stacking does: it puts you ahead of others. You don’t have to be the best designer, or the best marketer, or the best writer. But when you combine all three? You become the most valuable person in the room.
Skill stacking is all about intentionally building complementary skills that make you more useful, versatile and competitive.
So, the real question is, how do you start stacking your skills?
The first thing is to start with your core skill, what you know you are really good at. That will be the foundation you need to lay before other skills can come in.
The next thing is to identify your supporting skills. For instance, if you are a data analyst, you can learn a basic programming language, learn the art of communication and storytelling to translate your findings, and learn data visualisation. One thing you need to keep in mind is that your supporting skills do not have to be complicated or huge, they just need to add value to what you already do.
You don't have to learn everything all at once; start one by one. You can note the skills you need and start learning the first skill on your list. Read about it, watch tutorial videos, do a project on it. Once you have learnt the skill, apply it to your work immediately, that way, you can keep learning and growing.
You know there is no way I would end this newsletter without saying this: “Share your learning journey online.” Let people see how you are growing, it is really inspiring. And who knows, a recruiter might be watching.
So, if you feel stuck or you are not sure about what to do next, start stacking to become the best version of you.
What is that one skill you have always wanted to learn but keep putting off? Let me know, and I might send some resources for you to get started.
Here are some Free Excel Resources to Become a Data Analyst in 2025.
Here is a Free Course on Business Process Management (BPM) – Design & Map Workflows.
In case you missed it
Building in Public as a Woman in Tech: Lessons from Sharing My Product Journey.
Fighting for the Life I Want: My Journey from Pharmacy to Design.
DevOps engineer Osinachi Ibiam-Uro is a mom in tech, and she is loving it here.
Mobile gender gap: Only 39% of Nigerian women own a smartphone.
Innovate Africa Fund’s focus on ‘wicked problems’ is shaping how African startups can solve problems.
Check out our latest article on the TSJ website as well.
Opportunities
Full Stack Developer at Law and Visas.
UI/UX Designer at Contec Global Infotech Limited.
Lead Product Designer.
Cyber Security Analyst needed at NCC Group.
Backend Engineer (Python & TypeScript).
Senior Fullstack Developer.
Full-stack Software Engineer needed at AfterQuery.
Software Engineer (Backend) at Interswitch.
Product Support Engineer.
Quality Assurance (QA) Tester
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