By Anja van den Berg
You need to have multiple skills to stay relevant in today’s job market. It’s that simple. But you don’t need to go back to university or stop your life to keep learning. Enter skills-stacking. Skill-stacking is a strategy that combines unique abilities that complement each other, providing a competitive advantage in the workplace. It’s about developing a diverse and essential set of capabilities that can help you advance in your career and enhance your employability.
With skill-stacking you can synergise various talents and abilities to create a unique blend that sets you apart. By accumulating multiple skills, you become more versatile and valuable in the workplace. It’s a proven and highly beneficial strategy if you want to improve your chances of getting hired or promoted. It also gives you a much-needed boost when your career reaches a plateau. Let’s look at how you can skill-stack without breaking the bank.
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses
To start skill-stacking, you need to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Assessing your abilities helps you determine what skills you need to acquire to complement your existing proficiencies. You can use free online tools to take skills assessments and find out where you stand. You can also ask a coach or mentor for candid feedback and recommendations.
- Build your skills-stacking plan
Once you’ve identified your gaps, it’s time to start learning new skills, but you don’t have to break the bank to better yourself. There are many accessible and affordable resources available online Solidariteit Leer is another example. As Solidarity’s Centre for Continuing Education, S-leer helps working individuals achieve their career objectives, which form part of Solidarity’s core business, namely labour relations, skills development, and the network of work.
- Leverage your current job
You can also skill-stack while on the job. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn new skills by volunteering for projects outside your job description. You can also seek mentorship from colleagues with expertise in areas you want to develop.
- Network, network, network
Networking is an essential part of skill-stacking. Attend industry events, conferences, and workshops to meet other professionals in your field. By networking, you can learn about new trends and technologies that can help you build (or adapt) your skills stacking plan.
Solidarity supports workers in South Africa on various fronts. Mentorships, upskilling and training are part and parcel of our core focus. Our dedication to tertiary education and online learning are testament to our devotion. Click here to learn how you can benefit from various courses – some of them for free – to acquire new skills and enhance your employability.
