Do You ‘Stack Up” Against Others?

Exploring the importance of skill stacking and its relevance in the workplace

BY ANIKA DZWILEWSKI

HISTORICALLY, we’ve been programmed to select a career and closely follow the training track to become specialists in our respective careers. If an employee showed interest in exploring education or training outside of their assumed skill set, an employer might have questioned the employee’s dedication to their position.

Workplace philosophies are shifting. Now more than ever, employers are encouraging employees to broaden their skill sets and knowledge. Employers not only recognize but also place value on diverse skill sets and seemingly unrelated work experience. Finding applicants for open positions doesn’t necessarily need to include a title match but instead, looks to transferable skills as well.

Now enter skill stacking. It’s a phrase that may seem foreign to many, when in fact, the concept is nothing new.

The goal of skill stacking is to acquire exposure and education within a multitude of areas rather than a specific scope. The education of these isolated specialties works together to build a well-rounded and diversified knowledge base.

As an employee, learning new skills and combining them with your existing skillset can help you enhance your profile with your current employer or as a candidate for a new role. Skill stacking can be a practical strategy to grow your career.

An example of skill stacking could be a graphic designer who pursues training in marketing, business development, sales, and writing. Graphic design typically combines art and technology to create visual works that support an organization. These additional topics of study could translate to furthering skill sets in branding, relationship management, and self-promotion. They can also provide an advantage for applicants, assist an employee in establishing themselves as a qualified stakeholder, and contribute to a diverse thought process that drives solutions.

As an employee, learning new skills and combining them with your existing skillset can help you enhance your profile with your current employer or as a candidate for a new role. Skill stacking can be a practical strategy to grow your career.

After selecting the desired skills of interest, identifying either internal or external resources to acquire those skills is equally important. The state of Delaware has a wealth of institutions—Wilmington University, GoldeyBeacom College, Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University and the University of Delaware. An online front runner, LinkedIn Learning, can also be purchased with a subscription and contains a library of videos that pertain to a variety of skill sets. Altogether, these resources allow professionals to achieve continuing education, professional certifications, and academic credits.

Blackwell HR Solutions partners with its clients on recruitment and retention strategies. This often includes guidance about the importance of employee professional growth and incorporating such a philosophy into their respective cultures. Employers who support skill stacking gain engaged employees with broader abilities and greater flexibility. Employers can support skill stacking internally with programs such as tuition reimbursement, certifications, mentorship programs, and job shadowing.

In an online article titled “Top Ten HR Trends for the 2023 Workforce,” Forbes identifies an accelerated trend in skills-based hiring. Companies are searching for and investing in skill sets to raise the level of talent and maintain an edge over the competition. The article states, “the shift toward skill-based hiring will accelerate in 2023 as skills emerge as the currency of the labor market.”

No matter how you stack it, skill stacking should be a prioritized investment either for yourself or the health of your business.

Anika Dzwilewski is senior HR principal at Blackwell HR Solutions.