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When I was in business school doing my Master’s, I spent a lot of time trying to learn everything—signing up for workshops, collecting certificates, and jumping into any skill that seemed remotely relevant. But once I entered the job market, and later began working with thousands of students through CareerOS, I realised something I wish I’d known earlier: employers don’t value a huge list of disconnected skills—they value the right skills, learned with intention.
This matters even more today. Companies worldwide are moving toward skills-based hiring, where what you can do matters more than where you studied. LinkedIn’s Skills-First Report (2024) shows that roles once requiring degrees are increasingly being filled by candidates who simply demonstrate the necessary capabilities.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that 44% of workers’ core skills will change by 2028
Their Reskilling Revolution initiative aims to upskill 1 billion people by 2030, highlighting how critical targeted learning has become. This shift shows up everywhere, from academic research on skill-based hiring for AI and green jobs to McKinsey’s recommendations on the skills citizens will need in the future.
Recently, I came across a simple framework that makes all of this easier to navigate, especially for students and job seekers who feel overwhelmed by what to learn next. It’s called Skill Stacking, and it completely reframed how I think about upskilling.
Skill Stacking is a focused approach to upskilling where you intentionally build a small but powerful cluster of complementary skills—skills that reinforce each other and create a clear professional identity.
Here’s the simplest version:
Field or Major → Core Skill → Supplementary Hard Skill → Real Project
This method helps you avoid the trap I fell into as a Master’s student: learning skills that don’t add up to anything meaningful.
Skill Stacking works because:
1. It creates a clear personal brand.
Recruiters immediately understand your strengths and fit for a role.
2. It helps you learn faster.
Related skills compound—making you more competent, more confident, and more employable.
3. It converts learning into real evidence.
A stack naturally leads to a project, and projects are the strongest signal in a skills-first hiring market.
In a world where employers value skills over credentials, your goal is no longer to be “well-rounded.” It’s to be strategically positioned.
Here’s the framework I wish someone had given me during my Master’s:
1. Start with your Field or Major
This gives your stack direction (e.g., Finance, Marketing, Sustainability, Supply Chain, Analytics).
2. Choose one Core Skill employers expect
Examples: Corporate Finance, Market Entry, Social Strategy, ESG Reporting.
3. Add a Technical or Analytical Supplementary Skill
Examples: Python, SQL, GA4, SEO, Power BI, LCA Tools.
4. Build a Real Project
This is your proof: something employers can see, click, or evaluate.
Here are stacks tailored for common business school pathways:
Marketing (MBA / BBA)
Finance (Master’s / MBA / BBA)
International Business / Strategy
Sustainability / ESG
Operations / Analytics
Human Resources / People Operations
Management Consulting
Data Science / Business Intelligence
Supply Chain & Logistics
Entrepreneurship / Startups
Sales / Business Development
Digital Transformation / Tech Strategy
Hospitality & Tourism Management
In a skills-first hiring market, having structure behind your learning can make a big difference. That’s why this Skill Stacking framework resonated with me. It turns scattered upskilling into a clear, intentional path. Instead of chasing every course, you focus on one or two specialized stacks that align with the roles and industries you want to enter, supported by real projects that prove what you can do.
The truth is that the best way to build skills is by doing real work. Courses help, but you only gain real confidence when you practice, make mistakes, and apply what you are learning. If you are early in your career, the most valuable mindset you can have is a willingness to learn. Be honest about what you know and what you do not know yet. Most employers appreciate clarity and the ability to learn fast. When you build one or two clear skill stacks and turn them into real projects, you create a stronger foundation for your career and a story that is easy for employers to understand.
And remember, you don’t have to guess which skills matter. Just ask. Talk to people already working in the fields you’re aiming for. A few honest conversations can give you more clarity than hours of searching online. Networking isn’t just about opportunities. It’s one of the best ways to understand which skills actually count.
This is just one approach to upskilling, but it’s one that brings strategy, clarity, and direction to your career development. Build intentionally, stay curious, and keep the conversations going.
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