The Frankenstein Method: Piecing Together a Monstrous Skill Set

The Frankenstein Method: Piecing Together a Monstrous Skill Set

In the classic novel by Mary Shelley, Dr Frankenstein creates a being by stitching together parts from various sources. In today’s fluid job market, it could be useful to take a page from the good doctor’s book and apply his thinking to building a diverse suite of capabilities.

The Rise of the T-Shaped Professional

It’s no longer feasible to expect that a single skill set will sustain a lifelong career. 
Many employers are looking for people with ‘T-Shaped Skills’. The vertical bar represents the depth of a person's expertise in a certain field while the horizontal bar relates to their ability to collaborate with other experts, across disciplines.

We have compiled some top tips around building a monstrous skill set in a world where flexible workforces are a necessity - 

Identify the Missing Pieces

Research is the gateway to opportunities. Keeping informed of emerging trends in your industry (and adjacent fields), allows you to identify the type of skill development required to make a lasting impact on your career pathway. 

Stitch New Skills to Old

At Skills DG we have noted a marked increase in enrolments for interdisciplinary courses. This again highlights that career longevity is not only about the need to learn new skills, but about connecting them to your existing knowledge.

Energize Your Creation

Take your new skill set for a spin – collaborate across a variety of teams within your organisation, utilise opportunities to network and remember, employees that regularly apply interdisciplinary skills are 28% more likely to receive promotions.

Avoid the Pitfalls

While assembling your professional creation, it’s important to be mindful of the following – there are still some hiring managers that continue to prefer specialists for certain roles. The key is to showcase the added benefits, like adaptability, leadership potential, problem-solving and innovation that your diverse skill set brings to the table.

It's Alive!

The ‘Frankenstein Method’ (or being a T-shaped Professional) is not about becoming a jack-of-all-trades. It’s about creating a professional profile that’s ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow’s job market. 

References:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-shaped_skills

LinkedIn: The Crucial Role of Job Research in Shaping Your Career Path

Ivy Exec: The Importance of Industry Research in Executive Job Search: How to Stay Up-to-Date and Informed

MIT Press Direct: Interdisciplinary research: Motivations and challenges for researcher careers