Skills, Not Job Titles, Define Your Career Path

3 strategic skill-building techniques to unlock growth beyond your current role.

Feeling like you’ve outgrown the box they call your job description?

I know that restless energy all too well — is not burnout, it’s your potential calling.

You sense that you’re meant for something more, but find yourself spinning your wheels in an effort to make meaningful change.

Here’s the thing no one tells you: the path to that “something more” isn’t always about a new job title.

It’s about ditching the outdated idea that your career is defined only by the tasks you’re assigned.

Your secret weapon for finding the career you crave is in the skills you cultivate.

And the best part? You can start building them right now, even if you’re staying within your current role.

Broad interests first

Instead of fixating on a single job title, start by exploring the big picture.

At this stage, let yourself dream a bit.

• What kinds of industries excite you?

• Do you get energized by solving specific types of problems?

• Is there a certain work environment or company culture you dream of?

For me, I’ve been learning facilitation in a program called Workshopper Master for the last three months and I’m also upskilling my instructional design chops by working on a sample eLearning project.

Research as your roadmap

Don’t just browse job postings aimlessly. Use them as a tool to discover what skills you may need or may be interested in.

Focus on these sections of the job postings:

• Required Skills: What shows up over and over?

• Key Responsibilities: What kind of work would you be doing daily?

• Is there a certain work environment or company culture you dream of?

Compare what you find to your existing transferable skills. Don’t let yourself feel inadequate.

This is about identifying exciting ‘stretch zones’ where you can grow.

This approach gives you even more power in your current role.

You can have targeted conversations with your manager about growth opportunities or projects aligned with your new skills.

Proactive skill-building techniques

Technique 1: stretch assignments at work

This is where you become the architect of your own growth, right within your current job.

A stretch assignment involves taking on a task or project that’s slightly beyond your current comfort zone, forcing you to develop new skills.

• For example, I’m currently taking on a lead role at my job that has more responsibilities and tasks than I’m accustomed to.

• It will require me to coordinate with different departments, oversee training that I’m not facilitating (which is new) and other project management duties.

Don’t wait to be assigned a stretch assignment.

Sometimes, the opportunity you need doesn’t exist within your job function or even within your company. In those times, you can find (or create) a“side project”. Can you:

• Volunteer to revamp an inefficient process or system?

• Offer to take the lead on a team event or initiative?

• Contribute a skill you have to a different department’s project?

Think strategically — what kind of stretch project aligns with the skills you want to build and showcases your initiative in a visible way?

Technique 2: side hustles as skill accelerators

Forget about just making extra money. Done strategically, a side hustle is like creating your own personal learning lab.

Here’s why it’s so effective:

• Real-world application: You get to put those skills you’re building into practice immediately, getting feedback from the market, not just a certificate.

• Filling skill gaps: Can’t find the perfect stretch assignment at work? Design your own with a side project that lets you tackle exactly what you want to learn.

• The confidence factor: Success in a side hustle, even on a small scale, builds a “can-do” mindset that can boost your confidence in your primary career.

In my book Empowered to Upgrade, I dedicated a whole chapter on different types of side-hustles you can have to upgrade your skills and increase your income at the same time.

Check it out if you need ideas.

Technique 3: community and collaboration

We often think of skill-building as a solo pursuit, but surrounding yourself with the right people supercharges your growth.

Here are a few powerful ways to leverage community:

• Learn in public: Blogging about your learning journey, sharing tips, or asking thoughtful questions on platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter attracts like-minded individuals and potential opportunities. I’ve found extreme value in communities hosted by Ayodeji Awosika, Evan Kelly and Jamie Northrup as I hone my digital writing skills and grow my newsletter.

• Networks as learning accelerators: Go beyond generic networking events. Seek out online communities or niche meetups in your desired skill area. Don’t just consume knowledge, contribute. Ask thoughtful questions, answer other’s questions, and share your learning journey.

Final Thoughts

Building a satisfying career isn’t a passive process. As I said in my book, Empowered to Upgrade, being passive gets you passed over.

I don’t want that for you, my friend. By focusing on skills, not just a job title, you gain a superpower: adaptability.

You become resilient to changes in the job market, ready to pivot towards new opportunities at any time, and better equipped to negotiate for what you deserve.

This isn’t just about landing your next job, it’s about having a fulfilling career over the long term.

Thanks for reading!