The Unique Value You Might Not Have Noticed: How to Discover Your Strengths?

Stop Being a "Disposable Employee": Why You Need to Curate Your Unique Value Portfolio

I’ve noticed a common concern among job seekers: "My experience and skills seem so common. Why would a company choose me over anyone else?" Honestly, it’s completely natural to feel this way. Most of us come through the same educational systems, meaning what we’ve learned and experienced is often quite similar. This is why many entry-level roles prioritize "willingness to learn" above all else. However, once you’ve gained some real-world experience, I believe it’s time to start curating your own "Unique Value Portfolio."

Broadening Your Perspective: Breaking Out of Your Professional Box to Find a Competitive Edge

Take my own journey as an example. I studied Business Administration—a major often described as "learning a little bit of everything, but mastering nothing." Unlike my peers in Accounting or Finance, who usually had a clear post-graduation path, Business Administration students have to be very intentional about their choices. During university, I focused on marketing-related courses, and my first two roles were in marketing planning. I remember hearing people say, "Anyone can do marketing." I have to admit, unlike accounting or finance, marketing doesn't require specific certifications to get started. With such a low barrier to entry, I found myself questioning: "Is this really the right path for me?" I felt lost because I hadn't found my specific niche.

When you hit that wall, I suggest broadening your perspective: don’t limit yourself strictly to what you learned in school or at work. I developed a passion for photography during college and actively applied this "interest" in my first two marketing roles. This gave me an edge over traditional marketing candidates. In some roles, it was a "nice-to-have" bonus; in others, it was a requirement. That single intersection made me "unique."

The 1+1 > 2 Career Strategy: Becoming a Top 10% Talent Through "Skill Intersections"

Going a step further, "Skill Stacking" is the most effective way to create unique personal value. Following the example above, let’s look at "Marketing + Photography." If 60 out of 100 marketers are also good at photography, you are already in the top 60%. Later, I taught myself data analysis, making my stack "Marketing + Photography + Data Analysis." If only 10 out of those 60 people also understand data, you’ve suddenly moved into the top 10% of candidates.

Some might wonder, "Who actually needs this specific combination?" That is exactly what we need to consider: "How to create exponential influence through skill stacking." I am confident there are companies desperate for someone who understands marketing, has a keen eye for aesthetics, and is sharp with numbers. Such talent is rare because it requires the "intersection" of three distinct abilities.

The Irreplaceable Breadth: Why Interdisciplinary Skills Matter in the AI Era

In the current AI era, "skill breadth" has become an even more critical trait. Why is it that despite the abundance of specialized or general AI tools, mid-to-high-level talent remains irreplaceable? It’s because these individuals possess the ability to integrate, synthesize, and execute across various skills. This is precisely why "Agentic AI" is the future trend—it moves closer to acting like a human professional, capable of multitasking and handling complex, integrated assignments.

Daniel | Menset