Jack of all Trades: Good or Bad?

Jim van Hulst has worked in several leadership functions at EY, ING Bank, ABN AMRO Bank, and Johnson Controls International. His positions have included Director Talent Management, Global Head Professional Development, and Global Learning Technology Leader. Jim has an MSc. in Learning Technology from the University of Sheffield and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Arnhem/Nijmegen. He also holds a diploma in Business Management and Leadership from the Rotterdam School of Management, and he completed his MBA in 2020 from MSM, The Netherlands. He is a frequently asked speaker and author of numerous articles. Jim founded Jignite recently in 2021.

Jim van Hulst, owner Jignite

Have you ever been called a “jack of all trades”? It’s usually followed by that other line—”master of none”—but I like to stop people before they get there. Why? Because being a jack of all trades is something I’m proud of. And if you’ve ever felt that insatiable curiosity to dive into new skills, industries, or projects, you should be proud of it too.

Curiosity: The Real Mastermind

Let’s get one thing straight: curiosity is my superpower. It pushed me from leading military units in the Middle East to managing digital transformation in big companies. Some might call that a career pivot; I call it following my nose—or perhaps my mind, which tends to wander into fascinating new territories. My journey started in the Royal Dutch Army, where I honed leadership skills that would later translate seamlessly into the corporate world. It was a long way from managing soldiers to managing learning and development programs for global corporations, but the constant? A thirst for learning and improvement. That’s why I completed my MBA at the age of 60.

A Rollercoaster of Learning (and Laughs)

For example, I was tasked with consolidating 12 different Learning Management Systems (LMS) into one for a large bank in The Netherlands. Picture a jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces missing, except those pieces are essential parts of your training infrastructure. We got it done, of course—saved the bank over €25 million—but not without a few chuckles along the way, like when I realized that half of the systems didn’t even talk to each other.

Consider my time at a large international consultancy company, where I was in charge of reducing ‘no-show’ training costs. The solution? Turn the training into a blend of online and in-person learning, making it harder to skip out. The result? We cut costs by 40% and boosted engagement by 23%. Not bad for someone who wasn’t even supposed to be in the learning technology field to begin with!

The Power of Adaptability

In my career, adaptability has been my best friend. Whether I was leading a team of 25 soldiers or implementing a new Talent Management strategy, the ability to pivot and learn on the go has been crucial. When faced with a challenge, my first instinct is to dive in, learn everything about it, and then find a way to make it work.

I ended up spearheading a Digital Industry 4.0 strategy for senior managers and directors at a multi-billion International manufacturing company raising digital awareness from 30% to 76%. The secret? A little bit of tech-savvy, a lot of curiosity, and a willingness to blend the old with the new.

Conclusion: Why Being a Jack of All Trades is a Good Thing

So, what’s wrong with being a jack of all trades? Nothing at all. It’s the reason I’ve been able to contribute to so many exciting projects and help organizations save money, enhance their people skills, and stay ahead of the curve.

The world doesn’t stand still, and neither do I. If there’s something new to learn, I’m all in—because that’s how you keep growing, both personally and professionally. This year I re-focus on Storyline AI and building eLearning’s. So, here’s to all the jacks (and jills) of all trades out there. Keep learning, keep exploring, and don’t let anyone tell you that mastering many skills isn’t something to be proud of. Keep in mind, that I never did it alone, I always had good mentors, managers, directors, peers and colleagues to support me. Without them, I would not be who I am today.

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