You need to have actual skills that are both in high demand (in your desired industry) and slightly difficult to learn. Youʼll be extremely valuable if your skill is both rare and in high demand.

You don't have to become an expert in one particular area -- you just have to get really good at a few things.

I'm not an expert in video editing, or web design, or online marketing, but I'm solid at all three. Luckily, they are not mutually exclusive skills -- they complement each other and companies value them as a package deal.

Think in terms of what skills your desired industry values, then start your learning.

You can teach yourself new skills with books and hands-on experience, or you can sign up for a class at a community college. You can even find someone who has the skills already and beg to shadow them at work (this is how I learned Photoshop for free).

Having in-demand skills is what employers really value. Tons of experience is a bonus, of course, but it's not nearly as important as you might think.