20 years ago you "needed" Java, C++, CORBA, COM, DCOM, OLE, ActiveX, ATL, MFC, Win32, DCE, etc. etc., yadda, yadda. The names have changed, but I don't feel like the concept has changed much, as far as employers wanting people with a laundry list of skills. But you never really need all of them, or at least you don't need to be an expert on them all... you can learn what you need as you go. At least, that's worked for me for the past 25+ years.