This is especially good advice if you are in the Java world. Configuration, deployment, and all round administration skills are part of the tool kit that you n

This is especially good advice if you are in the Java world. Configuration, deployment, and all round administration skills are part of the tool kit that you need even if none of this is your primary responsibility. I would also add JavaScript and Ajax to the necessary skill set. If you are a freelancer or job hunting, JS, HTML, and CSS increase the number of gigs that you can tackle. Even when the backend is your primary responsibility, you will often be called upon to do a quick fix in the other areas. Farming out design is good advice, but often the HTML and CSS is not really usable, so you will need to know enough to make it work on your site.