I recommend Carpenter and Alchemist to level 50 at the least. Others help, especially for leveling, but these are the two skills from cross class you will use the most in pretty much every situation.

Other than that, just do the easiest leves available at your level range, making HQ stuff can be hard but with steady hand II, hasty touch, and byregots blessing you should be at least mostly successful.

Once you reach level 66, you'll be pretty much set with manipulation 2 and prudent touch, these two skills (along with initial preparations if you are a specialist) are OP and get rid of almost any need for CC skills (aside from the two I already mentioned). It's just getting there that may be a hassle for you.