Is it better to be a specialist in your career?

Question

I have a friend who is a little lost in his career. I'm asking him to specialise in something and focus on it and he says it's better to be generalist and something you specialise in could 'phase out'. I don't agree. What do you think?

Answer 1

Generalist is a good start. But it's better to be a specialist at the end.

Answer 2

I agree with you. I think it is better to have an area of expertise instead of being a jack-of-all-trades.

Answer 3

it is better to be a jack of all trades and master of none...be flexible and evolve with the changes in your career...

Answer 4

really depends on circumstance ... but being a specialist first is good that at least you mastered a area that you are confident in, and would give you sufficient financial source. After anchoring your speciality it would be good to learn more about other things. But interest and what you would like to do is also important.

Answer 5

A specialist will make more money, but there will be fewer job opportiunities and more potential for phase-out of the specialty.  Thee isn't one best qanswer to this question, but both specialists and generalists should maintain continuing education in their field

Answer 6

I will use the hour glass as an analogy.

At the beginning of the career, it is a phase of being a generalist, while searching out for a niche area as we proceed on - similar to the initial broad part of the hourglass.

There would be a need to be a specialist, particularly when you proceed on to mastery level and it is not likely to reach mastery in all levels. This would be the narrow part of the hourglass.

As a specialist, and probably also taking on a supervisory role, it is also necessary to venture out to other areas to seek mastery in other areas as well. However, it is not realistically possible, but still, certain depth in all areas still need to be reached... That would be the bottom broad part where the sand moves and reaches in an hourglass.

Answer 7

It depends on the industry.  I was a generalist in the IT field and could only get the lower paying jobs because the specialists get the big bucks.  On the other hand, being a generalist was perfect for my transition into High School teaching.