Generalist vs. Specialist

[Masakazu Chiba]

Is it better to be a jack of all trades when it comes to your career, or someone who's extremely well versed in one subject?

[Bold]

Specialist.

I wouldn't stop there though. I'd be a polymath.

[John Wick]

depends if you're in a field where you're unlikely to be replaced by a robot then being a specialist is good for job security, if you're a lawyer/ manual labourer then having other talents will be useful

[Masakazu Chiba]

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Specialist.

I wouldn't stop there though. I'd be a polymath.

Polymaths pretty much are generalists though, aren't they?

[The Sunset]

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Polymaths pretty much are generalists though, aren't they?

Smart generalists lol

Set some boundaries

4 associates degrees vs 1 phD?

[Masakazu Chiba]

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Smart generalists lol

Set some boundaries

4 associates degrees vs 1 phD?

The Ph. D of course, but I dunno if this comparison makes much sense. With each new associates you're going to be doing a different field each time and likely not retain too much from your other jobs.

[Cake]

You can be both you know.

[The Bald Headed Negro]

Generalist

[Pimp of Pimps]

Be a jack of most trades, master of some.

[Pirate Hunter Eddy]

Depends on what your looking to achieved. I'd say be well versed in your specific field whilst also being capable of doing satisfactory work in others.

[Fabulous]

I want to be extremely well versed in many subjects.

[Nikamara]

It depends on the specific field, but generally, specialists make more money, so specialist.

[John Wick]

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I want to be extremely well versed in many subjects.

I'll sprout a tail before that happens.


you're an autistic charlatan.

[Tifa]

depends on the timeframe.

if this was 50 years ago, a specialist, for sure. But this current generation, we're kinda mixing all sorts of stuff together and a specialist can be outted when the next big thing comes along.

So i'd vote for generalist.

[Makenzye]

I find versatility has helped me more than any specialty. Though having a specialty can really pay off as long as you haven't crippled every other aspect of your life to achieve it and is a concrete thing needed in whatever goal it is you're looking to accomplish.


For instance, specializing as a comic book reader has done me jack shit.


Working on cars, washers, other machines has helped me much more.

[Fabulous]

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I'll sprout a tail before that happens.


you're an autistic charlatan.

This is inappropriate.
@Pimp of Pimps; @Great Potato;

Look at this guy insulting me for no reason and spamming too.

[Great Potato]

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For instance, specializing as a comic book reader has done me jack shit.

It made you a mod on an internet forum.

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Look at this guy insulting me for no reason and spamming too.

That's horrible, someone should really do something about that.

[Bold]

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Polymaths pretty much are generalists though, aren't they?

eh.

Jack of all trades is something related to being a master of none. This is something that can be achieved fairly quickly. A polymath has mastered several different fields - naturally that'll take a far longer time.

When it comes to career as well, a generalist is something like a doctor who is a general practitioner. Generalists are gonna die out. For instance, if you have an eye problem, chances are most people will go to the optometrist, not the GP. Even if the GP is a great one, the optometrist is the dude who people are more likely to visit because of the nature of his work. If you then have a problem with your skin, chances are you'll go to the skin doctor rather than the GP. And on and on it goes.

Meanwhile, a polymath could be someone who is say, a doctor, a painter, an athlete and a businessman, and is successful in all four fields.

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Another example is how it's good to have a niche when you're making a business rather than trying to be an all rounder .

You might not make it as the next Walmart or Selfridges, but hey maybe if you specialise in selling homemade scarves & socks you could make a few million for yourself

[Crispinianus]

depends on what you plan to do or become

being a specialist helps in most jobs environments, but being a generalist helps more in life.

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eh.

Jack of all trades is something related to being a master of none. This is something that can be achieved fairly quickly.

being capable of doing everything pretty decently isn't achieved fairly quickly, and to some it's impossible to reach at all as it depends a lot on a person's nature.

[Makenzye]

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eh.

Jack of all trades is something related to being a master of none. This is something that can be achieved fairly quickly. A polymath has mastered several different fields - naturally that'll take a far longer time.

When it comes to career as well, a generalist is something like a doctor who is a general practitioner. Generalists are gonna die out. For instance, if you have an eye problem, chances are most people will go to the optometrist, not the GP. Even if the GP is a great one, the optometrist is the dude who people are more likely to visit because of the nature of his work. If you then have a problem with your skin, chances are you'll go to the skin doctor rather than the GP. And on and on it goes.

Meanwhile, a polymath could be someone who is say, a doctor, a painter, an athlete and a businessman, and is successful in all four fields.

- - - Updated - - -

Another example is how it's good to have a niche when you're making a business rather than trying to be an all rounder .

You might not make it as the next Walmart or Selfridges, but hey maybe if you specialise in selling homemade scarves & socks you could make a few million for yourself

GP's aren't going anywhere since most people can't identify, or sometimes even recognize, symptoms.


I think generalists such as phone operators are the softest target.