Tech Career: Should You Specialize or Generalize?
This debate has been around for a long time in the industry: which is better to focus on, specialization or generalization?
Which path should you choose? Should you become an expert in Google Products, Microsoft products, or Linux? Or should you follow the Apple path?
Many people have to ask themselves this as they develop skills for a tech career. Well, there is no simple answer to the question.
When I started my tech career, I always wondered, “now I have selected a technology (Android), do I specialize even further? will it be wise to specialize too much?”.
After considering certain factors, My view on this subject is to remain flexible. Technology is changing rapidly, and what is the hot technology today may be forgotten and replaced when the next best technology comes out.
let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of specialization and generalization, as discussed in more detail by Technibble:
1. It Is Easier to Specialize
Technology, as we know, is broad. If you choose to generalize in many fields, that requires more work because you’ll need to spend more time, energy, and resources researching and keeping up to date, which can be exhausting!
On the same note, if you choose to specialize, there’s less to learn and less to keep up to date on, and less to keep fresh in your mind from day to day as you do your work.
2. Personal Satisfaction
This is my favorite factor. If you specialize in one field and become a true expert, it’s a good path to a successful and profitable career, and you’ll derive professional and personal satisfaction from that.
It’s easy to get bored by specializing in one field, and if that happens, maybe you should branch out and consider covering some generalized skills in the Tech industry to relieve the boredom.
You’re still the expert you’ve always been, but you do some other work to keep things interesting and not burn out from boredom.
3. Job Security
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”
— Tom Watson, IBM Chairman, 1943“There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.”
— Ken Olsen, President, Digital Equipment Company, 1977
With the above statements, you can agree with me that technology is rapidly changing!
If someone had only specialized in Desktop Computer repair for a whole career and nothing else, I would be concerned their specialty might be obsolete eventually.
Based on current trends, I might not be concerned if he had added Mobile device repair to his skill sets. Looking at what the future will bring when deciding to specialize in a field is vital. If you choose to specialize in a field with no prospects, well, you know the results.
Also, with specialization, your focus could become so narrow that it hinders your skill development along the edges of your field, so it’s good to occasionally take a step back and look around to see if you could expand your specialized skill a bit.
Choose a specialty that has a broad market. If your specialty is narrow enough, you might find it somewhat limiting. Don’t choose something that will put you in less demand. In summary, Generalization offers better job security than specialization does.
Closing Remarks
Whichever path you take, push yourself outside your comfort zone regularly. Pushing your boundaries helps you grow and increases learning, researching, and studying, and it will keep you motivated and energized in your career.
You have to be willing to be flexible! Always remember that Technology is ever-changing, and what is the hot technology now may be forgotten when the next best technology comes out.
Note: Read the original article by Technibble here
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