Specialist vs Generalist: Can It Affect Your Career Path?

Even before the pandemic turned the world in on itself, there has been an uproar in professional groups and career advice sections that to reach the top of the ladder quicker, you need to find a niche, excel in it, and milk it.

However, many still swear by exploring opportunities outside your comfort zone. By doing so, you're better equipped with the know-how for top-tier positions that will come your way in the future.

The still-ongoing debate between specialist roles and generalist roles has been a cause of indecisiveness for young people looking to forge their paths and even seasoned professionals thinking of a career change. But, with the current state of the world, is aiming to become one of either be given utmost importance? If so, is one better than the other?

To land on an informed choice, flesh out the details between the two. These specialist-vs-generalist pros and cons can help you decide if you want to take one niche path to the top or walk all terrains to reach the summit. 

Differentiating Specialist Roles and Generalist Roles

Just from the titles themselves, you can surmise what generalists and specialists are in essence. But to further differentiate the two, here are several aspects that you can identify both roles with: 

Skill Sets

If you've ever heard of the phrase, "jack of all trades, master of none," then you know what generalists are. These professionals take upskilling by heart, allowing them to boast a broad skill set for various tasks. For example, a writer is a generalist if they can write in multiple styles and shift from one tone to another. They may also have experience in writing for different industries.

On the other hand, specialists are professionals who have a narrower but deeper knowledge of a particular field. They know the basics but choose to hone an ability related to a study of a broad trade. For example, a writer who only offers copywriting services is a specialist if they mostly have good writing skills but choose to learn and practise writing for advertisements.

Training and Certifications

In this regard, the differences between generalists and specialists are more pronounced. Generalists have more varied training, which allows for flexibility and adaptability to different situations. They can get certified for some areas, but they won't focus on those when choosing the tasks they want to take on.

Specialists have more in-depth knowledge and explicitly sought for special training and certifications in their chosen field. This enables them to optimise their knowledge and ultimately deliver a more advanced or expert output. 

Scope of Work

Generalists take on more diverse roles and responsibilities within the company and perform them well. Meanwhile, specialist roles gravitate towards a specific function that ideally requires a subject matter expert. Specialists perform their tasks at an optimised capacity. 

Which is Better?

If you're a fresh grad just about to enter the workforce or someone looking to define a career path, choosing between becoming a generalist or a specialist can be an undertaking. However, there are factors you can consider when making your choice. Here are several points of comparison to see which career path you prefer.

Versatility

In most office settings, the roles and duties of one particular title may vary. Generalists have the upper hand when it comes to versatility as they have enough know-how in different areas to take on whatever jobs are thrown at them and get them done. Generalists also have the luxury of shifting from one field to another, hence making it easier for them to climb the corporate ladder.

The paths of specialists tend to be more straightforward. This isn’t to say that they’re roles won’t vary. Even if you’re more inclined to this type, you can still upskill and expand your capabilities, whether it’s to train yourself to your field’s new offerings or to work on your transferable talents.

Profitability

If you want to get paid big and quick, becoming a specialist is for you. Getting certifications in specialised skills gives you some leeway to demand higher pay that can prove more lucrative over time. 

In recent years, as companies have to consider the multi-generations in the workforce, they have also shifted the priority to specialisations from college degree holders, so higher-paying positions are offered to professionals with a clear niche and certifications to back it up.

However, keep in mind that CEOs generally took on generalist roles before landing the title and the paycheque that comes with it.

Credibility

While graduating with a degree looks good on your resume, it has slowly become less and less of a necessity. Big companies have quietly removed degrees on the list of mandatory requirements to land a position. Instead, they are looking for individuals with certifications in skills they require for the post.

By being a specialist, you have this sense of credibility backed with credentials and certifications. The knowledge and skills of generalists may be a bit too broad for them to be considered credible experts in a particular area, especially since they do not have the accreditations as proof.

Marketability and Job Availability

This one is a bit tricky. Specialist roles are on an uptick in recent years, but at the same time, generalists are also becoming in demand. With the pandemic pushing the whole world into digitalisation, generalists are found to have more courage shifting from one industry to another with a little bit of effort.

That isn't a disadvantage for specialists, either. Being a specialist can make you more marketable in fields requiring heavy technical knowledge, such as healthcare or IT. If digitalisation is somewhat of a jump for you career-wise still, you can find an area relevant to your current specialisation. From there, work on certifications if it requires any. 

Sustainability

As New York Times bestselling author David Epstein describes in his book Range, "keeping a broad range of interests, experimenting, and changing course now and then are essential to finding your true passions—and the success that comes with loving what you do."

While both generalists and specialists may have a wide range of interests that helped them find their true passion, regarding sustainability, the generalists may have the upper hand.

Repetition is as much of a practise as it is exhaustive. Generalists can enjoy a variation in tasks and everyday to-dos. Sticking to one specialty may sound monotonous but as long as you’re open to learning, you’ll find novelty in your work every day. It’s really up to you to figure out which type suits your personality and abilities better.  

The Broader Picture or The Specific Detail

Going back to the first question raised: in a highly digitised world with companies managing multiple generations in the workforce, does it still matter whether you are a generalist or a specialist?

The answer is a resounding yes… and no. It is confusing, to say the least, but it will make sense if you factor in context or the conditions surrounding your decision.

What type of industry are you getting yourself into? What are you passionate about? What are you comfortable with when it comes to accepting jobs that are not your cup of tea? Knowing these things, plus understanding the concept of generalist roles and specialist roles, will give a better gauge for you to decide which group you want to belong to. 

It's not a matter of generalists vs specialists anymore, or which is better. There is no wrong answer; it will always just fall on your preference and your goals as a professional. 

Check out our Career Resources page to learn more about what generalist and specialist roles entail, including expert insights and advice to help you on your career path.