Being a specialist or generalist: A techie’s dilemma
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Do you trade higher pay now for the potential of having a harder time finding a job later? That's an over-simplification, to be sure, but which path did you choose? [ITworld]
valid question, I personally am a Generalist (not by choice, it chose me and I stuck with it due to needing work and a roof over my head.). On the pro side, I can fit into most situations, with a grasp of the different fields. on the con side; well, Some want that Specialist. As for finding work, the money and jobs are there,for the experience and knowledge, I am always practising and reading up. Heck, I still keep up on my other career option; Chef work. For example, I'm making Duck l'orange this weekend. [append] I haven't had an issue with "good" / "high" pay ether. ;)
///////////////// -Negative, I am a meat popsicle.
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Do you trade higher pay now for the potential of having a harder time finding a job later? That's an over-simplification, to be sure, but which path did you choose? [ITworld]
comment from my co-worker after showing the article; "if you think about it .. according to the general public outside IT .. you specialize in IT .. " he does have a point X|
///////////////// -Negative, I am a meat popsicle.
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valid question, I personally am a Generalist (not by choice, it chose me and I stuck with it due to needing work and a roof over my head.). On the pro side, I can fit into most situations, with a grasp of the different fields. on the con side; well, Some want that Specialist. As for finding work, the money and jobs are there,for the experience and knowledge, I am always practising and reading up. Heck, I still keep up on my other career option; Chef work. For example, I'm making Duck l'orange this weekend. [append] I haven't had an issue with "good" / "high" pay ether. ;)
///////////////// -Negative, I am a meat popsicle.
You're probably more of a specialist than you realize; anyone who focuses on .NET development can be considered a specialist, as opposed to people who develop software in general, or who do general IT work and sometimes write scripts and programs. It's more of a fuzzy spectrum than a black-and-white category thing.
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Do you trade higher pay now for the potential of having a harder time finding a job later? That's an over-simplification, to be sure, but which path did you choose? [ITworld]
i chose the path of maximum employment: when necessary, find a new job. don't sweat the details, because it's all database stuff, in the end.
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Do you trade higher pay now for the potential of having a harder time finding a job later? That's an over-simplification, to be sure, but which path did you choose? [ITworld]
Unless you work in a niche market you are probably more of a generalist than you might think: even if you call yourself a .Net specialist (which part?) you still require other skills to enable you to do your job.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
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Do you trade higher pay now for the potential of having a harder time finding a job later? That's an over-simplification, to be sure, but which path did you choose? [ITworld]
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Do you trade higher pay now for the potential of having a harder time finding a job later? That's an over-simplification, to be sure, but which path did you choose? [ITworld]
I have been working with XAML based technologies for the last few years, and being specialized in WPF/Silverlight has kept me working and getting better pay everytime. I do end up working with other technologies, which helps me be a generalist. I have found, as a contractor, trying to get work as a general .NET developer is difficult. However, WPF is easy. There are a limited number of people out there that have extensive experience in this technology, and working in XAML is very different from C#. However, the issue is that I have been moving to stay working.
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I have been working with XAML based technologies for the last few years, and being specialized in WPF/Silverlight has kept me working and getting better pay everytime. I do end up working with other technologies, which helps me be a generalist. I have found, as a contractor, trying to get work as a general .NET developer is difficult. However, WPF is easy. There are a limited number of people out there that have extensive experience in this technology, and working in XAML is very different from C#. However, the issue is that I have been moving to stay working.
Since 2010, the developer job market in Texas has been improving a lot; now, .NET generalists and XAML specialists are both in such high demand that there are significantly more job openings than qualified applicants. It's probably the same in other places, and I think your increased opportunity and success has more to do with what year it is than with what technologies you're using.
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Since 2010, the developer job market in Texas has been improving a lot; now, .NET generalists and XAML specialists are both in such high demand that there are significantly more job openings than qualified applicants. It's probably the same in other places, and I think your increased opportunity and success has more to do with what year it is than with what technologies you're using.
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Do you trade higher pay now for the potential of having a harder time finding a job later? That's an over-simplification, to be sure, but which path did you choose? [ITworld]
I am in a very specific IT field, but still consider myself a generalist. I consistently find myself put on the team that researches, tests, and implements new ideas with new technologies. As stated in an earlier response, I didn't choose it necessarily, it chose me.