Is specialization bad?
While reviewing my senior portfolio, one of my college professors (a mentor, really) advised me not to go into a specialized field when making my “first job out of college” decision. He explained that he worked for a firm in Chicago known for designing skyscrapers. After he left that firm, every other place he worked for wanted him to design skyscrapers – even if other projects were going on in the office.
I was walking to work yesterday thinking about this. I passed a building that is being renovated – they are tearing down the exterior to install new offices.
Seeing that made me think about the fact that all I do is interior build-outs. We don’t do any “ground-up” construction. I am only getting experience in… a somewhat specialized field. I wonder if I should be trying to learn other things.
I wonder if I should take my professor’s advice.
I should just be cautious.
I love what I do and really like the people I work with. I just think about these things… from time to time.
Themocracy
I think it’s only bad if you want to be doing other stuff, but broadening your skill set is always a good idea. That way if you need to look for work down the line, you’ll have more options.
Eventually I think it will be good to branch out–a little. Too broad and employers think you don’t know what you’re doing, too narrow and you’ll be pigeonholed and moving up in your career will be very difficult.
Which is why, despite myself, I know I could really stand to have a broader HR Generalist role in my background.
I guess it would depend on how common your specialization is?
In IT, it is almost mandatory to further your career to pick something and be good at it. This can be good if it is a product that is used by several companies, not so good if it is a company built product and that company goes out of business. Either way, I think specialization is a good thing though as long as you keep up your general knowledge about your field (not specifics but what is the trend, what should you be watching, and just general things).
It can’t hurt to expand your horizons a little. It’s great that you enjoy what you are doing and who knows? You may always enjoy it, but it’s okay to learn more about other areas in case your tastes change as you get older and your career moves ahead.
I’ve bounced around a lot and dabbled all over, there comes a time when it can hurt you, especially in our field. if I could go back I’d get a few solid years in each of the genre’s that I’ve experienced so that I could make more strategic moves now. but I probably would have more of a specialty than I do now.
I think that you’ll know when the time comes to move on and that you will do so gracefully.
claire – I just wonder if I am missing out. If I should be learning other things right now. I don’t want to have to start over again.
diane – I guess this gives us BOTH something to work on 😉
Felicia – What you wrote really made me think. I have down (or am working on) the general skills of my profession; what I need to improve on is specific knowledge in certain areas. So, I suppose if I can do the general things, I can always learn the specific things as the time comes. Okay, that probably didn’t make sense to you, but it helped me… thanks.
teeni – I wonder if I should talk to some friends and see what they are working on. Maybe everyone feels the same!
de – Gracefully? Ha! 😛 But thanks 😉
you ask such thought provoking questions my dear!!! i don’t think specialization is necessarily a bad thing as long as your sole focus for years and years isn’t on the same thing, unless you’re a highly skilled surgeon or something… i think you’re fine though. you’ve got a good head on your shoulders and i think you’ll know if and when the time comes that you need to “broaden your horizons”.
=^..^=
CourtneyInControl – Thank you. I may just be over thinking this. And… maybe I am too young to be worried about it anyway.
Yea its a tough call. No one wants to be pigeonhold but I don’t necessary think anything is wrong with being specialized, either. Maybe stick with it for a bit and then perhaps make a switch down the line if your firm doesn’t offer opportunites to branch out.
Gina (Mannyed) – Good call. Good call indeed 😉