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.