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Specialist vs. Generalist

Specialist vs. Generalist

Specialist vs. Generalist

(OP)
My current work place has the habit of specializing their workers.  They will pigeon hole you.  It's very hard to expand your horizons into new territories when you're stuck doing the same thing all the time.

I work at a large company and I know that this is typical.  What is life like in a smaller company.  Are you more of a generalist than a specialist?  Do you get more variety in your day to day tasks?  Do you get involved in a larger variety of projects?

I sometimes think that I would like to have more variety in my work.  Smaller companies are appealing to me for this reason.  Is the grass truly greener on the other side?

For those of you working in smaller companies, how do you like it?  Do you get a lot of variety in your work?  What are some of the negatives to working in this type of environment?

Thanks.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

bradpa, take a look at some of the posts Twoballcane & I had on the subject in:

thread731-194524: Do You Use What You Learned in School for Your Job?

My first place was small (UK defence) and I was very much the Jack of all trades and enjoyed it.

At my new place (Mid size US high tech) I've now fallen into an arguably non core Engineering role and it's not so much fun but my first year hear I was a designer but also had to do my own stress anlaysis (nothing too complex) etc.  Although it was midsize the engineers were asigned to various business units and were split out so there were fewer specialists in mechanical engineering.

I've been led to believe, and from experience it seems it may be true, that the tendancy to specialize is stronger in the US than it was in the UK.  Don't get me wrong, the UK did have specialists but less of them, the generalists were expected to do more I suppose.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

My 2p (4c+ in today's money):

I worked for a large company as a student.  I saw engineers who's been pigeon-holed for what seemed like all their lives (10 years is a long time when seen through the eyes of a 19 year old!).

When it was my time to find a long-term job I jumped at one that offered short project times and hugely varied work.  And I'd probably do it again if I were a new graduate.

However, after a few years I felt like I was handle-turning.  Repeating similar jobs for different clients.  Something longer term was required.  Something I could dive into really deeply.

My point is that being pigeon-holed isn't a bad thing when the time is right.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I am working for a smaller company, and we do EVERYTHING.  Unlike the big guys, the smaller companies will take anything they can get contract wise, even if they don't have the resources for it.  If they don't, they'll go under. Here is an example of working for a small company.

Boss: Do you have any experience with this?
Employee: No.
Boss: You do now, bids go out for this contract in 2 weeks, start learning.  

Since my ONE Year of working there, I have learned the basics of AutoCAD ( I can now draw almost everything in ASME B16.5, and am amassing a parts library), passed the FE exam (fairly difficult considering I haven't had coursework in about 3 years), worked on high speed imaging and optical alignment (optics that are not diffraction limited is just straight lines anyway), written documents for the EPA, State fire Marshalls, and the US Coast Guard (Follow the CFR's to a tee), Re-structured and re-organized a database with over 18,000 records in it (find a mentor in database programming, and they will teach you more than you need to know), and am currently designing piping for multiphase flow studies.  

I think I have a case of "grass is greener" syndrome, and would like to specialize in piping design.  But I would also like to know a little bit about everything else too, but by nature of being in a small company, you have to wear many different hats.  

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I work for a small construction engineering firm (1 office 12 total employees doing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design) and I love it.  My primary area is mechanical but I have been picking up electrical from the other PE's in the office.  The projects vary greatly and you are involved in every aspect of them.  Very rarely do I spend all day doing a single task.  Also, being part of a small firm requires that you get more involved with developing the business.

A typical day for me might go something like this:  oversee CAD work on a HVAC project while I am doing the electrical design on another, go to lunch with a client to try and land some additional work, do a plumbing installation inspection in the afternoon followed up by a walk down of a new renovation job that we've just gotten.  It can make for some really hectic days but you are never bored and no two days are the same.

My only negative currently is the perpetual catch 22 we seem to be caught in when trying to get a new type of business, ie 1st high rise, 1st government job, etc.  You invariably are always competing against other larger firms that have a least one person that has done that type of work before.  

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

When I worked at a small company, the advantages were that I got to do everything.  The disadvantages were that I had to do everything.

I liked the fact that I got a wide variety of things to do, which included a lot of things that I liked. However, it also included doing a lot of things that I didn't like.  I liked designing stuff, but I didn't care for going out on sales calls to support the sales people. But, it was all part of the job.  Every small company is different and you may or may not have to build your own prototypes, find sources for all your parts, offer tech support, and unclog the toilets.  Or maybe you enjoy some of that stuff.

I liked the variety, but eventually I worked my way to the top of the engineering food chain there and found that, while it was ok to have everyone coming to me with questions, I missed having other more experienced engineers to ask questions of. I was still learning new stuff on my own for various projects, but I find that now, in my new job, I can always find someone that knows more about some particular problem.  And, although it's a huge company, the particular division that I work in is still run a bit like a small company.  

So, in general, I'd say there's less pigeonholing in small companies, but really whether it fits your particular needs will depend on your personality and what you want to get out of it.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I think the grass always seems greener.  

Just the other day, one of my pals who is a structural designer was bemoaning how his job requires a tremendous breadth of knowledge, but not much depth.  He feels like he barely knows dozens of subjects, but has no time to really dive in and learn anything thoroughly.  That's about how I felt when I did that job too.

Some people like knowing every little thing about a narrow body of knowledge.  Just depends on your preferences I guess.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I work at a relatively small P&V company, only a few engineers, we do other things as well, and you quickly learn the phrase "I don't know but I will find out".  The work is the same but often varied, if that makes any sense.  No two days/weeks are ever alike.  The pay could be better if I worked at a large company with lots of engineers, but the extras like being 10 minutes from home, being able to take/pick up my boys from school, run errands when I need to, take off when I need to, etc are worth more to me than any amount of $$$ compensation.

Being pigeon-holed isn't all bad if you are a pigeon and like being one. ;)

Brian

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

they're pros and cons to every situation.  my current situation is with a smaller company and as others have said, you're pretty much responsible for everything.  the good thing is that you get to learn multiple aspects of the project and you can't get pigeon-holed.  i do my own design and drafting, material ordering, etc...saves a lot of time.  when you screw up, everyone knows but when you do well they notice as well (at least around here they do).  situations like this apparently either works really well or really poorly.  don't think i want to work for a bigger company anytime soon; so much to learn here.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

The grass always seems greener on the other side until you get over there and look down.  Then you see the same old dirt.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

Being pigeon holed I feel is realy your fault and not the company's.  Of course the company will keep the ideal person in the same position, well if it is making money, the company will not change a thing.  If you want to come out of the pigeon hole, you have to learn new skils.  Once the skills are some what achieved, you can start looking for new work or asking for other responsiblities.  I did my round of exploring and found what I like to do.  If you are not happy with what you are doing, maybe it is time to move on to somthing else.

Good luck!

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

oh I heard this from some where...if you want stability (but less money) a generalist is the way to go, if you want to make more money (but less stable) then a specialist is the way to go...

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

Now that Im thinking about it, being a specialist does not really mean you are pigeon holed.  Even though my field is analysis and test, I still have a hand in proposals, cost, manufacturing, and design.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

Pidgeonholing is usually self-induced.  I've worked at both large (>60,000) and medium (>1,000) employee companies and have had no problems being a generalist.  At the same time, a fellow co-worker is extremely specialized, and likewise has no problems.  

A good manager takes into account the strengths and weaknesses of his team and assigns jobs accordingly.  If you don't want to be pidgeonholed, you need to step and volunteer for jobs outside of your comfort zone.

TTFN

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RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I was pigeon holed for 5 years, asked for and got a change. Now I'm in a different, pigeonholed, role and like it.

Cheers

Greg Locock

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RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

If you're a generalist at a small company, you don't have anyone else to ask when you don't know the answer.  You don't have the prestige that comes with a larger company, probably don't have as many opportunities to do technical papers, get involved in technical societies, etc.  If you go looking for a new job, you're not an "expert" at anything in particular, so harder to sell yourself.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

Jstephen, my experience wouldn't necessarily agree with you.

At my small company we did have a dedicated stress guy who was very good, which covered the majority of our analysis needs.

Also within the small company I specialized to some extent in a certain field (A/C stores) so while from an Engineering point of view I was a generalist, within the field of A/C stores, weapons integration I had some very marketable somewhat specialist skills (sadly not in the US till I get citizenship!)

If we didn't know we tried to find out, if we couldn't find out we'd hire a consultant or other external party but, importantly we'd try and learn it from them so that next time we could try and do it our selves.

As such I'm tempted to say I learnt more than I would have if we did have a specialist.  For instance I actually did relatively little stress analysis because we had a dedicated stress guy, I now regret this.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

You can also be pigeonholed in small companies. In my two different companies, I was always in maintenance and industrial engineering field (total >9years). I had some incursions in HSE and quality but as cummulative functions. Now that I am finishing my contract, I do hope to change completely my functions, not because I am fed up, but more for intelectual and professional development. I believe that my personality is more towards a generalist than a specialist.
The problem is that is difficult that companies value experience in a completely different field, so if I really want to change I must expect a income cut, at least for the first year(s).
As some already pointed out, it all goes with your personality. Some like to do the same work for years, others like to try different things everyday.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

My career has been within the very small <20 people to medium <1000 size companies and I would say that I specialize in general problem solving.  At any one time I am involved in evaluating components, troubleshooting products, training operators, designing build/test equipment, and being part of new product projects.  Overall I would say that I enjoy what I do and if I were to be pigeon holed, it would likely to be from a career promotion level.  If you end up being too valuable in your current position you are likely to stay there quite a while (as others have already pointed out).

Regards,

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I think the REAL pigeonhole would be being a generalist in a large company but not good enough for senior management. These people usually get the least exciting jobs.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

epoisses, I've rarely seen technical people in senior management and even rarer specialists.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

Early on in your career it is good to have generalist jobs so that you get a broad perspective of the industry and also have the opportunity to figure out where your interest lies.

Later on in your career, specialising makes more sense. Particularly in an area that you find interesting.

Specialists often tend to earn a little more, but have fewer opportunities for employment.

That said, if you had good general experience at the beginning of your career, you should be able to switch specialties if you wish to.

csd

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

Actually I have seen people take over departments that them selves have no experience in, but take it anyway to get the feather in their cap.  My wife is going thru that right now.  She has a manager that came from another company to run her department, but he has a different back ground speciaizing in somthing else except for the department he is running.  A while back I was part of a group made up of RF Electricals and Mechanicals and the manger was a physics.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

Maybe this has been written in previous threads but here it goes.  I've seen variations of this also.

Specialists are ones who learn more and more about less and less and eventually end up knowing everything about nothing.

Generalists are ones who learn less and less about more and more and eventually end up knowing nothing about everything.

Version I know:
Specialist = Structural Engineers
Generalist = Architects

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I had the opposite experience that you had.

At one of the largest EPCM companies in the world, I had an opportunity to move from role to role, and department to department - because they had resources to cycle people through the various roles and position.

At a smaller company, although you may do "everything", my experience is that most small companies only do one or two things. So while you may be doing project management, piping, cadding and procurement, you may be doing it on the same little well tie-in project over and over because that is all the small company does.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
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RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

While being an expert is sometimes rewarding, note that when times are hard, a company is often more willing to get rid of the specialist in favor of someone who can wear multiple hats.

TTFN

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RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I have a job that was created for me and that grew around my particular skill set.  I love having my little niche.  I like expanding my knowledge about what I consider relevant to my little niche.  It's very satisfying.

It also makes job-hunting rather difficult if not impossible.

Hg

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RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I'm reminded of a book (Guns, Germs and Steel, if my memory serves) where the author described a well-known sculptor who still planted his own crops so he could eat.  Specialization, in general, allows people to spend more time working to their strengths and less time on tasks they do poorly at, which should make everyone more productive.  However, it can easily turn dull and may not fit your personality.  

I work for a small company of ~200 people with 8 engineers.  I wear a lot of hats and some days find myself doing little that is actually tied to my major (metallurgy).  Like others have said, you get to do a lot of different things but you have to do a lot of things you don't particularly enjoy (true of most positions I imagine).  

I would think (and this may be terribly naive) that being a specialist would earn you more money in the short term, but being a generalist would help advance your career more (depending on your career goals).  But if corporate advancement is your goal I'm not sure going from a large company to a much smaller one is the right idea (which wasn't the question of the original poster).

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

Sure, from a management perspective, Zenger-Miller management courses not withstanding, someone who has a broader range of multidisciplinary experience ought to get the better management and IPT positions, since he's more likely to understand and deal with problems from a larger variety of people.

TTFN

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RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

To the OP, I work in a very small firm (<20 employees) and do have a wide variety of projects to work on. As noted by others, this is both good and bad over an extended period.

As for specialising, the senior engineers have specialties, in terms of project type, but nobody is specialised to the extent of doing a single part of any project. With the exception of drafting (sometimes), the odd large project and checking (always), one person handles the entire job from start to finish.

I would suggest any starting civil/structural who thinks they can hack it try to start with a smaller firm. Just be warned that unlike many large firms, there often is no shallow end.

RE: Specialist vs. Generalist

I agree with Asher,

I work as the only engineer at my manufacturing facility, the majority of my work is focused in one area, so I would say I am more specialized at one aspect of my job. Although I do just about everything, new product development, updating the CAD drawings and files, searching for new suppliers, improving the painting process...ect...(I have even cleaned...)

but I mainly do structural analysis and design, considering welds, different materials, how many bolts for a connection, ect...

I love the small company atmospher and learning a ton, but like I have posted on other threads, its anoying not having any engineers to ask for help.

Mainly I would assume that it depends on alot of factors, your boss, the company, your life style, the product...

Regards
JD

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