[IxDA Discuss] FW: Career: Deep vs Broad Experience

[Alan Wexelblat]

I call myself a generalist.  Which means I know next-to-nothing about
everything.  When I speak of my skills to hiring managers I point out
that my expertise is in broadly applicable principles of design and
evaluation.  I show (by examples wherever possible) that I've applied
these principles in areas such as enterprise software, Web
applications and PC desktop development.

No, I don't write code.  I used to, and I speak "geek" fluently.  But
someone who wants a crack AJAX/CSS coder ought not to hire me.  If
they want someone to help that crack AJAX/CSS coder create something
people will find compelling, _that_ is when they should hire me.

I have great respect for people who are focused expert specialists.  I
would never say they were worse than a generalist such as myself.
It's simply the path I've chosen (or been forced, go figure) to take
that I understand a wide variety of industries and apply skills from
all over the IxD spectrum.

Because I don't think one path is better than another I suggest you do
what you love.  I'm a perpetually curious dabbler who always wants to
be learning new things.  "Generalist" suits me and makes me damned
good at what I do.  But that's just me talking about me.  You need to
decide what works for you and then learn how to package and sell that
skill set.

--Alan