I’ve often wondered if being a generalist is a good or bad thing. I guess I’m still not sure to be honest. I know it has its positives and negatives but because I’m a generalist it does leave me wondering what could be in store for me as I don’t really have a clear-cut career path.
My undergraduate degrees have been in psychology and commerce, and as part of my graduate program I completed a masters degree relevant to my graduate job’s field. I worked in one industry and then decided to take a risk and work in another that I knew nothing about!
I am getting to better understand that having more confidence in my skills is the key. It doesn’t matter if I am a generalist or if I was a specialist. Believing in my past experience and education is what really matters. It allows me to better relax and focus on what I’m doing.
Remember, your early career is also an opportunity to try out different roles and industries. You might find that over time you really enjoy a particular subject area or role and want to specialise in that field afterall. Just know it will never be too late to do something you enjoy, so don’t put pressure on yourself thinking you need to find your speciality now.
Genuinely not doubting and comparing yourself to others is also important as it sets out a solid base for how you approach your job. Your attitude comes from your inner beliefs and it establishes how you will allow others to treat you and think about you.
I have experienced being comfortable in a role and not wanting to change for fear of not being able to do another role in another organisation. It’s a crippling feeling and has made me stay in a role for more than I’d like.
Having taken that leap from one industry to another that was completely new was scary but it helped with my confidence levels. I saw that I was able to apply my skills in a completely different setting and do so successfully. This made me even more motivated and the better I worked, the more I was recognised and the more opportunities I was given, and so the cycle continued.
Taking on small projects outside of my full-time job has also helped me to take steps towards feeling more confident in my knowledge and skills by gaining more of both, and seeing how I can apply what I already know. So, having belief in yourself is essential. It influences how you will set out and tackle new challenges. Your motivation and eagerness to do good work will not go unnoticed. Keep going and keep believing in what you have to offer. Your superiors want to see you do well – if anything to do a good job for them! So don’t be your own worst enemy. Believe in what you can do.
