#thegeneralist

#thegeneralist

Put your thinking cap on ‘cause we’re entering the age of the “generalist.” Budgets are tight, projects are multi-disciplinary, and technology is evolving - forcing many companies to ask their employees to stretch their wings.  Job descriptions are getting longer and longer, combining departments, and asking for more than many are prepared to take on. Say goodbye to the Specialist, and hello to the Jack-of-all-trades worker.

  “Meaning that where you fall on the spectrum of specialist to generalist could be one of the most important aspects of your personality—and your survival in an ever-changing workplace.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2012/07/10/the-secret-power-of-the-generalist-and-how-theyll-rule-the-future/

  “Companies are hiring more free agents than ever before because they save money and acquire niche expertise to solve specific business problems. This is different from full-time salaried workers who get benefits and are generalists in their fields. In 2009, companies hired 28% more freelancers, and now in 2012, they are hiring 36% more, reports CareerBuilder.”
http://business.time.com/2012/02/17/the-end-of-the-full-time-salaried-job/

  “For various reasons, though, the specialist era is waning. The future may belong to the generalist. Why's that? To begin, our highly interconnected and global economy means that seemingly unrelated developments can affect each other.”

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/06/all_hail_the_generalist.html

  “My prediction is that the number of “permanent employees” will be dramatically reduced.  Those who remain permanent employees will be general managers or project managers who will source the right skills at the right time – externally or internally – to drive their companies forward.  This would be a vast improvement over the never-ending re-organizations we see today.”

http://lauramccracken.wordpress.com/tag/generalist-vs-specialist/

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