Specialise or Generalise

[BlasterBates]

You need to do both. Python is a very useful language. Generally though you need a core skill, with which you need to demonstrate experience, but you need to know all the other stuff at least superficially. My core skill is C++ but I learnt Java and Spring boot because they're popular and hey presto I've been catapulted into a spring boot project. In the last company we used python for scripting. I've been permie for several years but the same principles apply to contractors.

[Whorty]

Mr C has been learning about C and he loves it (the last time he coded was in Fortran).

But vetran says, the time he's spent on most is looking for the right problem to solve with it.

Come on folks, surely I'm not the only one to see the Finbar Saunders link there

Back on topic .... I'm a specialist in my area of business (finance/accounting systems) but a generalist in the skills/role I can perform on a project. As a qualified accountant I could be doing BA work to improve the finance processes, or fixing a specific issue around revenue recognition. Or I could be PMing an implementation of a new/upgraded accounting/finance system, or even dabble in SQL to build finance data marts for reporting with maybe a BI front end.

I get work easily when a finance systems role crops up because there are very few finance systems experts out there. It's a niche. I've built a specialism around the ability to talk double entry to the finance guys, and tech to the geeks.

As such, this role is very hard to offshore or bring in cheap consultants (although the big 4 could trump me, but then I did learn my trade wit hone of them )

[Gibbon]

As a qualified accountant

Does that mean you draw it out with a Parker pen rather than a pencil?

[Whorty]

Does that mean you draw it out with a Parker pen rather than a pencil?

I have many pens, of different colours .... my favourite is my green one

[jamesbrown]

As a contractor, you should be a general know-it-all and specialise in arrogance, aloofness and immodest sneering.

[Whorty]

As a contractor, you should be a general know-it-all and specialise in arrogance, aloofness and immodest sneering.

I'd also add, as a contractor you only need one little bit more knowledge than the person hiring you. And sometimes, that doesn't need to be much knowledge at all

[ladymuck]

Come on folks, surely I'm not the only one to see the Finbar Saunders link there

Back on topic .... I'm a specialist in my area of business (finance/accounting systems) but a generalist in the skills/role I can perform on a project. As a qualified accountant I could be doing BA work to improve the finance processes, or fixing a specific issue around revenue recognition. Or I could be PMing an implementation of a new/upgraded accounting/finance system, or even dabble in SQL to build finance data marts for reporting with maybe a BI front end.

I get work easily when a finance systems role crops up because there are very few finance systems experts out there. It's a niche. I've built a specialism around the ability to talk double entry to the finance guys, and tech to the geeks.

As such, this role is very hard to offshore or bring in cheap consultants (although the big 4 could trump me, but then I did learn my trade wit hone of them )

Now who's channelling the esteemed Finbar?

Being on topic is irrelevant, this is in General.

[ladymuck]

I've specialised in being a generalist.

[Gibbon]

I've specialised in blue eyed blondes

[Gibbon]

I have many pens, of different colours .... my favourite is my green one

Think you missed that one. Its the answer to "what does a accountant do if they're constipated"