Ask HN: What job can a “jack of all trades” look for?

Article summary

The author is looking for a new job after 7 years at a small company, where they have gained experience in many areas, including development, server admin, and project management. They are looking for a role that utilizes their generalist skills, but are unsure what job title to look for. The author is concerned that they may not be a master in any one area, but are proficient in many. They are seeking advice on what roles would be a good fit for someone with their skillset.

Main themes

• job search
• generalist skills
• career development
• small companies
• role uncertainty

What commenters say

• Smaller companies need generalists more than big ones do, and they can be a good fit for someone with a broad skillset.
• Large companies like Google also hire generalists, but they often look for people with strong programming fundamentals who can quickly become productive in many areas.
• Some companies have formal training programs for engineers to pivot into product management, but others may require job hopping or self-directed learning.
• Product management can be a good role for generalists, as it involves working with many different teams and stakeholders, but it may require strong communication and people skills.
• Consulting and technical sales engineering can also be good fits for generalists, as they require a broad range of technical skills and the ability to work with many different clients and teams.
• Some argue that generalists may not be a good fit for large companies, as they may not sufficiently fit into any given box or role.
• Others suggest that generalists can be valuable in large companies, but may need to be hired at a certain level or grow into a role over time.