All-rounder or specialist - what type am I?

Are you multi-talented or skilled in one particular field? Is it better to be an all-rounder in your career, or will in-depth expert knowledge ultimately put you ahead of the rest? All-rounder or specialist: What are the differences and how would you categorise yourself? We hope you'll have a better idea of this after reading our post!

All-rounder vs. specialist: What are the pros and cons?

Are you interested in multiple fields with very broad knowledge and many skills? Then you're probably an all-rounder. Specialists, on the other hand, deepen their skills in one area of expertise and are absolute experts in their niche. Jack-of-all-trades or specialist - who has better chances on the job market, in job interviews and on the career ladder? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an all-rounder or a specialist?

All-rounders: capable of everything and nothing all at once?

Multi-talented, all-rounder, jack-of-all-trades - these words are used to describe a person with generalised skills. In fact, all-rounders have a very broad knowledge base and can therefore take on a wide variety of tasks in the company and be deployed in different areas. However, it may unfortunately also be the case that some tasks require more in-depth skills than you have at your disposal. Are you an all-rounder? Then you're probably familiar with the typical advantages and disadvantages of your profession.

Specialists: boffins or highly sought-after?

Specialists often have a reputation for being loners who aren't particularly interested in their surroundings and have their noses stuck in technical journals. But this is just the cliché, of course. A specialist is not necessarily always an introverted nerd. Due to the acute shortage of skilled workers, specialists are more in-demand than ever in some fields. Are you perfecting a professional specialisation? Here are some advantages and disadvantages.

All-rounders or specialists: Who has the most success?

There is no real generalised answer to this question! In addition to education and qualifications, your personality, willingness to learn and ambition are also key. Furthermore, your chances always depend on the respective industry and company structures. Basically, it's fair to say that specialists are particularly in-demand in large companies. The larger your team or department, the more specialised the respective positions and fields of activity are. All-rounders, on the other hand, can gain brownie points with their broad knowledge in small or medium-sized companies. Adaptable all-rounders with a wide range of knowledge are also in high demand on the start-up scene. But all-rounders are also able to impress with their skills in management positions, by leading a team of specialists. All-rounders are often found in humanities or social science professions and specialists in scientific or technical fields.

All-rounders and specialists can't be pigeonholed - nothing is black or white! Staff managers often want to employ all-rounders who have one or two fields of specialisation in which they are particularly well-versed. On the other hand, specialists should also have generalised basic competencies and communication skills. Whether you are an all-rounder or a specialist, the most important thing is to be open-minded and able to adapt to circumstances.

So who gets the job, the all-rounder or the specialist?

Of course, there's no straightforward answer to this question either. In modern life, the world of work is experiencing rapid changes. To keep up with these, we will inevitably have to specialise in certain fields. Unfortunately, purely superficial knowledge of numerous disciplines is often not enough. Nevertheless, even now companies are looking for all-rounders who are up to speed and can quickly get to grips with interrelationships. All-rounders can also adapt more quickly to different roles and circumstances - and switch between leadership responsibility, project work and teamwork, for example.

Are all-rounders the more popular employees?

Studies have shown that all-rounders are actually preferred by recruiters, even though another candidate would be a more specialised fit for a job profile. The reason for this is because they have varied CVs. As a specialist, though, you can also impress with your expertise and have chances at jobs for which all-rounders are completely unsuitable. The position and the fields of responsibility of specialists are usually very clearly defined. Sometimes only an expert will do! In the same way, it's obvious that the higher up the career ladder you climb, the more important your specialisation is.

Conclusion: there are advantages and disadvantages to both all-rounders and specialists, and opportunities for each role on the job market. Furthermore, all-rounders are more than able to acquire specialised knowledge, just as specialists can branch out into other fields. Our advice, therefore, is to remain flexible and open to change in the working world.

Regardless of whether you are an all-rounder or a specialist, at JobTeaser, there is a large selection of jobs for every type of job. Simply register on our platform, create a profile and apply!