ASK HR: Tell me, what is wrong with being a Jack of all trades?

Q. My course mates think that multiple skills water down one’s performance at a job. They say that it is more advisable to specialise in one thing and be extremely good at it. I possess multiple skills that are all applicable at my place of work, but my colleagues tease me and call me a Jack of all trades. I thought my skills were an asset, but now I am not so sure. Please advise me.

Your peers’ opinion seems to have shaken your view that possessing multiple skills is an asset. Possessing many skills is indeed an advantage as it lends you the dexterity to grasp a greater variety of opportunities at the workplace.

In any event, most jobs demand not one, but a set of skills. It is useful, however, to distinguish the possession of multiple skills from the pursuit of multiple trades. Attempting to pursue every trade would either be impractical or have obvious drawbacks, one of which is lack of the focus needed to succeed in any of the attempted professions.

While the issue of being adaptable at work has its place, it is more important to consider the career you desire to pursue as this will help you clarify which set of skills you need to hone the most.

Candid feedback from others, examining your interest and ability are some elements to keep in mind as you contemplate suitable career choices.

At this early stage when you are still pursuing your studies, take advantage of internships to practically experience the workplace. Internships are crucibles in which you subject the substance of your career aspirations to the heat of actual experience and everyday realities of work. They also offer opportunities to acquire the taste of entirely new career interests.

Along the journey of your career, you will need varied sets of skills. The skills you possess today are therefore not in vain as they may come in handy in future.

Bear in mind that success in your career will neither emanate from possessing varied sets of skills nor focusing on one set of skills. It will depend on how and to what effect you deploy them at the workplace.

Your skills are as good as their impact.