Career choices while working on multiple technology stacks

Question

I'm working for a company in their R&D department. Its not particularly R&D but we have to work on product as per requirements from the partners.

My work is related to integration of security features into the product. But this is not the only work I do. Just to give an idea of work I've done or working on: (I'm writing it so that the problem is clearer)

1. Security Feature:
   • C programming, bash, Powershell, Linux Server Security, Windows Server Security, TPM
   • Writing Product Specification, Team Engagement etc.
2. Web-Devlopment:
   • Php, JavaScript, Web-Framework (Laravel), HTML, CSS, Web-Services
   • Writing Product Specification, Team Engagement, Partner Engagement.
3. DevOps
   • Internal SDLC improvement, Jenkins, Groovy, Ant, Maven etc.
   • Help or teach others colleague about new processes.

I've achieved results in all of the above projects and the partners are seeing the differences.

But with time I have gotten to know that I actually know nothing or in other words I'm expert at nothing. Searching a job is getting difficult for me as I do not know where I fit. It is like if any task is given to me and provided adequate time I can do it (of-course not like some space-science). I cannot say this in interviews and this does not define my career as I need to be more specific related to technology I'm working with. Also, companies need specific skills to develop things quickly (that's what I think).

I'm confused how should I go with my career concerning above tasks I've worked on. I'm slowly loosing my confidence because of this.

I want to leave the company because of being under-paid. Also, management is very unskilled and putting an effort to explain them everything is exhausting me.

Answer 1

Searching a job is getting difficult for me as I do not know where I fit.

Create different resumes for each type of role

A resume is a marketing document. It does not need to be comprehensive, balanced to how you spent your time, or really anything beyond factual in some way. So if you apply for a Devops job, use Devops bullet points. If you apply for a security job, use security bullet points.

Then start applying and see what you get.

Answer 2

You seems to be a problemsolver with a broad skillset. I have by purpose ensured I have aquiered a broad skillset as a career move, don’t sell yourself short. I am currently working as a software architect and team lead for 10 people. So don’t be afraid of not being specialised, use it as a career tool and seek more senior positions.

Also, when I am advicing on requitment I will recomend broader candidates more highly.

I work in a consultancy firm, for us it is much easier to employ a broad person as that will allow use to be more flexible on which assignments we assign them.

Answer 3

The specific competences you have listed may indeed be challenging to take substantial advantage of in the same context, in the same role in a workplace. I think, to some extent, you had expended energies in a fashion of competing with yourself.

Nevertheless, I believe, the answer addressing situations comparable to yours could be introducing the concept of the "person with T-shaped skills".

The metaphor is that the top, horizontal line of the T represents your broad, interdisciplinary knowledge, while the vertical line represents a topic in which you have amassed a deeper level of competence.

The question is not any more about specialists vs generalists; rather, it's about people who manage to blend the two successfully.

Being effective in a broad range of subjects may be very welcome; but you need to find the right environment that benefits from it most, thus, appreciates it.

A quote from the above linked Wikipedia article:

The term T-shaped skills is also common in the agile software development world and refers to the need for cross-skilled developers and testers in an agile team, e.g. a scrum team.

That points at smaller teams, perhaps even in companies that have not grown large enough yet to create departments for all the involved disciplines.

With that said, you still need to pick out one of the disciplines (tech) that you are most interested in, and / or where you see the quickest chance to build up a level of expertise that could come close to match the one of specialists'; and then you need to work towards getting on that level.

Perhaps that goal is not even too far.

That will make things easier.

Answer 4

under-paid

Leave and get a new job.

management is very unskilled / etc ...

Almost every "first job" is rubbish. There are endless questions about it on here. "My first job is rubbish, what should I do?" Take the money, work hard, and get your second job.

(The "mix" of things you have to do is totally unremarkable and normal.)