But why is it perceived as "better" to become an expert in one field than to become employably and/or enjoyably competent in a number of different fields? It depends on perspective. I am considered 'an excellent temp' (no, really, I have bits of paper saying so ;-)) because I did bitzer jobs for so many years. I can be hired out to cover legal, medical, jargon-filled obscure university or hospital departments, whatever. No help in getting a permanent position in such areas (nor would I want to, really, I don't want to be a secretary/administrator long-term) but excellent from the POV of the agency and from my POV long-term decent contracts with a bit of meat to them were a lot better than random typing jobs that didn't last more than a week. From that perspective, playing was definitely better than winning. Being a graduate with no actual experience or very specifically-targetted experience is definitely not better than being a qualifications-not-necessary-because-of-experience all-rounder when it comes to staying in work in a shifting market. But that does rely on the employed person being willing to take on the 'temp' role, which isn't the most rewarded or status-filled job in the world. But I was considerably less bored in (most) 'temp' jobs than in two of my three most recent 'permanent' jobs. (Why they were not permanent is another issue entirely. The pleasant one could have been a jobforlife and I still kick myself occasionally for leaving, but it was a greener-grass thing...)
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Date: 2004-08-24 11:38 am (UTC)It depends on perspective. I am considered 'an excellent temp' (no, really, I have bits of paper saying so ;-)) because I did bitzer jobs for so many years. I can be hired out to cover legal, medical, jargon-filled obscure university or hospital departments, whatever. No help in getting a permanent position in such areas (nor would I want to, really, I don't want to be a secretary/administrator long-term) but excellent from the POV of the agency and from my POV long-term decent contracts with a bit of meat to them were a lot better than random typing jobs that didn't last more than a week. From that perspective, playing was definitely better than winning. Being a graduate with no actual experience or very specifically-targetted experience is definitely not better than being a qualifications-not-necessary-because-of-experience all-rounder when it comes to staying in work in a shifting market. But that does rely on the employed person being willing to take on the 'temp' role, which isn't the most rewarded or status-filled job in the world. But I was considerably less bored in (most) 'temp' jobs than in two of my three most recent 'permanent' jobs. (Why they were not permanent is another issue entirely. The pleasant one could have been a jobforlife and I still kick myself occasionally for leaving, but it was a greener-grass thing...)