Being a jack of all trades in the tech space has its benefits. These benefits are of great importance to startup tech companies because they reduce costs by using one developer to service many job roles. This is dangerous, especially to beginners.
Programming languages like Python makes it very easy for one to become a citizen of the jack of all trades empire. Without discipline and proper guidance, it's very easy to become a regular citizen in the empire; knowing a bit of everything but mastering none. Today you're learning web development, tomorrow it's Data Science, and the day after that Blockchain Development. You get tossed around by the wind with no direction and identity.
My best scene in the Silicon Valley Series was when Gilfoyle, Dinesh, and Big Head was interviewed by Gerrard about their value to the company. Big Head couldn't answer because he was a jack of all trades and master of none.
Knowing a bit of everything is awesome but one must master a particular area in-depth to be able to give 100% value. A full-stack developer has less frontend knowledge compared to a dedicated frontend developer and it's the same on the backend side. The full-stack is good because it's somehow like a single unit (web development).
I am speaking from my own experience. I've been in tech (I've been coding rather lol) for 7yrs, jumping from one area of interest to the other without gaining mastery. The end is I have not landed a tech job till now. So I am not trying to discourage anyone. Just sharing my experience so the next beginner will be properly guided.
My advice to beginners (including myself lol):
- Choose your niche.
- Be disciplined (to avoid jack of all trades syndrome).
- Always practice new concepts till they sink in.
- Document your journey.
- Fall in love with Version Control tools like Github
- Don't be afraid to ask questions.
- Always try to answer questions about concepts you know.
- Try to build a good network of like-minded people.
- Even with your limited knowledge you're valuable to someone else.
- Everyone you're looking up to now was once like you.
Thank you for reading. You can also share your experience and advice in the comment section. It may be helpful to someone.