IT professionals typically decide whether to become generalists or specialists early in their careers. Either of these career paths can be successful, but there are notable differences between the two. Whether you’re hiring for your company or looking to outsource critical IT tasks, take some time now to understand and appreciate the subtle distinctions between these types of professionals in the IT support tools they provide.
What’s the Difference?
Tech generalists understand the basics of a lot of different areas of IT. Tech specialists, meanwhile, develop a deep understanding of one or two related topics. In layman’s terms, generalists go “an inch deep, a mile wide,” while specialists go “an inch wide, a mile deep.” Tech specialists may choose to focus on virtually any area, from the troubleshooting of a specific remote access software program to database administration.
Which Option is “Best” for Your Company?
Obviously, the answer depends on your company’s skill deficits, needs, and opportunities. But the world of IT has a place for both generalists and specialists. Small and medium-sized businesses tend to need fewer tech support tools and personnel, and thus they are more likely to hire generalists. In many cases, these businesses ask their generalists to handle tasks outside the scope of IT, such as maintaining the business’s phone or electrical systems. Large businesses, on the other hand, require a larger support staff, and they are more likely to hire specialists.
Generalists may be qualified for a larger number of positions within your company or division and may be fruitfully employed to handle responsibilities only marginally related to IT. They can also be cheaper to employ. However, you may need to rely on supplemental remote support solutions for more thorough analysis of an IT issue. Specialists, meanwhile, can be pricier to employ (or outsource), but they can probe deeper and get more creative on specific tasks.
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