The Great Debate: Specialising vs. Remaining a Generalist in the Civil Engineering Sector

The Great Debate: Specialising vs. Remaining a Generalist in the Civil Engineering Sector

It is a question we are often faced with when speaking with candidates in the engineering sector, should you remain a generalist or look to specialise within the civil discipline?

Whether it is specialising in three waters, residential, commercial, infrastructure, or any other focused area of expertise, the decision can be crucial. Both paths offer unique advantages and challenges, and understanding these can help you make an informed decision about your career trajectory.

As outlined below, when taken into consideration and taking steps to ensure you gather the right experience early in your career, it will pay dividends in a number of years. You will see salaries reflect your expertise with the companies that suit your experience. The benefits for both paths are relatively clear to see; it is the challenges that are important to consider.

Benefits of Specialisation:

Expertise and Skill Development: Specialising enables you to develop a deep understanding and advanced skills in your chosen project type. This can make you a valuable asset on complex projects that require specific knowledge, making you increasingly relied on by your company.

Career Advancement and Increased Appeal from Certain Companies: Depending on where you specialise, specific candidates hold more appeal, if you are aiming for multinational tier-one organisations, the more infrastructure experience you have built the more attractive you will become and overall are more likely to have the specialist positions.

Professional Recognition: Being an expert in a particular area can lead to professional recognition and credibility. You might be called upon for your insights, opening leadership doors as you are relied upon to guide more junior staff with your focused experience, or asked to lead critical projects sooner.

Downsides of Specialisation:

Limited Flexibility: Specialising could limit your opportunities with certain companies that prefer those who sit more as generalists. If the market demand shifts, you might find fewer opportunities in your area of expertise.

Transitioning Back to Generalist: Deciding down the line to return to being a generalist proves more difficult as you have not continued to build as much experience in other project types as would be the case if you remained a generalist.

Narrow Focus: While deep expertise is valuable, it can sometimes limit your ability to contribute to projects that require a broader understanding of various disciplines. If you enjoy working on a wide variety of projects and contributing at every stage, remaining a generalist should be preferred

Benefits of Being a Generalist:

Versatility and Flexibility: Generalists can adapt to various roles and projects, providing greater job security. When the market changes and speciality demand decreases, you are less affected by this and are able to pivot.

Can Eventually Specialise: If at some point down the line, you change your mind and want to specialise, while still not ideal, this is easier than the reversed scenario as you have likely continued to build experience in the field, you wish to specialise.

Career Opportunities: Being a generalist opens up diverse job opportunities and career paths with generalist companies. You can transition between diverse types of projects and roles with ease and if moving into project management is the goal, this is most straightforward from a generalist path.

Downsides of Being a Generalist:

Competitive Disadvantage: In specialised fields, generalists might face stiff competition from specialists who possess deeper knowledge and skills. If entering a process with a company that may hold a particular speciality, you will naturally face a challenge being the successful candidate over other applicants with speciality experience in the area.

Potential for Lower Earnings: As in most industries, when in demand, niche roles that require specialist knowledge command higher salaries. This is especially true from the senior level upward.

Skill Depth: While generalists have broad knowledge, it is more difficult to develop deep expertise in certain areas that are required for certain complex and specific projects. This could be detrimental when looking for a role with the larger firms who tend to create speciality positions and are less inclined by generalist knowledge.

Personal interest: This is down to personal preference. If you are particularly interested in specific project types, you cannot focus entirely on those projects as a generalist.

Specialisation and generalisation both have their merits and challenges. The right path for you depends on your career goals, interests, and industry trends. Specialising can lead to higher earnings and recognition in a specific field, while being a generalist offers versatility and adaptability.

Reflect on what drives you and where you see the most opportunity for growth and satisfaction in your career. The civil engineering landscape is ever evolving, and the best approach is one that aligns with your personal and professional aspirations.

As a last reminder, one thing to keep in mind is to ensure that when accepting a new role, you are aware of whether the role will lead you to specialising through the nature of the work provided. I have spoken to a number of engineers who did not intend to specialise but found themselves roles that gave them little choice due to the nature of the work provided. Inquire about the organisations project pipeline and make it clear what type of projects you want to work on and how you see your experience progressing.