I work at a newspaper and since I've been here (8 years now, I'm 28) I have learned some skills:
* Advertising Design(Print and Online Ads)
* Layout Design
* HTML
* CSS
* Some JS
* PHP
* mysql
* Currently teaching myself Python
* Online Advertising (Booking Campaigns)
I know how to do a lot, I just don't feel like I'm good at any of it. This is where I feel Jack of all trades (master of none) is an insult rather than a compliment.
Like the author I feel that if I apply somewhere else my skill level might not be up to par. It really is frustrating.
I second that emotion. It can happen very easily (well, it did to me) if you're feeling "down" or particularly unsure about the future.
And yet, why would we need to be "Master" of anything?
One thing struck me in Hery's post: He did things. He accomplished. And many of these things he seemed to enjoy doing. How many of us here, with our fancy degrees and self-taught knowledge have lots of projects "on the side", always thinking "I'll do it when I got time" but never actually DOING anything? Like kids in front of a box full of LEGO, rummaging through the pieces, putting two of them together then going through it again,... In this age full of distractions (let's look at your reddit karma again, and are you sure your inbox is empty? maybe someone tweeted something interesting in the last five minutes), the value of your knowledge ain't "jack", your value as a developer lies in what you can accomplish.
Don't mind the bullshit job offers asking your for "ten years in java, 20 years in ruby and 50 years in BASIC (knowledge of COBOL a plus)", most companies would KILL to have someone as devoted (and versatile) as you.
Comments
I am facing a similar problem as the author.
I work at a newspaper and since I've been here (8 years now, I'm 28) I have learned some skills:
* Advertising Design(Print and Online Ads) * Layout Design * HTML * CSS * Some JS * PHP * mysql * Currently teaching myself Python * Online Advertising (Booking Campaigns)
I know how to do a lot, I just don't feel like I'm good at any of it. This is where I feel Jack of all trades (master of none) is an insult rather than a compliment.
Like the author I feel that if I apply somewhere else my skill level might not be up to par. It really is frustrating.
Been there. Maybe this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome
I second that emotion. It can happen very easily (well, it did to me) if you're feeling "down" or particularly unsure about the future.
And yet, why would we need to be "Master" of anything?
One thing struck me in Hery's post: He did things. He accomplished. And many of these things he seemed to enjoy doing. How many of us here, with our fancy degrees and self-taught knowledge have lots of projects "on the side", always thinking "I'll do it when I got time" but never actually DOING anything? Like kids in front of a box full of LEGO, rummaging through the pieces, putting two of them together then going through it again,... In this age full of distractions (let's look at your reddit karma again, and are you sure your inbox is empty? maybe someone tweeted something interesting in the last five minutes), the value of your knowledge ain't "jack", your value as a developer lies in what you can accomplish.
Don't mind the bullshit job offers asking your for "ten years in java, 20 years in ruby and 50 years in BASIC (knowledge of COBOL a plus)", most companies would KILL to have someone as devoted (and versatile) as you.
Keep on!