Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Swampfox10mm]

Would you consider the phrase, "Jack of all trades, master of none" to be a negative or a positive way to describe someone?

[r122925]

jack of all trades = positive

adding "master of none" makes it negative. At least I wouldn't be very happy if someone said that about me.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[koreatimes]

Dabble or specialize. Depends which you want to be associated with.

[shifty]

There is many a medical doctor who would remain general practitioner, rather than taking the specialist route.

Would you resent the idea of being addressed as doctor??

If you do, I'd hazard a guess that you're in some kind of minority.

[World Traveler]

Specialization is better.

우물을 파도 한 우물을 파라

[silkhighway]

Speaking of someone who suits this phrase, it's definitely better to have a specialization in the modern economy.

[littlelisa]

I think in the modern economy, specialization is more useful/commonly wanted, but I don't think it is inherently a bad thing to be a jack of all trades (even with the caveat of master of none, though a jack of all trades is not always master of none). A more positive way of putting it is a renaissance man. It's good to be versatile, but now mostly jobs want you to specialize in something. Though I think in education, especially with kids, versatility is a huge plus. I suppose ultimately it depends on the job.

[I'm With You]

[ttompatz]

Can you be a jack of many trades and master at a couple?

Certainly has worked for me and a few others whom I know.

I think that the current trend toward specialization is not necessarily a good thing. There is a lot to be said for a broad base and the wider understanding that goes along with it.

Of course there are exceptions, I wouldn't want a GP doing brain surgery on my daughter but it is nice to have that wise old GP with his broad base of knowledge, experience and a modicum of common sense when she gets sick.

.

[isitts]

[litebear]

Probably quite insulting to a lion tamer. Then again probably a compliment to a prostitute

[littlelisa]

[Cacille]

I think being a jack of all trades is great when you're in the construction business. Customers, in my experience, like people who have an allover knowledge of how to fix a house, that way they only need to call one or two people total to do about anything in their house. Personally, I'm not a jack of all trades, I specialize in anything painting, but I can also add some decorating and very minor carpentry, electrical, and plumbing to my list of stuff I can do for people just from past experience in my own places. It also helps that I've worked for a major big-box retailer for 8 years. I learned a little of absolutely everything to do with home repair. Customers tend to call me back for my specialization, and know that I also know people in other sectors of home repair that may help them with other stuff.

[young_clinton]