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Ask HN: What job can a “jack of all trades” look for?

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Re: Ask HN: What job can a “jack of all trades” look for?

#111

Post by raydev »

czbond wrote: post #81
exterrestrial wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The first acquisition was funded by a loan from my parents for $44K. Thanks for being honest. It might help to put this in the first comment though.

Why? Means little. You can put a $44k deal together, even if you're a college student with no connections. It takes vision, some hustle, and an action plan. You might not think you can, but I sure know many can (including you and others reading this). Most sellers are open to creative deals. No money down, seller financing (this applies to real estate and software).

> even if you're a college student with no connections.

Unless you mean community college, just by virtue of being in college you are exposed to a network of people who have money.

Re: Ask HN: What job can a “jack of all trades” look for?

#112

Post by INTPenis »

Any you can shift your focus to. I don't see a future being a JOAT, especially not if you're transcending vast ecosystems like Windows, Linux or proprietary and open source.

Choose one such ecosystem to focus on, but within that can be many exciting things like Javascript and Python or Rust and Embedded.

Re: Ask HN: What job can a “jack of all trades” look for?

#116

Post by ramsundhar20 »

akcreek wrote: post #51

I have a wide-ranging self-taught skill set as well that I've developed over the last 14 years of running my own businesses. I'll share what I'm doing from a high level as it might not be the most common path. I've been acquiring small but promising businesses that don't have the right team in place to move them forward. I bootstrap them on my own and replace my roles as the business can afford staff. Once enough rol…

Glad to connect. Please do connect via email at ramsundhar20@gmail.com

Re: Ask HN: What job can a “jack of all trades” look for?

#117

Post by raydev »

exterrestrial wrote: post #73
akcreek wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was in college at the time, so student loans kept me afloat. I was definitely not using that money correctly, but I believed I was using it wisely. The first acquisition was funded by a loan from my parents for $44K. That was a large sum for them, but they believed they would see it again and they have always wanted to help my siblings and I in any way possible. It turned out to be one of their better investments a…

>The first acquisition was funded by a loan from my parents for $44K. Thanks for being honest. It might help to put this in the first comment though.

People are really upset with this comment because they think you're implying OP didn't do any work or that OP doesn't deserve it.

It doesn't much matter to me whether OP has "earned" their position of power, only that they had an enormous boost early in their career.

Just because $44k seems like pocket change to some people on this forum doesn't mean it's still an incredible amount of money that offers a fair amount of power on its own.

Re: Ask HN: What job can a “jack of all trades” look for?

#118

Post by yibg »

Put in a bit of a different view point here. I was the generalist a while ago too. Worked at a consulting firm that did custom builds with small teams, so not only did everything technology wise but also interacting with clients. So did part of developer, account management, sales, dev ops etc roles. Also did everything from backend to mobile in different frameworks and environments.

I thought the same, that I was a generalist and I did also enjoy the variety. But a couple of things:

1) while I thought I was proficient in everything I actually wasn’t. When I went to a big company where I focused on a specific area is when I discovered how little I knew about the topic and how shallow my knowledge was.

2) I discovered that I enjoyed diving into a specific area and being a specialist there was also fun. Gave me a different kind of rush and ego boost, knowing I can solve deeper technical problems in a specific area.

3) you can’t be both broad and deep in everything. Best is probably aim for a T shaped skill set.

I guess short version is, maybe give specializing a go. You might discover that it’s both enjoyable and sets you up well professionally.

Re: Ask HN: What job can a “jack of all trades” look for?

#119

Post by globular-toast »

ramsundhar20 wrote: post #115

You are not alone. I am also a big fish of your kind, was living another pond until recently, I started my own business

How do you know what to do? I don't like being a big fish but I have no ideas for my own business.

Re: Ask HN: What job can a “jack of all trades” look for?

#120

Post by golergka »

sgt wrote: post #65
WA wrote: post #31

Make your own software product. Requires to be a jack of all trades. Coding, marketing, writing, customer support, design. Because it's only you, you don't have to feel like "being the smartest person in the room". Downside: Takes quite some time to take off.

Additional downside: may never take off and leave you financially ruined.

Nobody with that skillset in modern labour market can be "ruined" financially. Yes, you may loose all your assets and even get into some debt, but as long as you're capable of working, you won't be really ruined.
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