"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
~Robert A. Heinlein That said, from a career stand point I have no idea, I just love Heinlein. :) Adrian On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 6:42 PM, John Navarro <[email protected]> wrote: > I agree, it depends. I've spent the last 10 years specializing in firewalls > and it was an ok gig, but it stops being challenging or interesting > eventually (depending on where you work and the responsibilities) . Now I've > done a LOT of other things, and been involved in a lot of other aspects of > security, but it was hard to break away from that "firewall guy" mentality. > If you're specialized, sometimes managers will only see you as capable of > doing that one thing, and will try to keep you in that role because they > feel nobody else can fill it. At least that's been my experience...but now I > do forensic analysis of devorak keyboards for AS/400 systems > emulating Apple IIc systems! (j/k) > > > On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Michael Douglas <[email protected]>wrote: > >> It all depends on what sort of a career you want to have. If you want >> to find a job pretty easily and have a great variety in what your >> day-to-day gig looks like, I think being a generalist is a valid >> option. However, if you have the inclination and want to focus on >> just one aspect of InfoSec you can do that too. Be sure to checkout >> what your local market will pay for each. Sometimes specializing can >> be very lucrative, unless perhaps you're focusing on something too >> niche (forensic analysis of devorak keyboards for AS/400 systems >> emulating Apple IIc systems). >> >> Also remember, it's only money... you should view your time as far >> more important. If you don't believe in your job and really enjoy or >> find what you're doing interesting, you do need to start looking >> elsewhere. Do NOT become a cow-orker. We (geeks) make very poor >> sheeple. >> >> <rant> >> If you really want to get me frothy in the mouth start saying stuff >> like "jack of all trades, master of none". Why? It's a LIE. >> Assuming no cognitive impermanent or organic brain damage, one can >> become really good at any number of computer based skills. I honestly >> believe the idea that someone HAS to focus on just one thing is a >> misguided "truth" perpetuated by those who are lacking skills >> themselves. (also bear in mind two things -- first I'm not professing >> to be a general know-it-all for computer stuff. Second, I've had too >> much caffeine. Again. So this answer should be read as 30% less >> ranty) >> </rant> >> >> Maybe we should have an InfoSec career round-table on the show >> sometime soon. Any votes on this? If you like the idea, please send >> some questions our way! >> >> - Mick >> >> >> On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 10:52 AM, Robert >> Portvliet<[email protected]> wrote: >> > What do you guys think of this article? >> > >> > http://darkreading.com/blog/archives/2009/08/specialization.html >> > >> > Do you feel it's better to study different areas of infosec (incident >> > handling AND penetration testing, for instance) or do you think it's >> > best to pick one area & focus all your efforts on learning everything >> > you can about it? >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Pauldotcom mailing list >> > [email protected] >> > http://mail.pauldotcom.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pauldotcom >> > Main Web Site: http://pauldotcom.com >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> Pauldotcom mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.pauldotcom.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pauldotcom >> Main Web Site: http://pauldotcom.com >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Pauldotcom mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.pauldotcom.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pauldotcom > Main Web Site: http://pauldotcom.com >
_______________________________________________ Pauldotcom mailing list [email protected] http://mail.pauldotcom.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pauldotcom Main Web Site: http://pauldotcom.com
