Which path is more marketable in long term- a generalist or a specialist? If moving in house, should I aim a more general role or focus on a special role like privacy, product etc? thanks

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I’ve never had an issue finding roles as a specialist with generalist capabilities. For reference, I specialized in healthcare/life sciences but did corporate/regulatory/transactional. So I’ve done regular corporate/ M&A, commercial contracts, and regulatory compliance. I lateraled twice at firms and it took about 2 weeks to find a better role both times, and I’ve been at two in house roles and each time took about 2 months from starting to offers.

Edit: I’m product counsel in pharma but am also Privacy Officer for reference.

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Thanks for sharing your experience

I remember someone once saying the best profile is to be a specialist who can talk generalist. A specialist is generally someone who is hard to replace, though one wouldn't want to possess tunnel vision. Being generally aware so you can spot other issues matters a lot.

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That’s a good way to describe it

Long-term marketability depends on career stage. Early to mid-career, being a generalist is usually more marketable and safer for a first in-house move because companies value flexibility. Mid to late career, a well-chosen specialty (e.g., privacy or product) can increase value but narrows options. I say the safest approach is to start in a generalist role with some focus, then specialize gradually over time.

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Sounds a good strategy

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