Why Being a Marketing Generalist Is Career Suicide
And what to do next
If you’re in your first 5 years of marketing, you’re probably wrestling with a big question: Should you go broad and try a bit of everything, or go deep and master one skill?
It’s a decision that can shape your career—and no one warns you how high the stakes are. After diving into data, talking to hiring managers, and analysing hundreds of career paths, we’ve got a clear answer: Specialise early.
Here’s why specialising is your fastest path to getting hired, getting paid, and becoming bloody good at what you do—plus a step-by-step guide to make it happen.
Why Being a Generalist Feels Like the Safe Bet
When you’re just starting out, being a “jack-of-all-trades” marketer seems like the smart move. You might think:
“If I dabble in content, SEO, paid ads, and social, I’ll be more hireable.”
“I’m not sure what I love yet, so I’ll keep my options open.”
“Startups love people who can wear multiple hats, right?”
Here’s the catch: Generalists often lack depth. That “marketing experience” on your resume? It might look like this:
“Ran paid ads” = Boosted one Instagram post.
“Content strategy” = Drafted a blog post in Notion.
“Email marketing” = Sent a Mailchimp campaign that tanked.
On paper, it’s something. In reality? It’s not enough to stand out or deliver results.