The million $$ blindspot

I’ve seen it many times. Misaligned teams. Experts stuck in silos. Good ideas not seeing daylight. Painfully slow change. When these problems compound, money runs out, top talent leaves. Companies die.

Throughout my career, I've seen how generalists naturally solve these problems.

But there's a problem.

Right now, companies are trying to do more with less while racing to keep up with AI and rapid market changes. The old way of having tons of specialists who each handle one thing isn't working anymore–it's too slow and expensive.

In times like this, generalists aren't just nice to haves—they're how you stay ahead.

But I was seeing a deep incongruence. I knew that generalists were valuable, but it seemed companies didn’t. Why aren’t there dedicated spaces for us on your org chart? Why does my growth roadmap look the same as a specialists?

What works for my specialist peers, doesn’t work for me.

And so I set about finding out. We went live with a survey, hoping to understand what (frankly) nobody had bothered to ask before.

What is it like being a generalist in a modern organisation today?

589 generalists responded, and the patterns that emerged, are…loud.

This report will explore:

I want to be transparent—this is not a rigorous research study. This survey is laying the groundwork for a broader State of the Generalist report, and there is much more work to be done.

It tells the story of how people with non-linear paths feel. It is a collection of stories and lived experiences. It’s step 1 (of many) to bringing systemic change in our workplaces; and to advocate for, & recognise, generalist pathways.

As always, screenshot your favourite bits, share them on LinkedIn and tag us @generalistworld. I’ll help amplify you to 10,000s of professionals 🌀

Thank you for being here.

Now let’s get into it,

Milly 🌀

Our 2024 survey reveals a paradox through the eyes of 589 high-performing generalists. We're doing the work of multiple roles, driving innovation, and creating millions in value—yet struggling to get hired or recognized for this impact.

The stories paint a clear picture. While 62% of us effectively perform multiple roles' worth of work, we're often filtered out before a human even sees our application.

It seems having rich, varied experience that doesn't fit into neat little boxes doesn’t bode well with current hiring systems.

As one respondent put it: "I handle what would typically need three different specialists, but I can't get past ATS systems because my career path looks 'scattered' to algorithms."

When we asked generalists about their impact, they told us:

Most of us face the same frustration: traditional hiring systems aren't built to recognize this kind of value. They're designed for linear careers in a world that increasingly needs non-linear thinking.

"I see the fires before they start," one generalist told us. "But no one celebrates the crisis that never happened".

This pattern appeared repeatedly—47% of respondents described preventing major issues before they became costly problems. Yet paradoxically, organisations often only recognise and reward the visible firefighting.

We wanted to know more about the tangible impact of generalists in the workplace and respondents shared these concrete examples:

Patterns emerged about how generalists naturally work, show up, and create value at work:

When we asked generalists about their job search experiences, the frustration was, well, palpable.

The experience paradox

"I've successfully led multiple digital transformations, but I get rejected because I don't have '5 years of experience with Tool X'," one respondent shared.

The irony? Most generalists report learning new systems 3x faster than their specialist counterparts. Yet hiring systems remain fixated on specific years of experience over proven learning ability.

Okayyy, let’s talk about the ATS…

The automated hiring process emerged as a major pain point. Generalists told us:

We found that organisations trying to fill generalist-shaped holes with specialists face expensive consequences:

We asked generalists about their biggest workplace challenges. Their answers reveal how organisations unintentionally stifle their most adaptable talent.

"It feels like being a Swiss Army knife in a world of hammers," one respondent shared. 41% described a fundamental disconnect with leadership.

Traditional mentorship models, built for specialist career paths, leave generalists without guidance. As one put it: "My manager knows how to develop specialists, but doesn't know what to do with someone who connects across departments."

The stories reveal a painful irony: organizations expect generalist impact while providing specialist support.

A telling 35% described this disconnect:

"I felt like a bird in a cage," shared one respondent, capturing a sentiment echoed by 31% of others.

Generalists thrive on flexibility and connection, yet find themselves in organisations designed to maintain silos:

Perhaps most frustratingly, generalists struggle to articulate their unique value (if this is you, Unboxed can help!)

So, yeah, the challenges are clear. But so is the opportunity.

Generalist World started as a (literal) handful of smart generalists like Lucy, Aisling, Sakshi, Adam, Erica and Elyse asking the question: are there more people like us? Where do we fit in the world?

Today our network includes more than 75,000 professionals. It seems, generalists, as lonely as your career has felt—you are certainly not alone.

Organisations face increasingly complex challenges, and your generalist skillset offers exactly what's needed:

In a not-so-distant-future where AI handles specialised tasks, human advantage lies in:

We believe that organisations that embrace generalists don't just perform better—they also become better places to work:

When we started this survey, we wanted to understand why so many talented generalists felt stuck. What we found was bigger: a fundamental mismatch between how modern organisations need to work and how they're set up to work.

The 589 voices tell us: Generalists aren't just "people who do many things"—they're the connective tissue that helps organisations adapt, innovate, and thrive. They're the ones who:

Yet too often, they're filtered out by systems designed for a different era.

The good news? Change is possible. Organizations that embrace generalist talent are building themselves to be more adaptable, innovative, and resilient.

Also, this is not an anti-specialist campaign.

We believe in creating environments where both specialists and generalists can do the best work of their lives, where connection is valued as much as expertise, where prevention matters as much as cure.

This report is just the beginning. The real work starts with recognition followed by action. To do this, we need your help.

The final section is full of ways we can work together.

If this report has sparked something in you, please support us by sharing this on your socials, in your communities, within your circles.

Generalist World exists because people like you share it.

I appreciate your support very much! ❤

Now let’s change the world 🌀

Generalist World creates spaces, community & tools for professionals to build adaptive, fulfilling careers. We believe in “careers flywheels over career ladders” and proudly help over 75,000 generalists find their place in the world.