T-shaped Developer
Balancing breadth and depth in a competitive tech landscape
T-shaped Developer
Have you ever looked at a tech job posting and felt overwhelmed by the long list of required skills?
π€― Next time i can expect to see asked for expertise in React, Vue, Angular, Node.js, Python, Ruby, AWS, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, and five different databases β all for a "junior" position!
These impossible job descriptions can make developers feel inadequate. But there's a more strategic approach to skill development that I've embraced: becoming a T-shaped developer.
𧩠What is a T-shaped Developer?
The concept is simple but powerful:
- - The horizontal bar of the T represents breadth of knowledge β a wide range of skills and technologies you're familiar with π
- - The vertical bar represents depth of expertise β the specific areas where you've invested significant time to master π
π My Horizontal Bar: Wide-ranging Technical Knowledge
Over my career, I've gained working knowledge of many technologies. I'm not an expert in all of them, but I understand their principles, have built simple projects, and can have meaningful conversations about:
π My Vertical Bar: Deep Expertise
While having broad knowledge is valuable, true impact comes from deep expertise. I've deliberately focused on mastering a core tech stack:
Next.js π₯
Full-stack applications with SSR, SSG, and API routes
Tailwind CSS π¨
Rapid UI development with utility-first approach
TypeScript π
Type-safe code with enhanced developer experience
Drizzle ORM βΈβΈ
TypeScript-first ORM for databases
I've invested a lot of hours mastering these technologies because:
- - They complement each other perfectly for modern web application development
- - Together they enable me to deliver complete solutions efficiently
- - They represent a stack with growing demand and strong community support
- - Their principles (component-based, type safety, utility CSS) transfer well to other technologies
π Why T-shaped Development Works
Benefits of being T-shaped:
- Marketability β You're both versatile and specialized
- Problem-solving β You can see both forest and trees
- Learning efficiency β You know where to focus your energy
- Career resilience β You're adaptable yet have a unique value proposition
Rather than stressing about those impossible job descriptions, I've embraced being T-shaped. When I see a post asking for 20 different technologies, I can confidently say: "I'm an expert in these specific areas, and I have working knowledge of many others β plus the ability to learn what I need."
π§ How to Develop Your Own T-shape
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the breadth of technologies out there:
- Map your current shape β Honestly assess your breadth and depth
- Choose a vertical to focus on β Pick complementary technologies with good job prospects
- Build depth through projects β Create increasingly complex applications
- Maintain breadth through exploration β Spend 20% of your learning time on new technologies
- Document your journey β Create a blog (like this one!) to showcase both your expertise and your range
π― Conclusion: Embrace Your Shape
The tech job market can seem to demand impossible combinations of skills, but focusing on becoming T-shaped offers a more realistic and effective approach.
My Next.js + Tailwind + TypeScript + Drizzle vertical bar has served me well, opening doors to interesting projects and opportunities. What's your T-shape?
Need help identifying or developing your own T-shape? Feel free toreach outβ I'm always happy to chat about strategic skill development.