How can you choose between being a 3D generalist or specialist?

There is one thing that is wrong with this question and that is it assumes a generalist can't be a specialist. I would say that a generalist can be expert in several fields, but is not locked in to one. A specialist is just utilized in one specific area. When it comes to job, then a big company has a very specific workflow where a specialist fits nicely as a cog in the machinery. You that take that job will gain even more knowledge in that specific area...but that's it. A smaller game studio needs "all hands on deck" and here a generalist will thrive. You will gain more knowledge in several topics and become an expert in more than one. If you later would like to work as expert, then you can just select the area you liked the most :).

A 3D generalist is a multi-talented professional capable of managing various facets of the 3D production process, including modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, animation, rendering, and compositing. They embody versatility, adaptability, and creativity, making them well-suited for diverse projects and genres. Additionally, a 3D generalist may possess proficiency in scripting, programming, or game engines to augment their workflow and develop interactive content, further enhancing their capabilities in the field.

Being a 3D generalist initially is a solid foundation for becoming a specialist in your favourite area. Learn all phases of 3D production at a basic to intermediate level first, and then decide what you enjoy doing most, and focus on that - unless you like everything, and can be a one for all tool for a small or medium company.

Make sure to try to improve all the tools needed to keep learning, ensure to have clear education interest to expand on your weak areas keeping in mind that you won't be able to be super good on everything so try to pick something you really enjoy and understand the rest how connect with different disciplines and processes, understand the difference between tiling and baking if your interest in on videogames. Optimization might be a key to make sure your assets work and also enrich the experience without creating problems on performance. Try to understand the basics, there is always valuable info to reinforce and things on the basics to improve.

Being a 3D generalist initially is a solid foundation for becoming a specialist in your favourite area. However, specialisation and being really good at some specific area is required for especially larger companies, where there is a team of people working on each speciality. In order to lead 3D production, one must have an understanding of the full pipeline. It also makes you comfortable.

A good pro is the facility to lead your own projects and be a tool for your clients, when you wear multiple hats you can help to resolve multiple problems and before really valuable, a really strong asset for any project, learning from rendering to implementation and optimization can be a life saver to help other developers to grow they're projects

Well I feel that being generalist is a good way to specialize after you have dominate a field, but paradoxically can help also on the start to see what you really enjoy. But it's really important to be really good at something first, and try to enrich that with the skills you can get being a generalist. For example if you like environments, learning about composition, and lighting can be a huge tool, and if you learn about characters and stablish mood that can help to put that on your work and make it more close to reality

It's important to try all the portion in the pipeline if you're not sure about your decision yet. Spend some time with the process you think you will love best or what you do best, then spread out to the parts before and after it. You can keep doing it for some time, then you will cover the whole pipeline. After that, if you're still not sure about which part you like best, maybe you're better as a 3D generalist. Whether you end up as a 3D generalist or specialist, make sure you understand your local market demand for your skills, or if it doesn't exist, look for it abroad.