Re: not enough real programmers? (was Re: Byte Magazine: 18 Vintage issues, 1985-1986)

["Ian St. John" <istjohn@spamcop.net>]

Howard S Shubs <hshubs@mindspring.com> wrote in message
hshubs-0508991217370001@user-33qscke.dialup.mindspring.com">news:hshubs-0508991217370001@user-33qscke.dialup.mindspring.com...
> In article <brucehoult-0508991607030001@bruce.bgh>,
brucehoult@pobox.com
> (Bruce Hoult) wrote:
>
> >If US$85/hour for programming Java is "cheap" then please tell me
where
> >you work and I'll go there next time!
>
> They could get me for much less than that, depending on location, if
> they'll allow me a few weeks to learn the language.  But do they
ask?  Do
> they even get the idea that for a programmer to learn a language is
not a
> real problem?  No.

I'd be there in a flash. I can pick up a basic understanding in a
week, and beat most 'long term' programmers at it in a few months.

> >It sure looked like a programmer shortage in the US to me!
>
> A real programmer can and will pick up a language like a sponge
picks up
> water, given a reason to do so.  For some reason, I no longer have
the
> curiousity to do it on my own.

Even if you did, they wouldn't hire you. I picked up VC++ ( with an A+
and reference from the instructor ) in order to upgrade. But, they
hire 'entry level' out of University. With twelve years of experience,
good references and a BSCS degree, I have been idle since last
October, looking for someone willing to look at proven ability,
instead of prior experience (Asm/C/FORTRAN,embedded,realtime)..

The 'skills shortage' is really an inability of the industry to bring
in and evaluate employees. Preferring to expend endless time on the
theoretical 'perfect fit' employee that can start from day one.

I blame 'personnel services' somewhat. The hiring manager can specify
his 'ideal employee' and create a 'skills shortage' for that job with
no real expectation of finding his 'superman'. It costs them nothing
unless the service finds the person they 'need'.

Downsizing, and outsourcing are other factors, creating a demand for
documentation as proof of specific skill. More effort is spent on
'personnel searches', and less 'personal evaluation' is made. When the
person turns out to have the experience, but not the skill, it just
forces higher 'minimal qualifications'.