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

[lcsystem@lcc.net]

In article <7of8fn$k67$1@cronkite.cc.uga.edu>,
  "Michael Covington" <mc@ai.uga.edu> wrote:
> > >This has been my experience over the last six months that I have
been
> > >looking for a job;  25 years in the industry, h/w and s/w design.
But I
> > >don't fit neatly into the skill sheet that the HR droids use.  I
even had
> > >one tell me that I didn't have the required qualification of
writing
> > >'firmware' even though my resume lists 10 years of embedded work.
>
> Management by buzzword.  Manager didn't know what "firmware" meant.
>

Sadly, in many companies, management rarely has a clue what is needed
and/or being done in the technical departments.

> > Here are some computer-industry quotes from Data General management,
> > from about 15 years ago ...
> >
> > "We like to hire young people fresh out of college, because they
don't
> > know what's impossible."
>
> Could be optimism...
>
> > "We tell our new hires that here's a 6-month project and we'd really
> > like to see you PROVE yourself' and finish it ontime.  Then, we give
> > them an impossibly hard/large project.  Nobody ever finishes, but
this
> > way we work their asses off and get a lot of production right away.
> > Occasionally, some superstar idiot will finish on time, they say,
'ok,
> > let's just write this into your job description : performs miracles
ON
> > DEMAND...'"
>
> That is stupid management.  In fact it's dishonest.  A manager would
earn my
> distrust immediately by pulling a trick like that one.
>
> Do these bosses realize their subordinates need to be able to trust
them?
>

Too many people (managers or not) do not have the slightest idea of how
subordinates should be treated.  Too many feel that it is not even
possible to abuse someone in a subordinate position.  Of course, they
also wonder why people who can actually do work don't have any
"loyalty"...

John Kocurek

Been there, done that.  Got my Preparation H to prove it.



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