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

[brucehoult@pobox.com (Bruce Hoult)]

In article <DUoq3.50363$jl.33800040@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>, "Ian St.
John" <istjohn@spamcop.net> wrote:

> 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.

Me too.  I learned Java on that job.


> >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)..

That's sad.

I think you've got a point, in that you can't get jobs through agencies. 
I've been working now since 1985 and I have NEVER, EVER gotten a job via
an agency.  Or even through a formal CV (I don't have one) & interview
process, for that matter.

Every single job I've ever had -- whether permanent or short term contract
-- has been gotten via a personal contact at the company, sometimes
someone I know, and sometimes just someone who has had me recommended to
them.


> 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'.

That's probably a lot of it.

The only solution I can see is to bypass the HR department.  Have the boss
tell *them* that he wants to hire you, don't rely on HR to bring you to
the attention of the boss.  It's not in their interests to do so, and in
fact the interests of the HR department are completely opposite to both
your interests and the boss's interests...

-- Bruce