Master Malstrom,
I have was planning on covering two topics with this e-mail, but it ended up being a lot longer than expected. So, I have split it up. In this e-mail I will address the issues facing the employability of those with a Computer Science degree. In a following e-mail I will address the ramifications of the recent trend of downloadable video games.
The gentleman that expounded on how employability in the Computer Science field is more about experience than degrees accurately reflects what I have observed in my 16 years in the Information Technology field. There are plenty of jobs to be had in the IT field (programing and otherwise). The small consulting company I work for has spent years claiming they are going to hire their fifth IT tech. The reason they haven’t is because they cannot find someone that has the skill set that fits their needs.
Unfortunately, Computer Science classes generally have two main flaws:
1) Their method for attracting students emphasizes the coolness of the job and how easy it is to get the degree. As a result, they end up attracting people with that “hardcore” mentality (You have explained this perfectly).
2) The classes are designed to only get you into an entry level position with only the most basic knowledge.
As my colleague in the IT field pointed out, employers do not really know what IT does, so they need to hire someone who has the skills to make those decisions for them. They need to be able to hit the ground running and learn whatever it is they need on the fly. So, the most important ability is the ability to learn and then apply what you learn to the real world. This ability is not taught in any education system that I am familiar with.
The end result is that you have a lot of wanna-be CS graduates who will only ever be qualified for the most basic of jobs, while a ton of jobs requiring the ability to learn and apply remain empty.
I get the feeling that a lot of job fields are experiencing this phenomenon.
Doesn’t really say a lot about the education system, does it?
Respectfully,
A Reader
P.S. – The e-mailer in the Post, “Mocking CS isn’t very smart” pretty much proved the point he was arguing against. When he says, “I’m a programmer, though not a great one. I do apply myself, however.” and, “the only difference between myself and an average joe programmer is how much I’ve applied myself” he has basically acknowledged that the reason for his success is that he is better than your average programmer at critical thinking, and marketability.
One thing to point out is that most employers came of age before the computer revolution and before the Internet revolution. As we move further in time, these employers will be less and less.
What I’m trying to say is that IT people will not be seen the same they are today as they will be twenty years from now. They’ve already changed so much from twenty years ago (1993). It is no longer a specialized field.
I’m not sure what the future demand of those skills will be. However, I think more people will be going in that field. Why? “Because computers are cool, dude! I get to be, like, a technologist! It’s a STEM field! I’m a scientist now, man. I just finished my Physics class which is about the same level of Physics class taught in grade school in other nations. I knows da math. Those other people? They don’t know da math. Therefore, I am da genius.
“You see those basketweavers? They don’t know da math. They stupid! They just play with their little baskets all day. But me? It is STEM field man. Hey, dudes. Let’s see what NASA is doing today. God, I am such a technologist! Dudes! You see that new hot video game that come out? Yeah, man. Oh, watch how I perform ‘math’ on the video game. God, my skillz are so GRATE! Get out of da way, mon! Computer Science genius coming through! Wooo!”
That’s what I’m hearing from some actual CS students today. Oh, and did you know that CS is a STEM field? They keep repeating it over and over and over and over.
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