This kind of article rings hollow with me since it seems like some company out there is always complaining about not finding just the right cog to fit in their

This kind of article rings hollow with me since it seems like some company out there is always complaining about not finding just the right cog to fit in their machine. Yes, the great candidates are few and far between, but it's not like companies are forbidden from teaching/mentoring a few qualified individuals every now and then... IT needs are changing. There won't be enough job candidates with $DESIRABLE_ATTRIBUTES, obviously, because $DESIRABLE_ATTRIBUTES aren't taught (formally), are acquired through experience, are in demand right now, and weren't a few years ago. Dwight Gibbs of Input says: "This isn't just about crimping cable, installing OSes and racking and stacking IP anymore." Right, Mr Gibbs, but a few years ago, that's exactly what it was about. I remember applying for jobs a few years back with (basically) those exact requirements.