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While this is a clickbait article, it's probably worth many high schoolers recognizing that compensation is simply unevenly distributed. There's an increasing r

While this is a clickbait article, it's probably worth many high schoolers recognizing that compensation is simply unevenly distributed. There's an increasing realization that going to college does not give you a fast track to FTE status in many industries anymore, and there needs to be a better understanding of the fact that the job market is, well, a market, and salaries will adjust based upon the supply of that market. I think a lot of current CS hopefuls coming in as freshmen are going to see a shocking market adjustment when there are tens of thousands of juniors competing for the same jobs, just as we saw with law degrees after the last recession. There are way more JDs than there are good attorney jobs, and even fewer partner positions that really bring in the money. Market dynamics affect one's well being less when you are not shooting simply for compensation, but also job satisfaction. Of course, in our society, highly indebted students are forced to be all about the money and not about the satisfaction. This doesn't lead to successful careers. It leads to burnout, disillusionment, and ennui.

trendia 9y ago
I'm not sure the comparison between CS and law is totally appropriate. Law protects existing wealth, while CS can create new wealth. That implies that there is not some "fixed" number of CS jobs for which everyone is competing; some CS grads will start companies that will employ 5 or 10 other CS grads.
52-6F-62 9y ago
>> Market dynamics affect one's well being less when you are not shooting simply for compensation, but also job satisfaction. Of course, in our society, highly indebted students are forced to be all about the money and not about the satisfaction. This doesn't lead to successful careers. It leads to burnout, disillusionment, and ennui. ------ Can confirm. Had to leave university at the onset of the last recession (starting 2007-2008). From then until very recently I was able to make reasonable coping money, but not doing anything I really enjoyed. Sold televisions on commission, worked my way up in a warehouse (film/tv) equipment maintenance and repair to management, drove forklift, freelanced (much harder to make enough money there to cover student loans). I'm, after nearly ten years, just getting into a pace where I'm making a little more money, and in a field I can leverage to greater effect in the future. It's still not overly satisfying, but I live better than I have. Ennui and disillusionment are familiar modes... my most common feeling is that of boredom and worry that I'm wasting the best years of my life. I really don't want that to happen to a new round of minds. It fosters the worst thoughts and feelings in people, especially in those who are or become emotionally vulnerable in any way. And let me say, getting by on $10 groceries a week will help to render one vulnerable real quickly. edit: Well aware of my first world problems. This is very much in the context of North America.
thephyber 9y ago
> it's probably worth many high schoolers recognizing that compensation is simply unevenly distributed. As are large lottery jackpots, but Americans are playing them in record numbers. I'd like to think that most people are capable of seeing this kind of sales technique for what it is, but it seems to me that people are largely swayed by persuasion techniques and far less so by cold, rational calculation.
mnm1 9y ago
"there needs to be a better understanding of the fact that the job market is, well, a market, and salaries will adjust based upon the supply of that market" Completely agree, but you're pointing out a chicken and egg problem. You want 17 year olds that are about to graduate from high school to understand market forces, economics, and a whole lot of information that's just simply not being taught in most high schools. In fact, learning such things is the reason many people go to college in the first place. That's simply too much to ask, so we shouldn't be surprised when those students make the wrong choices because we as a society haven't prepared them to make the right ones. Not only are they disadvantaged by being teens (don't have fully developed brains, almost no experience, can't fully control emotions etc.), they are also disadvantaged by not having the proper learning experiences. Seems like what I'm trying to say is that the fix that's needed needs to happen much earlier and we as a society are failing spectacularly at providing it.

trendia 9y ago

I'm not sure the comparison between CS and law is totally appropriate. Law protects existing wealth, while CS can create new wealth. That implies that there is not some "fixed" number of CS jobs for which everyone is competing; some CS grads will start companies that will employ 5 or 10 other CS grads.

52-6F-62 9y ago

>> Market dynamics affect one's well being less when you are not shooting simply for compensation, but also job satisfaction. Of course, in our society, highly indebted students are forced to be all about the money and not about the satisfaction. This doesn't lead to successful careers. It leads to burnout, disillusionment, and ennui. ------ Can confirm. Had to leave university at the onset of the last recession (starting 2007-2008). From then until very recently I was able to make reasonable coping money, but not doing anything I really enjoyed. Sold televisions on commission, worked my way up in a warehouse (film/tv) equipment maintenance and repair to management, drove forklift, freelanced (much harder to make enough money there to cover student loans). I'm, after nearly ten years, just getting into a pace where I'm making a little more money, and in a field I can leverage to greater effect in the future. It's still not overly satisfying, but I live better than I have. Ennui and disillusionment are familiar modes... my most common feeling is that of boredom and worry that I'm wasting the best years of my life. I really don't want that to happen to a new round of minds. It fosters the worst thoughts and feelings in people, especially in those who are or become emotionally vulnerable in any way. And let me say, getting by on $10 groceries a week will help to render one vulnerable real quickly. edit: Well aware of my first world problems. This is very much in the context of North America.

thephyber 9y ago

> it's probably worth many high schoolers recognizing that compensation is simply unevenly distributed. As are large lottery jackpots, but Americans are playing them in record numbers. I'd like to think that most people are capable of seeing this kind of sales technique for what it is, but it seems to me that people are largely swayed by persuasion techniques and far less so by cold, rational calculation.

mnm1 9y ago

"there needs to be a better understanding of the fact that the job market is, well, a market, and salaries will adjust based upon the supply of that market" Completely agree, but you're pointing out a chicken and egg problem. You want 17 year olds that are about to graduate from high school to understand market forces, economics, and a whole lot of information that's just simply not being taught in most high schools. In fact, learning such things is the reason many people go to college in the first place. That's simply too much to ask, so we shouldn't be surprised when those students make the wrong choices because we as a society haven't prepared them to make the right ones. Not only are they disadvantaged by being teens (don't have fully developed brains, almost no experience, can't fully control emotions etc.), they are also disadvantaged by not having the proper learning experiences. Seems like what I'm trying to say is that the fix that's needed needs to happen much earlier and we as a society are failing spectacularly at providing it.