I was 18 in 2001 and started my first job as a programmer at the nadir of the bust (October '01). I got the job via some personal contacts, it was in an academ

I was 18 in 2001 and started my first job as a programmer at the nadir of the bust (October '01). I got the job via some personal contacts, it was in an academic institute and I was making barely over minimum wage (probably why there wasn't much competition for it). It wasn't really even an open position but when I asked around they had the budget to hire someone to help the physics phds with their non-research tasks. I started studying CS at uni the next year ('02) and it was much easier to get in than previously, cause there were far fewer applicants. By the time I got my first job with a more decent salary it was 2005 and the worst of the bust already cleared away - so I guess I somehow managed to skip it altogether.