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This story reminds me a bit of my girlfriend's dad. He worked for a defense contractor as a designer. At the time, everything was done freehand. He got laid
by sbov 16y ago
This story reminds me a bit of my girlfriend's dad.
He worked for a defense contractor as a designer. At the time, everything was done freehand. He got laid off in the early 90's and these jobs pretty much dried up, then started to return 5 or so years later. However, everything was now being done with computers and he couldn't get a job in the field.
He has worked minimum wage jobs ever since.
I feel lucky that in software development I can keep on top of technology trends even if I were unemployed. That is how it has played out so far at least, but will it always? When will the next breakthrough, that which turns the working world on its head, arrive? Hopefully long after I retire, lest I miss the boat like so many did in the past.
So far this field generally produces the things that which drive its own productivity, which means by nature I have had an advantage of understanding new tools moreso than other fields may. I have a hard time callously telling these people they must adapt or die because I recognize that adaptation is being pressured upon them by a field foreign to their practice. Its like your boss coming in tomorrow and telling you that your future employability is based upon your ability to understand why 14 year olds are all ga-ga over Robert Pattinson.
And if you're reading this and don't know who that is, I expect your resignation by the end of the day.
- Tichy 16y agoThe opposite side I experienced when I bought a German magazine called "brand eins" that focussed on the new kind of work. It was basically cherishing it's target audience into heaven. You came away from it thinking "hey, I can use a mobile phone, so I am a highly skilled and valuable tech worker". I wonder about your girl-friend's dad. I really wish I could draw or design - that skill must have some value. Could he really find no other way to sell his skills? Why could he not learn to use computers?
- sbov 16y agoI haven't really asked those questions - its something that was mentioned to me just before I first met her parents. She doesn't know all the details, and I don't feel comfortable bringing it up with her dad at this point.
- asmithmd1 16y agoI worked in that field thru the 1990 downturn. Before 1990 draftsman/designer job postings would ask for a lettering sample. I was laid off from an ink on vellum design shop but luckily had a buddy who was still at college and had access to a machine with AutoCad ($5000 in hardware and software in 1990). I visited him for a weekend and worked thru a teach yourself book and was then able to pass simple interview tests. I was lucky to have access to a machine to train myself and young enough that I was still looking for an entry level position.
- jsymolon 16y agoAnd that's the best reason why tech schools/retraining should be offered as a part of unemployment. (See Clinton's "The Daily Show"'s interview. If I can go and get very specific training to get my skills up to snuff - I consider that valuable and a benefit to society.