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Tech jobs have an image problem, and it's making the skills shortage worse

eigengrau5150 5y ago
I've been in this trade for over 20 years, and here's why I think young people don't want tech jobs. 1. Nobody wants to be a nerd, and tech jobs are still associated with nerds. 2. Tech is thankless work that isn't easily contained within a 40 hour workweek without constant struggle. 3. Getting paid for overtime in this trade is rare unless willing to deal with the headaches that come with being a 1099 contractor. 4. If you're conventionally attractive, sociable, and likeable there are easier ways to make a living than tech. 5. Tech is for people without options. As long as kids think that only socially awkward, ugly guys go into this business, that's were you're going to get your talent. You don't have to be autistic or a misanthrope to work in this trade, but it certainly helps.
- archontes 5y ago
  This list is identical to an analysis I once read investigating reasons women choose to go into tech less than their male counterparts. Thanklessness and the existence of better options were chief among them.
- qualudeheart 5y ago
  Is there really this shortage? Then why are there all these data science tech geekers on Instagram and linked in?
  - eigengrau5150 5y ago
    Depends on who you want to believe. I figure that if corporations can't find people willing and able to work for them, it's entirely their own fault. Their hiring processes are probably crap and their compensation packages little better. But I'm just a burnt out IC so I'm biased to hell and back.
dredmorbius 5y ago
ZDNet is now part of Red Ventures. This recent thread provides some critical insights into that company and its practices: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28196992 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28196992
readonthegoapp 5y ago
This belongs in r/choosingbeggars I've been in tech for almost 30 years There has never been a skills shortage There is a shortage of jobs As evidenced by stagnating wages and IT personnel who never get their first job in IT, and those who transition out of IT because they can't find jobs.
qualudeheart 5y ago
Good. When there are fewer applicants, each applicant will perform better. When each applicant becomes better- they will be more a hacker— less a tech geeker. When each applicant is a hacker- the industry can only thrive. When each applicant is a tech geeker- the industry can only collapse. As Xah Lee says, we need less tech geekers. More hackers. This is a scientific certainty. tech geeker: (noun) A programer nerd who are ignorant of social sciences yet persistently loud of his opinions on many social issues related to programing, such as language popularity, pros and cons of GUI, software engineering practices, software license issues, IT industry practices, ethics of corporations.

I've been in this trade for over 20 years, and here's why I think young people don't want tech jobs. 1. Nobody wants to be a nerd, and tech jobs are still associated with nerds. 2. Tech is thankless work that isn't easily contained within a 40 hour workweek without constant struggle. 3. Getting paid for overtime in this trade is rare unless willing to deal with the headaches that come with being a 1099 contractor. 4. If you're conventionally attractive, sociable, and likeable there are easier ways to make a living than tech. 5. Tech is for people without options. As long as kids think that only socially awkward, ugly guys go into this business, that's were you're going to get your talent. You don't have to be autistic or a misanthrope to work in this trade, but it certainly helps.

archontes 5y ago
This list is identical to an analysis I once read investigating reasons women choose to go into tech less than their male counterparts. Thanklessness and the existence of better options were chief among them.
qualudeheart 5y ago
Is there really this shortage? Then why are there all these data science tech geekers on Instagram and linked in?
- eigengrau5150 5y ago
  Depends on who you want to believe. I figure that if corporations can't find people willing and able to work for them, it's entirely their own fault. Their hiring processes are probably crap and their compensation packages little better. But I'm just a burnt out IC so I'm biased to hell and back.

dredmorbius 5y ago

ZDNet is now part of Red Ventures. This recent thread provides some critical insights into that company and its practices: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28196992 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28196992

readonthegoapp 5y ago

This belongs in r/choosingbeggars I've been in tech for almost 30 years There has never been a skills shortage There is a shortage of jobs As evidenced by stagnating wages and IT personnel who never get their first job in IT, and those who transition out of IT because they can't find jobs.

qualudeheart 5y ago

Good. When there are fewer applicants, each applicant will perform better. When each applicant becomes better- they will be more a hacker— less a tech geeker. When each applicant is a hacker- the industry can only thrive. When each applicant is a tech geeker- the industry can only collapse. As Xah Lee says, we need less tech geekers. More hackers. This is a scientific certainty. tech geeker: (noun) A programer nerd who are ignorant of social sciences yet persistently loud of his opinions on many social issues related to programing, such as language popularity, pros and cons of GUI, software engineering practices, software license issues, IT industry practices, ethics of corporations.