3 ms·

Minimum competence to earn a living as a basketball player is much higher than minimum competence required to earn a living as a software engineer.

• ghaff 4y ago
  Tournament jobs is the general term. [1] It's also the case that some professions have a rather limited number of slots that offer someone a decent living of which professional sports leagues are a good example. Basically being the 300th best software developer (or engineer or chemist etc.) probably means you can get a pretty good job. Being the 300th best basketball player may mean you're a car salesman or teaching high school gym classes. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournament_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournament_theory
  • seanmcdirmid 4y ago
    There are 450 NBA players, so being the 300th best basketball player gives you a chance of playing the NBA or maybe in China.
    • Ekaros 4y ago
      Team sports go deep. Individual sports quite a lot less. 300th best swimmer or runner likely won't do that well. On other hand 300th best in sport with reasonably sized team means you are either on top level or level just below that. Which usually mean reasonable living.
      • spoonjim 4y ago
        Yes but the 30,000th best software engineer is making $1 million working at Google.