>'CS knowledge is, I think, valued highly (or at least valued) in the tech sector itself, but once you leave the sphere of companies that make tech products for

>'CS knowledge is, I think, valued highly (or at least valued) in the tech sector itself, but once you leave the sphere of companies that make tech products for tech people, or if you happen to be outside one of the major software hubs, the atmosphere can become rather absurd.' Spot on. By my estimation, the most common sort of work in IT has little resemblance to computer science. It's something more along the lines of very environment, industry and proprietary platform specific operations. There's a very wacky disconnect between what's taught in schools, desired by students and expected by employers. I'd liken the situation to one in which mechanical engineers, ASE mechanics and truck drivers were all lumped together as simply 'TI' (Truck Industry). All those roles are needed and all have ready and willing candidates available, but most employers have no clue how to compensate, hire or task each appropriately.