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One issue I've heard from a couple friends that worked for the NSA is that they have no idea what they're working on. One friend said he would just get specific
by trose 12y ago
One issue I've heard from a couple friends that worked for the NSA is that they have no idea what they're working on. One friend said he would just get specifications for input into a module and what the module should output. He wrote tests around the specs and wrote the module but had no idea what it was part of.
I've also met programmers who are just out to get a stable job. I bet the NSA looks for people like this. "Sit here, do your job, get this paycheck"
- jacquesm 12y ago> One issue I've heard from a couple friends that worked for the NSA is that they have no idea what they're working on. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123755/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123755/
- claytonjy 12y agoWhen I was getting my math degree, the department head frequently suggested we should work for the NSA for two reasons: they are the single largest employer of mathematicians, and you can't take your work home with you. I graduated before the Snowden revelations; not sure if he has changed his tune or not.
- Kalium 12y agoI expect both those reasons still hold up. Ethics-driven unemployment sounds great until you start getting hungry.
- Peaker 12y agoThe NSA is looking for top talent. For them, the alternative is not hunger, but a slightly worse salary or less interesting job.
- Kalium 12y agoMy understanding of the job market for mathematicians is that it's not nearly as friendly as that for programmers, but I'm far from knowledgeable here.