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Dubuquer here. This was totally the City of Dubuque's attempt to grow (establish?) a tech scene. Dubuque doesn't have enough computer science graduates to supp

Dubuquer here. This was totally the City of Dubuque's attempt to grow (establish?) a tech scene. Dubuque doesn't have enough computer science graduates to support it. I'm at the biggest "software" company in the city, and we can't find quality talent within an hour commute. As others in the thread have stated, this place was a glorified call center. No research or development going on. I have friends who still work there, and I've watched their careers completely stagnate. In Dubuque, IBM was where you went when you couldn't get a tech job elsewhere in the city. Not anymore. The article says that the average pay at IBM was $46,000 but I don't know anyone who actually made that much. IBM said they'd bring 1300 jobs, but they barely cracked 1000. Anyone who thinks they'll still be here in 10 years is kidding themselves.

beambot 11y ago
> I'm at the biggest "software" company in the city, and we can't find quality talent... > the average pay at IBM was $46,000 I think I can solve your talent problem, and I won't even charge you for the insight: Pay more. Presumably you're in a high-margin (software!) industry. If revenues are reasonable, then you can afford to pay higher salaries. Given the untethered lifestyle of younger generations, you're effectively competing with the entire nation. Even SFBA, with its absurd cost of living, offers a better pay-to-living situation than $46k in Iowa. But there's good news! With housing in Mountain View at all time highs (yes, a 2 bdrm home runs ~$800k)... there's lots of good software engineers who spend a few years here and then look to the MidWest. The classic relocations are to Austin TX and Boulder CO. Pay up, and you might have an easier time recruiting people heading back to the MidWest. (BTW: I'm from Nebraska.)
- meatysnapper 11y ago
  Exactly! There is not an engineering talent shortage- if you paid as much as medicine, you'd get plenty.
  - Yhippa 11y ago
    "Engineering talent shortage for cheap developers who have high skill levels"
tjr 11y ago
I'm at the biggest "software" company in the city, and we can't find quality talent within an hour commute. This is your company?... http://www.cartegraph.com/careers http://www.cartegraph.com/careers Had I stumbled upon your website on my own, I would get the distinct impression that you are presently NOT looking for any developers, since the only jobs listed are in sales. If you'd consider hiring someone to work remotely 3-4 days a week and drive in to Dubuque 1-2 days a week, I'd think you'd get some hits from Cedar Rapids, which might be enough to broaden your options.
- marpstar 11y ago
  I should've clarified that we aren't exactly HURTING for developers, but when positions are open they stay open for awhile. We're generally looking for people already up to speed on our stack (which isn't to say this is an explicit requirement) with a few (2+) years experience. We generally hire interns during the summer and many of them have go on to become FTEs. We have remote employees (in Iowa) and a second office in Colorado, but being just a medium size company, it's hard for us to compete with McKesson (across the street from us), Rockwell Collins, Deere, etc for such a small talent pool.
- drzaiusapelord 11y ago
  Or heaven forbid just hire me to work remotely. Why do I need to pretend I'm some local by coming in 2x a week? Areas without talent that need devs and are anti-telework deserve to be punished, imo. The 1950's ideal of everyone being in the office is antiquated and a competitive failure.
  - tjr 11y ago
    That too. :-) Though I thought my suggested approach might be more palatable to anyone initially opposed to remote working.

beambot 11y ago

> I'm at the biggest "software" company in the city, and we can't find quality talent... > the average pay at IBM was $46,000 I think I can solve your talent problem, and I won't even charge you for the insight: Pay more. Presumably you're in a high-margin (software!) industry. If revenues are reasonable, then you can afford to pay higher salaries. Given the untethered lifestyle of younger generations, you're effectively competing with the entire nation. Even SFBA, with its absurd cost of living, offers a better pay-to-living situation than $46k in Iowa. But there's good news! With housing in Mountain View at all time highs (yes, a 2 bdrm home runs ~$800k)... there's lots of good software engineers who spend a few years here and then look to the MidWest. The classic relocations are to Austin TX and Boulder CO. Pay up, and you might have an easier time recruiting people heading back to the MidWest. (BTW: I'm from Nebraska.)

meatysnapper 11y ago
Exactly! There is not an engineering talent shortage- if you paid as much as medicine, you'd get plenty.
- Yhippa 11y ago
  "Engineering talent shortage for cheap developers who have high skill levels"

tjr 11y ago

I'm at the biggest "software" company in the city, and we can't find quality talent within an hour commute. This is your company?... http://www.cartegraph.com/careers http://www.cartegraph.com/careers Had I stumbled upon your website on my own, I would get the distinct impression that you are presently NOT looking for any developers, since the only jobs listed are in sales. If you'd consider hiring someone to work remotely 3-4 days a week and drive in to Dubuque 1-2 days a week, I'd think you'd get some hits from Cedar Rapids, which might be enough to broaden your options.

marpstar 11y ago
I should've clarified that we aren't exactly HURTING for developers, but when positions are open they stay open for awhile. We're generally looking for people already up to speed on our stack (which isn't to say this is an explicit requirement) with a few (2+) years experience. We generally hire interns during the summer and many of them have go on to become FTEs. We have remote employees (in Iowa) and a second office in Colorado, but being just a medium size company, it's hard for us to compete with McKesson (across the street from us), Rockwell Collins, Deere, etc for such a small talent pool.
drzaiusapelord 11y ago
Or heaven forbid just hire me to work remotely. Why do I need to pretend I'm some local by coming in 2x a week? Areas without talent that need devs and are anti-telework deserve to be punished, imo. The 1950's ideal of everyone being in the office is antiquated and a competitive failure.
- tjr 11y ago
  That too. :-) Though I thought my suggested approach might be more palatable to anyone initially opposed to remote working.