Damn... contemplating a move to the midwest now...

How can someone not know how the bare essentials of programming and yet call themselves programmers??? VB6? Now that would be a fun (and easy) job to get into.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by yobri

 

Lots of good comments here, and I agree with all of them in some way. There's no easy answer for this.

Counterpoint: Back in September, there was a great article in Business 2.0 which discussed how there is a coming job boom. I'm not one to believe in everything I read, and read it with a certain amount of scepticism. However, the arguments they laid out were compelling: the boomers are starting to leave the workforce and there are not nearly enough workers to replace them. Unlike the last boom which was based on economics, the upcoming need is based on demographics which is a much better indicator and a lot more accurate predictor. Assume that the US economy grows at a modest rate - 2 to 3% - and even if we offshore a lot more jobs, it's still not going to be enough to cover the shortage. Anyway, find yourself a copy and read the article. We have a financial analyst the comes on the local news in the mornings and he described the article as the best article he's ever read. Here's a synopsis of the article: http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2003/mft03091508.htm The full version on Business 2.0's site requires a subsription.

BTW, I work for a company which is at the bleeding edge of offshoring. When someone talks about how to offshore, they usually mention the company I work for. I would guess that about 1/2 the IT people on my floor are from India. Our CIO is already saying to his boss that he's not comfortable that a lot of the IT knowledge sits with the contractors.

regarding certifications... I'm not knocking the MCSE certifications, but they seem to be a dime-a-dozen. The last I saw, the most valuable certifications were the security certs from SANS, RHCSE, and the higher-level Cisco certs like CCNP and CCIE (plus the equivalent design certs). I believe the MCSE certs came in at the lowest value.

 

I hope that you're right Dave... though I'm not so sure that A LOT of those boomers are actually directly into the IT arena. Most of the boomers that I know are either not too adept at IT (since it's popularized inception, anyway), or are quite averse to it from the employment angle since it isn't quite traditional, per se.

I know of many boomers that consider my career in IT as non-prestigious or... let me explain it this way... my mom asked me, "Could you please consider being a pharmacist or something?" Basically, she was saying, "Could you get a real job?"

I mean, it makes sense that jobs will open up, but will they be the ones that we are best oriented to (IT related)? I mean, I may be wrong about my presumptions of boomers and the IT field, and in actuality, I hope that I'm wrong.

 

The article is at work on my desk so I can't quote from it directly, but I believe there was a chart in it which showed the top 10 most needed job fields and 8 of the 10 were in IT. The other 2 were healthcare related.

Also, I think Ash hit the nail on the head, work in IT, but work as close to the business functions as possible. One of the top skills that is commonly mentioned as missing from IT people is a business understanding. Someone (or lots of people in our company) in IT needs to manage the offshoring - the folks that successfully blend IT skills and business understanding are going to be the most successful.

 

One recommendation: DoD contractors. Find the right ones and you have an enjoyable job they CAN'T ship overseas.

I graduated in 1998 with my Comp Sci degree, and thank my good fortune to pass up those shady-looking (to me) dot-com startups that were recruiting and went with the local defense contractor.

As for security, it is a risky field. I'm working on my Master's thesis on security and had to pass up on several really good topics because I feared prosecution. So now I'm working on something safe and mundane - and guess what? Time to fear again.

 

Yobri has a point...lots of us (yes, I am one) boomers don't know a thing about computers. We are the "transition" generation when it comes to IT. We came along when punch cards were being used (yikes!). So don't know how many of us are involved in IT today to retire and open up the field to you younger workers. Anyway, good luck to everyone looking out there!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rworne
One recommendation: DoD contractors.

 

Anyone with a security clearance can write his/her own ticket today. They are very, very valuable. Unfortunately, you can only get one by working for a company that will request one for you. And the process is taking longer and longer - no less than a year if you've never had one before. Maybe a bit less if you are looking for reinstatement. So you need to find a company that really, really wants you and where you can work on non-secure projects until it comes through. Clearances for DoD are taking 18-24 months.

BTW - washingtonpost.com has online chats on job experiences and searching for those of you looking or just curious about what's going on. There also have been chats on security clearances. On the home page, scroll down on the left side until you see the chat list for the day. At the bottom there is a link for the weekly schedule. People from all over the country (and the world, too) participate.

 

Actually, it isn't that difficult. You get an interim before you get the "real" clearance. That takes a short time, usually a few weeks. Then you can work until you get the permanent one. Before 9/11, it was less than a week to get the interim.