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Home > Archive > Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries > April 2001 > ?
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| slapyomoma 2001-04-11, 10:14 am |
| With everyone changing their careers, into the IT field, it gets me to wonder...Where will that leave the IT field in 10 years?
A lot of companies are outsourcing their IT departments where you have one company standing in for 10 different IT departments.
The market is full of paper MCSE's with no experience and screwing up networks which makes an executive decide to outsource their IT departments to professionals so that they can focus on what their company exceeds in versus if their IT guy is an idiot or a genius.
True enough, once you know what your doing this the job is an easy one, but you have a bunch of people out there getting certified by using brain dumps and making 50K+ and could care less about advancing their careers because their making twice as much as they were making 2 years ago.
You have software companies that are trying to make networking as easy as possible which make these paper MCSE's a bit more valuable.
My question is do people feel like I feel in that the IT industry won't be like it is now 10 or 20 years from now? Should I go back to school and be a lawyer or doctor or should I try to excel in this field?
Any thoughts?
sym | |
| Nicole 2001-04-11, 11:02 am |
| I think the market will continue to move strongly toward IT, but probably not with the structure it is now. The promise was that computers would get easier and easier to use, but that simply hasn't happened. My Commodore VIC20 -- that I programmed in BASIC -- was FAR easier to use than any Windows box is today. DOS was a piece of cake if you were able to memorize a few commands. (Windows wasn't easier, it was just prettier.) Networking has gotten more and more complex with WANs and wireless networks.
We may pass a point where computers really do become easier for the end user or the casual technician (aka the Paper MCSE), but that only means that MORE work goes into the back end. Software companies have to have programmers that make software that's easier to use; hardware companies need engineers and theoretical specialists to come up with new ideas. We all have to start somewhere, but those new MCSEs that don't keep learning will be left in the dust, and unfortunately, few companies take and active role in improving their employees. Without that kind of mentorship or apprenticeship, a Paper MCSE is all they are likely to find.
I have a background in hardware and work as an IT Manager now... but I'm trying to learn how to program. No MCSE for me. I think that data storage and manipulation is here to stay, no matter what happens to the hardware or the software.
Of course, the IT business changes only slightly less fast that the hardware gets obsolete, so I could be wrong  | |
| slapyomoma 2001-04-11, 11:43 am |
| I'm a system's engineer and I agree with you on the data storage. I'm strongly considering going into the data base field (Oracle, Sybase, SQL, AS/400). I only plan on doing this IT for 20 more years then I'm either going to teach, breed canines, or go into photography. Or all the above. Unless I write some superduper software prog. 
Back in High School, we use to use those damn Tandy computers to program in BASIC. I agree, it was much easier. A lot less runtime errors.
sym | |
| Nicole 2001-04-11, 12:40 pm |
| I went to a very progressive elementary school. In 5th grade we had several weeks of computer class. If you got the best grade on your programming assignment (BASIC), next time you got to use the Apple in COLOR!
Now that I have made myself feel really old this morning, anyone want to take a crack at why companies are perfectly happy to hire recent college grads with absolutely no experience for junior IT positions, but aren't willing to consider a person for the same job and pay who isn't a recent college grad, but has a stable work history and management experience and just wants to branch into a different arena???
I can't figure it out. Personally, I'd hire the person with the proven work ethic and stability any day over a new grad... especially if I could get away with paying them the new grad salary. I'll be facing this scenario when I get closer to finishing my OCP, so I'd really like to start learning how to get around this situation.  | |
| Randy 2001-04-11, 12:43 pm |
| Maybe because old grads have degrees in obsolete technology? here it's just the opposite. If you have experience, you're in, but the certs don't count for much. | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by slapyomoma
My question is do people feel like I feel in that the IT industry won't be like it is now 10 or 20 years from now? Should I go back to school and be a lawyer or doctor or should I try to excel in this field?
Any thoughts?
sym
Of course the IT industry won't be the same - is it the same now as it was 10 or 20 years ago???
Should you stay in the field - why not??? Paper MCSE's (and paper "other certs" too) are out there so are new college grads - always will be. I beleive I'll be here for awhile too. My advice (for what's it worth) - if you enjoy the field stay with it. Sooner or later the paper pushers are left behind or discarded. If you really enjoy what you do, become an expert and prove your worth to those around you - them move on. It appears to me that this industry is always moving in one way or another and we need to find ways to move with it. | |
| slapyomoma 2001-04-11, 2:48 pm |
| jlkr,
when I say the same, I don't mean technology.
Just last year, there was a shortage in the IT field. A bunch of people went to these silly classes and think they know everything but actually don't know didley squat. My question to you would be: How can you progress in a field that's taken over by outsourcing versus In house IT?
My question was actually leaning closer to Nicole's dilema. Which I think is due to the fact that technology is newer and minds are sharper. Just like some programmers knocking on 40+. Most of them know how to program in the older languages but didn't care much about the Java, cold fusion, flash, etc. Not only that, some employers feel that a "seasoned veteran" would demand more money and will be harder to teach than someone coming right out of college. They feel that you've been trained for something that they are training to steer away from. For example, about 4-5 years ago, Prudential Insurance expanded overseas. They wanted to start a totally new concept with a product and nstead of hiring people with Insurance experience, they went out and got new blood to train them just how they wanted them. I'm thinking IT is similar.
sym | |
| Nicole 2001-04-11, 2:49 pm |
| Randy,
"Maybe because old grads have degrees in obsolete technology?"
That could be the perception behind it. But IMHO, since when does a BS in Comp Sciences or the equivalent really qualify you to be an Oracle Programmer? (Or webmaster, or ____________.) Of course, some of the schools like ITT, etc. are a lot better about this.
Here in Silicon Valley the same companies that whine about not being able to find people to fill their positions recruit at colleges for inexperienced folks, but then refuse to accept resumes from certified people who got their degree in some other field and have IT experience.
Someone was complaining about the perception that a 19 year old is too young, but there is also a strong bias against hiring junior level folks who aren't in their early twenties. Just because I'm 30 doesn't mean I'm behind the technology curve
"here it's just the opposite. If you have experience, you're in, but the certs don't count for much."
From what I've been gathering (I watch the job market all the time, even though I'm not actively hunting), I would agree. Unless it's Wisconsin or Kansas or some other smaller (i.e. more desperate) job market, employers want the BS degree + certification(s) + 2-3 years experience, even for the junior level positions. The smaller markets always word their ads vaguely enough to leave themselves open for the possibility they may have to take what they can get.
I'm starting to believe that I will have to rent out my condo and work in Little Rock for a couple of years... now THERE'S a job hunting strategy for you!  | |
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| Yes, I agree, it seems that a relatively recent grad with 2-3 years experience is the type they usually look for, but it always to be those two or three years' experience in the type of work that I don't have! Even if you already work with computers, sometimes it's hard to crossover. But what you said was true about the degrees. Lots of people have degrees that dont really help them know more about machines, but just "qualify" them for those jobs that requitre degrees. | |
| slapyomoma 2001-04-12, 10:14 am |
| that's why it's so so important to obtain that piece of paper.
sym | |
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| In contracting, I saw recruiters offer projects, "and if you do a good job and we like your work, we'll get you another position right away, so you won't have any down time."
Then once you've proven yourself, on the contract with no defined end date, they either end it abrubtly or never follow up with another project. The recruiters and account managers disappear and hire new people at the same rate or lower, because as someone mentioned before, they will take less to do the same.
As a more exprienced contractor, you will cost them more. |
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