[kwlug disc.] OT? Getting work in the field

[Chris Bruner]

donald tees wrote:
>
>
> Get a university degree in computer science.  Period.  That is a 
> minimum start.  All those funny little certificates that are offered 
> in cereal boxes and by spam are worth almost nothing.  I have seen 
> many a certificate possessor work for a year or two in IT, and then at 
> age forty or so run out of steam.  They do not have the background to 
> evolve their training into newer technology, and stay in the field ... 
> they end up as has beens in middle life. About all they are good for 
> is head-hunting or working at the local future shop.
>
and a bunch of other good stuff. Well said.

The last time I hired someone, I was sent a ton of applicants from 
Conestoga College, I quickly devised a test with some very ugly c code 
that involved pointers and other weird stuff. The idea was to tell me 
what number the program would produce.   It eliminated all the Conestoga 
College people right away. Some of them barely knew what a computer was, 
yet all had passed their programming courses. The guy I ended  up hiring 
didn't figure out my test either, but he sat and puzzled it out very 
methodically.  I think I was more impressed with this then if he had 
gotten the answer right (he messed up at the very end).  He was great, 
and I must say that if I ever hire anyone to program again, I'd use the 
same method.  How people approach a problem helps show what they are 
like to work with.

He had a degree.