Re: ANNOUNCE: Vacant Job Positions

The original point of this thread speaks to the preconceived value, by corporate America, of a college degree in computer science.

My own cynical view, regarding the universities and colleges, addresses not the students, but the system! Just today I heard a newscast about a medical school struggling with the root problem -- money. (A problem not uncommon to us all.) Todays eductational system is ill prepared to function as a business entity and the people will suffer for it.

What about VU -- Virtual University: free to all and comprised of all.

>>
>>What about showing up with a good WORKING program?
>>
>>Isn't that some measure of ability ?
 

>That just shows he knows how to copy, or cp as the case may be.

Do what I do, test them on the spot! That will weed out the duds.

Personally, I do not run a social club; and team consensus will not pay my bills. Nor theirs. While the team debates the corporate theory of why they should do this or that, the competition has six persons coding and one person leading. (Drucker's rule of seven.)

When was the last time corporate America turned out an original software product that had mass appeal and changed all lives? When was the last time you bought a theory? What you want is a product -- one that will make a positive impact on your life, make your job easier, and make you more productive. These products are created by THE LOAN WOLF who sees and hears what the packs are saying. ( A master of communications does not always speak with words.)

Once the wolf creates such a product, the wolf's interest is quickly lost. This is when the DEGREES are needed. Who else is mindless enough to day in and day out surround themselves in the same drab pigeon hole, communicating and being communicated to in the same old chatter... "he did this.. she did that... oh no, we downsized lasted year not again, will I be axed... and so on... and on.

Perhaps that is why the wolf works alone... to garner his thoughts and filter out the packs noise.

Coding is mechanical! Development an art and Creativity RARE!

>>
>>Doesn't that help to reveal where a persons strengths, weaknesses,
>>interests lie ?
 

>No. Only actual behavior in a real work environment can show that.
>Many people even fool themselves. So a good assessment requires a
>probationary period.

Probationary period? I have not heard that one in a while. What will you do when ALL employees are nothing but IP addresses and name aliases?

You do not think so?
This is not fantasy, it is based on
that five letter word that drives all change -- money.

How can a corporation compete with a virtual firm? The VFirm has no employees and none of the expensive consuming infrastructures. It is a lean mean LOAN WOLF, that in a moments inspiration can called up an army of virtual workers, all ready and waiting, to function as a virtual team. Each member fulfills there domain requirement -- be it underwriting, contract review, or freight movement. When the market dries up, so what, the VFirm functions on a day by day or even moment by moment basis.

Do not get caught as those before you -- dad worked 27 years for xyz and guess what he got -- REMOVE ALL PRECONCEPTIONS AND START ANEW.

>>
>>Would a well developed program not speak louder than a degree ?

I wonder what that professor thought when they should him that newfangled piece of spaghetti code that later became known as Visicalc. Gosh, the student even dropped out of college -- probably should have stayed and got the degree, do you think?

>Since my experience covers both the trained and the self-taught, I
>can say it is very easy to miss the obvious if you teach yourself,

Do not great discoveries come from the wolf to smart to learn the obvious, therefore, creating what is not obvious to the pack.

>especially if you are creative. The degree shows you have at least
>been exposed to the basics, have at least the minimal ability to
>follow directions. I am constantly amazed at how rare that ability
>is.
>>
>>My tone is intended to be more inquisitive than suggestive.
 

>Since you are asking, the worst spaghetti code I have ever seen
>came from the self-taught. As well as the second worst. The
>third worst came from someone who previously had been an assembler
>programmer. A hint about appropriate training there.

The best training for a potential programmer: eat, drink, sleep, and re-code spaghetti code -- yes it is painful, but no pain no gain. I want to thank all the spaghetti coders I have followed, for they have forged upon me a greater skill.

"bits and bytes may break my code but comments will never hurt me." Mark Otero

I am out of wind, so, I will put up my sail and drop my anchor.

Best wishes,
Mark

                       !!!!!
                      /'_at_ @'\

| Freelance software consultant specializing in   |
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