🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Apr9.204810.16255@den.mmc.com> norman@possum.den.mmc.com (Steve Norman) writes:
>Felt I ought to add my two cents worth (American):
>
>I Co-Op'd for two years at the US NIST (National Institude of Standards
>and Technology). This experience was invaluable and has given me a big
>advantage over my peers ever since. WHY? I learned that to succeed in
>the computer world, you had better understand as many facets of the 
>field as possible - networking, operating systems, database mgmt,
>programming languages, software engineering, user interface 
>technologies, basic principles of the hardware. What does this give
>you? FLEXIBILITY! In my experience, corporations do not what a 
>button-hole fit for any specific job. They want someone with good
>QUALITIEs as well as good capabilities. Qualities like initiative, 
>dependability, honesty, and ability to work with many different
>types of people. 
>
>Now this is a lot to ask of anyone. In fact, in my experience most
>people do not even come close. I have worked with (and for) way
>too many marginal people in my career. But that is the real world
>we live in. New graduates face a tough challenge - instead of being
>looked at as bringing fresh thoughts, innovation, etc - they are
>viewed as being cheap labor that will require a lot of EXPENSIVE
>hand-holding by existing more Senior staff. This view is really
>stupid and short-sighted if you ask me. After all, everyone was
>new at one point or another.
>
>So my advice to new graduates - learn as much as you can about
>as much as you can, hone your people skills, accept criticisms
>willingly, and maintain your self confidence. If you are a GOOD
>person, people will eventually recognize you as good and place
>their trust and faith in your professional views. 
>
>Enough pontificating...
>
>========================================================================
>Steve Norman                  +             Disclaimer:
>Sr. Software Engineer         +   All views are those of the Author.
>Martin Marietta Astronautics  +        Feel free to disagree.
>Denver, Colorado, USA         +      After all, this is the USA.
>========================================================================


I have to agree.  I found a quote from a Heinlein book that I think is
appropriate to this line of thought and have tried to follow its philosphy.

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a
hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a
wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act
alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer,
cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.

Specialization is for insects.

Lazarus Long