🚀 go-pugleaf

vspicer@ccu.umanitoba.ca () writes:
>hi net world
>	i am interested in the current thread on formal programming education.
>some associates from high school have *claimed* (note i have problems
>swallowing this) that they have held major programming and marketing jobs
>in the industry with just high school education.
>	one fellow claimed to have worked as the product manager for a major
>software publisher/distributor, the other claims to have worked for litton
>systems (a canadian defence contractor) and the department of defence. both
>say they were making in excess of $100k a year since they were 17. 
>	this strikes me as being completely nuts, but they say there are
>"back doors" into most corporations where "ability" is worth more than
>formal training. 
> 	my degree is in physics and i've worked the past 2 years doing software
>design, electronics systems and general interfacing work for a research
>lab in the physics department. these guys claim with my experience in
>computer programming and hardware systems a job in the computer industry
>would be no problem, but i've always thought unless you have a masters
>in computer science or engineering most places aren't interested. 
>	musings apppreciated....

I suppose it's possible to make a hundred grand straight out of
high school, but it's getting less and less likely.  The computer
industry is speeding up, just like every other big business --
it takes too much time to see if somebody actually has any ability,
so employers take shortcuts (like checking for a masters) when hiring.
(This means they end up with a lot of formally educated people, by the
way, not a lot of able people.)
	I graduated with a BA in Political Science (and STOP laughing,
dammit) but I managed to wiggle in a back door and am merrily working at
in a programming job.  I'm not making a hundred grand, but I think I'm
doing a fair job of impressing people, especially for someone "without
a computer degree."  But I also know that I wouldn't have gotten the
job if I hadn't gone by the back door.
	There's three ways to get hired by a big computer company:

	o  Have a back door (a friend, an intership, a lot of related
	   experience...)
	o  Have a degree
	o  Have the guts to go and found your own company
	   (Bill Gates only has a high school diploma, too...)

-- 
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 Greg "Maddog" Knauss                      My boss doesn't know I'm doing this,
 greg@{duke|godzilla}.quotron.com                so I doubt he'd agree with me.
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