Subj : Software Job Market Myths
To   : comp.programming,comp.software-eng
From : Terry
Date : Wed Jun 29 2005 01:24 am


The following myths are misconceptions that are hurting the U.S. and
European software industries. These misconceptions are reducing employment
in the software job market. They are hurting the lives of programmers. There
may be misinformation spread by companies that profit from outsourcing, by
established "big-business" software consultants, or recruiters. There is
just plain ignorance and false beliefs held over from the 1990s bubble.
Sadly, some software engineers continue to believe and propagate these
myths.

Many of you will take exception to the list below because it threatens your
salary. If you are a software engineer and still make $70,000 per year, feel
lucky, but don't feel entitled. Some engineers have out-of-this-world
talent, and deserve even higher salaries. If this is you, good for you. This
list is not about the few super-talented engineers.


Misconceptions:


1. Any good programmer requires $60,000 to $90,000 per year or more.
(Wrong. They may only require $40,000, or less, depending on the job. Entry
level programmers just out of college, many of whom are very capable, can be
hired for $30,000. It's not the 1990s anymore. There are many unemployed
engineers. The crazed demand for programmers is gone. Programmers require no
more pay than intelligent, educated, skilled workers in other professions.)


2. Any unemployed engineer must be unemployed for a reason and is not worth
hiring.
(Wrong. Many excellent engineers were let go simply because their employers
went out of business or drastically downsized. It's important to understand
that there was a true software market bubble and it burst. This, together
with dramatically increased outsourcing, has permanently changed the
software industry landscape. Many large software companies are simply not
hiring any US programmers as a policy.)


3. Hiring managers must demand years of hands-on experience doing exactly
what they need. 
(Wrong. Any decent, college educated programmer can probably figure things
out quickly, possibly in a matter of minutes. Programmers are not like other
office help who can't function if you change their word processor.
Programmers understand software at a much deeper level. Most programmers
have been exposed to hundreds of different tools and environments throughout
their education and careers. Programmers are accustom to change. In fact,
many programmers with decades of experience have never worked on a similar
project twice. Programmers notice the similarities and themes in different
products. This allows them to adapt and learn to use new tools quickly.)


4. A programmer that lacks experience will require training.
(Wrong. Any good programmer can find the information they need and
essentially train themselves. Most hiring managers fail to appreciate how
all engineers have had to do this constantly in every job they have ever
had. Things change at light speed in the software development industry and
they always have. Learning to use a new API, a new tool, a new component, is
simply part of the job. Engineers don't even think of it as training. It's
part of engineering.)


5. Salaries listed in "Salary Calculators" at HotJobs or Information Week
reflect the industry and must be used for starting pay.
(Wrong. These numbers come from people who anonymously volunteer their
salaries. They put in larger than true numbers for three reasons. They hope
to raise the average for their profession thereby raising their own pay when
their review comes. They are asked to estimate their benefits, which they
are not good at doing. They wish they were making more and so fool
themselves or put what they wish they were making for the fun of it. Many
programmers do not read these publications or respond to the survey. That
means the surveys are not a representative sample of the industry. Finally,
there remains a gap between those who did not lose their jobs when the
bubble burst and new hires. Many who are still employed from the bubble are
now making much more than the true industry norms.)


6. Software consultants and full-time programmers are only for "big
businesses" and cannot benefit smaller "mom & pop" businesses.
(Wrong. Most small business owners are pathetically clues about what custom
software can do for them. Software can save so much time and money it's
crazy. It can totally replace employees. It can save months of work. It can
make almost every business more competitive.)


7. Shrink wrapped software today can fill every need.
(Wrong. Most every business has specialized processes that are unique for
that business. Most every business has a competitive advantage that makes
them different. Even when it comes to shrink wrapped software like MS Excel
or Access, you likely need the skills of a programmer to get the most out
software of this kind.)


8. Software consultants and full-time programmers are too expensive for
smaller "mom & pop" businesses.
(Wrong. Most businesses could realize a huge return on investment. A
programmer need not cost $100/hour.)


9. People with real experience using a particular software product are
better suited than people with experience developing similar software.
(Wrong. This item is referring to programmers who may be looking for
non-programming technician jobs. This misconception reflects a huge lack of
understanding, respect, and appreciation for the capabilities of
programmers. Programmers understand software from the inside out. We can
predict what software will do. We know why it works as it does, and why it
fails. We can often fix things when they go wrong, instead of just calling
someone else. Depending on the situation, asking a software engineer if they
have full-time job experience using a particular software product, can be as
silly as asking an electrician if they have experience flipping a light
switch.)

.