Steve Jones - SSC Editor (6/25/2012)
Jeff Moden (6/24/2012)
I find that interviews are an interesting measure of how many people are interested in computers and how many are actually skilled at it. Judging from the numbers, there's certainly no lack of interest in computers no matter the disipline and no matter the gender. But there's certaily, as you say, a shortage of qualified candidates. There are a lot of people interested especially in the money aspect but very few who want to spend the time really getting good at it.Perhaps the next generation saw the time their parents put into IT and decided not to do the same. That works out kind of good for us old timers. There's no age discimination when you're in demand. 🙂
Interest in computers or computing? I think tons of people like the gadgetry aspect of computers and see the use, but are there that many interested in learning how they work and how to build new systems? I'm not sure there are lots.
I would agree there are plenty that don't want to work to get better. The same problem applies to doctors, but they manage to attract people willing to work. Shouldn't we?
I should have clarified. Most of the interest isn't actually in computers or software. Most of the interest is in the $$$ some people make in the IT business.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.