From: christo@bcarh803.BNR.CA (Mark Christopher)
Newsgroups: can.general,ont.general
Subject: Re: CS Job Market: What Is The Story?
Date: 12 Apr 92 19:00:34 GMT
Reply-To: christo@bnr.ca
Distribution: can
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.

In article <1992Apr09.145724.4808@revcan.rct.ca>, dave@revcan.rct.ca
(David Blackwood) writes:
|>In article <1992Apr9.003924.5953@ccu.umanitoba.ca>
rafiq@silver.cs.umanitoba.ca (Salik Rafiq) writes:
|>>In article <8181-PCNews-124beta@jacc.com> jcarroll@jacc.com writes:
|>>>What are companies looking for? People who can program in C; people who
|>>>can put together applications using API's; people who can integrate
|>>>Novell networks and other assorted stuff.....
|>>>
|>>>Somehow, the educational system is relying on the curriculum of the 80's
|>>>and Corporate Canada has moved into the 90's.
[[...followups deleted...]]

Before I add a few random thoughts let me say I am, of course, speaking
only for myself, not my employer (BNR).

In the past few years, I have seen many co-op and new grads hired here
from universities all across Canada.  My comments are general and do not
apply to any particular educational institute.

The biggest problem anybody has is the way they present themselves in
interviews and their resume.  If the front page of your resume does not
pass muster, then forget it.  Of course, the characteristics expected of
co-op students are less than those expected of new graduates.  Of all of
the co-op students I have seen, I admit that I have been unimpressed with
a good number of them for reasons including: not asking for something
new to do when the old tasks are finished (means you don't need to be
continually supervised); asking for help if you are stuck; willing to
learn new things; you accomplish things in a reasonable amount of time
(can manage your time, and don't waste all day reading news or sending
mail to your buddies); ability to come up with a good design solution
for a problem; etc.

I agree with someone else who wrote something like "after four years I
should be able to pick up any new skill".  However, I have seen many
cases where this ability is sadly lacking.  In some cases, there is even
resistance to learning new skills.  To paraphrase David Blackwood, a
certain basic set of skills is required.  Also remember that a large part
of any job -- even if you are the sole s/w developer in a company -- is
communication.  If you can't write well (and spelling counts too!), that
is a major hindrance to you.  And finally, if you are in engineering, make
sure you have a solid background in software design and programming skills.

I believe this thread started because there has been a lot of press about
the problem of the shortage of software designers.  I think there is truth
to this if you add "good" in front of "software designers" and you think
of this as a coming problem.  I don't think a shortage exists right now.
Although, as you know, there is still a recession and many companies are
being very careful about new hiring.

-- 
Mark Christopher                                christo@bnr.ca
Bell-Northern Research                  ..!uunet!bnrgate!bcarh803!christo
     Speaking only for myself...
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