From: troye@cs.mcgill.ca (Troy ENGLISH)
Subject: Re: CS Job Market: What Is The Story?
Organization: SOCS, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 21:24:06 GMT

In article <8181-PCNews-124beta@jacc.com> jcarroll@jacc.com writes:
>870086t@aucs.acadiau.ca (Shannon Tremblay @ Acadia University) once wrote....
>>
>>
>>I recently read an article in "DIRECT ACCESS", March27, 1992, top of page 6;
>>for those who what to check for themselves.  The article is called 
>>"Crisis Situation" and speaks of a report, called "Software and National Competitiveness: Human Resource Issues and Opportunities," funded by Employment and
>>Immigration Canada and co-sponsored by  CATA and CIPS.
>>
>>In the article it is suggested that there is currently a shortage of software
>>workers that could reach over 14000 by 1995.
>>
>>It goes on to suggest that 12000 to 14000 more jobs will be available to people
>>in the software industry by 1995.
>>
>>****
>>
>>MY QUESTION IS THIS
>>
>>As a graduating student with a BCS and 16 months of Co-op experience behind
>>me and no job waiting for me at present;  I question the accuracy of these
>>statements.  I know of a number of students here on campus, also graduating
>>that are asking the same questions.
>>If there is a shortage of workers, then WHY can we not get jobs.
>>
>>What is the sensus for the rest of the country?  Are the jobs available?
>>Am I simply looking in the wrong places?
>>
>>Based on the numbers from the article I read, I would expect companies to 
>>be breaking down the doors trying to hire graduating students.
>>
>>
>>Be sure to post your replys as there must be others asking the same questions.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>Hope to hear from you all   :-)
>>
>>Shannon Tremblay
>>graduating class May, 1992
>>               (at least I hope so :-) :-)
>>
>>Acadia University
>>Wolfville, NS
>>
>>
>
>I met with some students from Humber College a few weeks ago. They echoed
>your sentiments. I asked them what they were being taught : it was typical
>*large data processing environment* concepts, with COBOL and RPG.
>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.....
>
 I don't know what world you are living in but frankly after doing lots
 of looking for summer jobs and talking to 'corporate canada' the things
 they want you to know are simple...Dbase and Cobol. Dbase more than
 anything, they couldn't give a damn about any theory you might know.
 Oh, they kind of appreciate Clipper and they consider FoxPro to be
 exotic and have never even heard of lisp. C will do you well too but
 nothing like Dbase. So... if you want a job go to one of those job
 grindmills that advertise about 'your futur in software programming'
 where they will spend the entire time teaching you Dbase, lotus and 
 workperfect.

>Somehow, the educational system is relying on the curriculum of the 80's
>and Corporate Canada has moved into the 90's.

	Hardly. 
>
Troy


-- 
*****************************************************************
--Your naive idiocy makes me very angry -- Job (The Lawnmower man)
"I want to lie Shipwrecked and comatose, drinking fresh mango juice"
--Part of Themesong to Red Dwarf
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