In Silicon Valley, it's no longer a status symbol to drive a Porsche - it's only a status symbol if your secretary drives a Porsche. Two years ago, she always screened candidates with drug tests and aptitude tests, but she doesn't have that luxury anymore. She puts up with the demands for window cubicles. She puts up with a COO demanding a chauffeur. She puts up with a programmer wanting to bring his 8-foot python to work.
System operators are in such demand.
It was the only way to get someone to work the late-late shift. I'm under a lot of pressure from our counsel to replace him. Getting new employees is only half the problem. Keeping the existing ones is even tougher. There's always a slightly better job for you in the Valley of Revolving Doors.