Non-tech industry person here. I'm here because I enjoy learning. My first science project strung standard DOS games to autorun via 5 1/4 floppy. I charted Lemonade Stand to maximize profits (and modified) to max everything. I've authored a very minor install manual for OpenEMR on Ubuntu Server on Windows 7. In an attempt to gain paid work, I voluntarily revised popular MS Access instructional manuals. (The author wondered why the editors he paid didn't catch these errors.) Well, I also studied communications and my funding requests have literally kept 100 people alive for seven years.

I enjoy creating presentations that others call "quality presentations. I taught Excel for adults for one semester. The students were rude. The administration worse.

I return to learn and seek employment to cure my unemployment. I'm an outsider looking in. I see the American tech community gripe about H1B, training your replacements, lack of jobs, low salaries, etc. I can see why you "techies" have these problems. The problem is you.

Former friends who called me "resourceful" and "intelligent" are employed by ACN, IBM, Bloomberg, and financial companies. I helped each in my own little way. Not once has any returned the favor or, even a call.

While at my first large financial institution (none of the above), my company computer was misbehaving. Call to first tech support said to call second. Call to second said to call third. Third said to call the first. I have docs that state it will take IT 20 hours to search emails. Why so long? Gmail does it in seconds.

I've spoken with a few tech recruiters. While you techies bemoan lack of opportunities, I bemoan lack of transparency, capability, and integrity. This is your system.

I've interviewed for BA and tech writer positions and seen managers' less-qualified friends receive the offer. Yes, in a few cases I have compared quals on paper. People don't leave jobs, they leave managers. Wasn't there a joke about "who's your manager" at Intel? This is your system. It's broken. Not only do you refuse this person who would LOVE the opp to PDCA all day, you treat me rudely while choosing the "more experienced" person yet you have no idea how well he or she succeeds.

"We can't possibly reply to all candidates..." Why can't you? Is your email broken? I receive your spam marketing every week...

I tried AutoCAD probably before most of you were born. It arrived on 12 5 1/4 floppies. No user manual. I maintained tech manuals for a dept. I've trained trainers on how to organize data and build a business plan on one sheet of paper - in one hour.

I checked in with the guard for a recent trainer interview. He said I was at the wrong building and I was sent 200 yards across the campus. That guard said I was at the wrong bldg. and sent me back to first bldg. My interviewer was now at the desk awaiting me, now late. She reminded the guard I was scheduled. I'm 20 min late and sweating in a suit.

The audience for my test presentation awaited me. Computers, monitors, keyboards, etc. were strewn across the presentation area. They scheduled this yet left these things where they intended I present in order to receive an offer from them.

Given three days to prepare my presentation, I impressed one so well she asked, "If you have no experience with our system, how do you know it so well?"

Oh, while working 70+ hours/week in temperatures that once hit 126F, I sought additional opportunity. I found it with a remote worker for IBM. He would travel to businesses and fix their POS, networks, etc. I was lucky to assist.

The mess in tech is your mess. You have no idea how to measure ability. You have no idea how to interview. You have no idea how to treat people decently. You drive away decent, capable, honest, people in favor of status quo. One day you'll get it but from what I see it won't be before you too are unemployed. I return to learn. It's a shame you are looking out for those who want to learn with you.