Why Computing ?

[Halo Jones]

velly good money where I am, Go-senmon wa, jo mata Halo Jones.

Translation please?

[SueEllen]

I would say because the market is saturated with IT Graduates, so their worth has plummeted.

It's the foreign imports that have made a difference.

Plus now lots of companies think IT is an everyday commodity that anyone can do like at RBS.

[Ignis Fatuus]

... now lots of companies think IT is an everyday commodity that anyone can do like at RBS.

That's because agencies commoditised it because they don't understand computing, only keyword searches. And HR bought the idea because they don't understand either.

You want C# SQL Java, we have it.
You want a good programmer?? We don't make moral judgements.....

[OwlHoot]

True dat. Permie salaries haven't moved in well over a decade. I was on £55K as a permie in the late nineties and if anything the pay has fallen, but the cost of living has doubled easily.

WHS

You must be me (apart from the electronics)

[Mich the Tester]

That's because agencies commoditised it because they don't understand computing, only keyword searches. And HR bought the idea because they don't understand either.

whs

But at least agents understand how to make money; I've no idea what skills HR have. I suspect it's a pseudo-profession.

[MyUserName]

I got into computing by accident. I was aiming to become an actuary or an accountant. Did a degree in maths and had to find a job for my third year (a sandwich course, not sure if you still get those but they rock!).

Ended up working at Lockheed Martin and was going to do the maths behind visor holograms for fighter pilots. Got there and everything had changed. They said 'can you program' I replied 'no' and they said 'here is a book on C++, learn to program because we need you to fix this software'.

I did not even know how to run developer studio at that point (I had to be shown as I have never seen Windows 95/NT before). I learned and eventually realised that I could make as much money programming as I could working as an actuary and have an awful lot less work to do too!

I reluctantly went back to university and could not wait to be done with the course and get back to being a software engineer.

Of the guys in my year from school only 2 of them were on more money than me before I started contracting and one of them was Shane Williams, the rugby player.

[vetran]

I was in electronics repair and it became obvious that was going the way of the Dodo.
Replace rather than repair.

I wanted to move into something I started repairing phones. Then building PC based voice mails.

I started doing the network and I was off.

For the first time I was earning above average wage.

Haven't dipped below since. Interesting work, in comfy office and the chance to travel.