http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_39/b4002008.htm
2001-2006: Over a millon of jobs less in IT.
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U.S. corporations hire many hundreds of thousands of foreign IT people because they have no choice. There are not enough American IT workers. And, the American education system is failing to turn out qualified Americans.
Oh, and because they're a lot cheaper. There's that.
Oh, and because they're a lot cheaper. There's that.
There isn't a shortage of employable people. There are some great talents out there who have either given IT up as a viable field, or struggled so hard to get into a non-IT job that they don't care to change.
There aren't a lot of projects running so no need for PMs. That means that I either find something outside of that skill set or wait in line with all the other PMs for project work to come back. And hope. My partner is an App Architect and is being underutilised by his company because they don't know how to use him.
And let's face it- I constantly have to adjust my bill rate to remain competitive. That's hard.
There aren't a lot of projects running so no need for PMs. That means that I either find something outside of that skill set or wait in line with all the other PMs for project work to come back. And hope. My partner is an App Architect and is being underutilised by his company because they don't know how to use him.
And let's face it- I constantly have to adjust my bill rate to remain competitive. That's hard.
Sorry, Tigger. I didn't mean to be misleading. I was being sarcastic in my post (and apparently a little too subtle).
It is so obvious that there is no IT labor shortage. It is a complete lie and I am sick of hearing it. The massive employment of foreign IT workers (offshore and onshore) is ONLY about reducing the cost of labor.
It is so obvious that there is no IT labor shortage. It is a complete lie and I am sick of hearing it. The massive employment of foreign IT workers (offshore and onshore) is ONLY about reducing the cost of labor.
The problem was that I have been hearing how "competitive" and significantly "looser" the market is currently. Sometimes I get tired of the "rebounding market". It is only rebounding if you happen to not live here or can work for $9.00 an hour. It is really frustrating.
It gets difficult to keep trying in an industry that no longer values you. And I am at a complete loss at what to do about it. In 20 years, I have watched the entire market change and, while very capable, I am no longer able to participate in it.
I wish I knew what the answers are...
It gets difficult to keep trying in an industry that no longer values you. And I am at a complete loss at what to do about it. In 20 years, I have watched the entire market change and, while very capable, I am no longer able to participate in it.
I wish I knew what the answers are...
What can be done?
The answer is not an easy one to swallow and it varies depending on the very specific job you are doing. You have to face the reality (and I don't need to tell you this). Here are a few (mostly random) thoughts:
- The H-1B visa came into being in the early 1990s in order to provide IT labor (software engineers) during the dot com boom when there was a real shortage. It has stayed in order to drive wages down even though there is no longer any shortage whatsoever. I think of it as "revenge of the corporations". That is exactly what it is.
- Congress keeps at least reinstating the H-1B cap, if not raising it. There are some congress critters who are actively working (powered by corporate dollars) to completely eliminate the cap. Can you say "all hell breaking loose". It will be like when they turned off the power on the "grid" in Ghostbusters. Regardless of the specifics, I think Congress will work to ensure IT pay rates stay low in the U.S. (or go lower). It is VITAL to the global competitiveness of U.S. corporations. So, it will be done.
- There are NO LIMITS on the number of people corporations can move from offshore to onshore on the L-1 visa (a "transfer" from an offshore corporate office to an onshore one).
- When "free trade" agreements are negotiated, the U.S. negotiators give up the U.S. jobs to the foreign workers in exchange for the U.S. corporations getting to operate offshore. Nice, huh.
- In general, the solution is to stay out of the way. The foreign IT workers (mostly software engineers) are coming to the USA in large numbers on H-1B and L-1 visas. Other other IT jobs are leaving he USA (to India, China, etc). U.S. software engineers are getting hit and that's that. If you are not directly affected, you are one of the "walking dead". Think about it.
- Any IT job that mostly sits in front of a computer (e.g. software engineer, tech tele-support, etc) will be directly affected. If you're in one of those jobs, the best advice is to make plans and get out into something related no matter how painful and unattractive that option might seem (management, field tech support, marketing, sales). This is the bitter pill that a U.S. software engineer must swallow. I'm a career software engineer myself and I am sad about this. My sadness does not change the reality.
- Here are some obvious ones: 1. Become a IT recruiter (temp and/or perm) specializing in bringing offshore IT talent to the U.S. on H-1B visa (lots of competion in this). 2. Start a consulting firm that specializes in using offshore software engineers to do work for US-based firms (massive competition here too, not recommended unless you are very clever...maybe you are!).
- If you are a software engineer and want to stay one and want to continue making good money, you're going to have to do something about it. Example: Start your own software firm (of course, then you're not just a software engineer anymore). On the other hand, as Max points out so very well, this is the OPPORTUNITY in front of you. Grab it! One door has closed. You must open another.
- Even defense IT jobs are directly affected by H-1Bs. But, top security ones are not directly affected (only indirectly...lower market rates) as they will want U.S. citizens with security clearances.
- Did you know? It is India's goal as a country to dominate software engineering and IT jobs. This is very much like the kind of national initiatives that Japan has done in the past (autos, steel, etc).
- Any software engineering job that will pay sufficient money will be pursued by the foreign IT workers. Plan on it.
- You might be able to find an off-beat but still important software engineering specialty. This used to include such things as SQL database tuning, but I don't think that one is going to last that long. Too big.
- If your job involves direct customer interaction, there will be some relief because the customer will get what he demands. If he wants an American, and is willing to pay for it, he will get it. This does not apply to software engineering.
- Above all, do not swallow the BS that some industry leaders send forth. Software engineering is NOT a good profession to pursue in the USA anymore. They will ALWAYS seek to push down your rates by injecting cheap foreign IT people. It's like the old mathematical game: "Give me an epsilon" (ask me if you haven't heard this one).
The answer is not an easy one to swallow and it varies depending on the very specific job you are doing. You have to face the reality (and I don't need to tell you this). Here are a few (mostly random) thoughts:
- The H-1B visa came into being in the early 1990s in order to provide IT labor (software engineers) during the dot com boom when there was a real shortage. It has stayed in order to drive wages down even though there is no longer any shortage whatsoever. I think of it as "revenge of the corporations". That is exactly what it is.
- Congress keeps at least reinstating the H-1B cap, if not raising it. There are some congress critters who are actively working (powered by corporate dollars) to completely eliminate the cap. Can you say "all hell breaking loose". It will be like when they turned off the power on the "grid" in Ghostbusters. Regardless of the specifics, I think Congress will work to ensure IT pay rates stay low in the U.S. (or go lower). It is VITAL to the global competitiveness of U.S. corporations. So, it will be done.
- There are NO LIMITS on the number of people corporations can move from offshore to onshore on the L-1 visa (a "transfer" from an offshore corporate office to an onshore one).
- When "free trade" agreements are negotiated, the U.S. negotiators give up the U.S. jobs to the foreign workers in exchange for the U.S. corporations getting to operate offshore. Nice, huh.
- In general, the solution is to stay out of the way. The foreign IT workers (mostly software engineers) are coming to the USA in large numbers on H-1B and L-1 visas. Other other IT jobs are leaving he USA (to India, China, etc). U.S. software engineers are getting hit and that's that. If you are not directly affected, you are one of the "walking dead". Think about it.
- Any IT job that mostly sits in front of a computer (e.g. software engineer, tech tele-support, etc) will be directly affected. If you're in one of those jobs, the best advice is to make plans and get out into something related no matter how painful and unattractive that option might seem (management, field tech support, marketing, sales). This is the bitter pill that a U.S. software engineer must swallow. I'm a career software engineer myself and I am sad about this. My sadness does not change the reality.
- Here are some obvious ones: 1. Become a IT recruiter (temp and/or perm) specializing in bringing offshore IT talent to the U.S. on H-1B visa (lots of competion in this). 2. Start a consulting firm that specializes in using offshore software engineers to do work for US-based firms (massive competition here too, not recommended unless you are very clever...maybe you are!).
- If you are a software engineer and want to stay one and want to continue making good money, you're going to have to do something about it. Example: Start your own software firm (of course, then you're not just a software engineer anymore). On the other hand, as Max points out so very well, this is the OPPORTUNITY in front of you. Grab it! One door has closed. You must open another.
- Even defense IT jobs are directly affected by H-1Bs. But, top security ones are not directly affected (only indirectly...lower market rates) as they will want U.S. citizens with security clearances.
- Did you know? It is India's goal as a country to dominate software engineering and IT jobs. This is very much like the kind of national initiatives that Japan has done in the past (autos, steel, etc).
- Any software engineering job that will pay sufficient money will be pursued by the foreign IT workers. Plan on it.
- You might be able to find an off-beat but still important software engineering specialty. This used to include such things as SQL database tuning, but I don't think that one is going to last that long. Too big.
- If your job involves direct customer interaction, there will be some relief because the customer will get what he demands. If he wants an American, and is willing to pay for it, he will get it. This does not apply to software engineering.
- Above all, do not swallow the BS that some industry leaders send forth. Software engineering is NOT a good profession to pursue in the USA anymore. They will ALWAYS seek to push down your rates by injecting cheap foreign IT people. It's like the old mathematical game: "Give me an epsilon" (ask me if you haven't heard this one).
As I am Project Management, I am looking for work unrelated to IT. Got a call for a project yesterday- they wanted to know what dialect I speak. This does not bode well. But in a small shop, I would still be considered an asset- I can configure a server as well as keep projects on track. I am exploring those kinds of options.
My partner has it a bit tougher- he has development expereince in a number of languages in addition to the ability to construct complex applications in complex environments. Where he might be safe is that he has managed off-shore teams in the development of complex solutions.
I have been playing with the security idea- I don't see security going off-shore. Especially in the compliance/audit space. As I have some entry level experience in that arena, I may be able to leverage that.
Bottom line- I have learned to completely ignore the so called "industry experts". I don't see the "recovery" that they have been touting. I am sad to see this turn of events- I built a career doing something I loved and am watching that die.
You mentioned the goal of industry domination. Kinda reminds me of Japan in the 30s. Wasn't that goal of domination a driver to 1941?
My partner has it a bit tougher- he has development expereince in a number of languages in addition to the ability to construct complex applications in complex environments. Where he might be safe is that he has managed off-shore teams in the development of complex solutions.
I have been playing with the security idea- I don't see security going off-shore. Especially in the compliance/audit space. As I have some entry level experience in that arena, I may be able to leverage that.
Bottom line- I have learned to completely ignore the so called "industry experts". I don't see the "recovery" that they have been touting. I am sad to see this turn of events- I built a career doing something I loved and am watching that die.
You mentioned the goal of industry domination. Kinda reminds me of Japan in the 30s. Wasn't that goal of domination a driver to 1941?
The IT industry has been sounding that same old same old line for decades now about the terminal shortage of IT people. If it was true then companies wouldn't be trying to hire you for $9.00 per hour--that's right, folks, $9.00 per hour her in good old Ben Franklin's Pennsylvania. MONEY has always been the issue; Indians and twentysomethings will take the nine bucks and thats the reality of today.
Sorry, James. I didn't mean to be misleading. I was being sarcastic in my post (and apparently a little too subtle).
It is so obvious that there is no IT labor shortage. It is a complete lie and I am sick of hearing it. The massive employment of foreign IT workers (offshore and onshore) is ONLY about reducing the cost of labor.
It is so obvious that there is no IT labor shortage. It is a complete lie and I am sick of hearing it. The massive employment of foreign IT workers (offshore and onshore) is ONLY about reducing the cost of labor.
http://www.futurepotentialit.com/
Jobs in IT are Back!
IT employment is at a record high. US companies are investing in IT, including tech payrolls, in order to grow their businesses. Now is the time to prepare for another boom in the area of IT, but with a new opportunity for job seekers with business skills.
Jobs in IT are Back!
IT employment is at a record high. US companies are investing in IT, including tech payrolls, in order to grow their businesses. Now is the time to prepare for another boom in the area of IT, but with a new opportunity for job seekers with business skills.
Went to an IT school I was told there were over 100,000 IT jobs to be filled. That was 1999; I was working on computers long before that. After I left the school, mid 2000 there were still allot of IT jobs.
But a year latter any job that paid great was gone unless it had to be done on site. And some of them were out sourced to contractors.
It is not the out sourced people or the people from other countries that make a job hard to find!
It is the company or more to the point it is the head of the companies and their paid government contacts that keep US people from getting a high paying job.
I know I will get bashed for this but look at any job pay rate for high paying jobs. And look at it from 1999 to 2004, look at what has been outsourced and what the outsourced employee is paid compared to what a US employee was paid.
I also looked at what customers of an out sourced company said about the help or response to a problem.
Guess what? Dell has moved there help desk back to the US, I hope others will do the same.
I have been working with Acer, monitors with a major problem and the hold time is at least 30 to 45 minutes just to talk to some one.
I thought it was good practice to respond fast and to help the customer!
But what do I know.
But a year latter any job that paid great was gone unless it had to be done on site. And some of them were out sourced to contractors.
It is not the out sourced people or the people from other countries that make a job hard to find!
It is the company or more to the point it is the head of the companies and their paid government contacts that keep US people from getting a high paying job.
I know I will get bashed for this but look at any job pay rate for high paying jobs. And look at it from 1999 to 2004, look at what has been outsourced and what the outsourced employee is paid compared to what a US employee was paid.
I also looked at what customers of an out sourced company said about the help or response to a problem.
Guess what? Dell has moved there help desk back to the US, I hope others will do the same.
I have been working with Acer, monitors with a major problem and the hold time is at least 30 to 45 minutes just to talk to some one.
I thought it was good practice to respond fast and to help the customer!
But what do I know.
It's not USA phenomenon, it's global. It has nothing to do with visas and stuff.
In the good old days before globalization, there were dozens of markets, and dozens of competing companies on every market. Every company had its development team, Nowadays, it's one global market, with a couple of global competing corporations. Demand for creative, R&D work in IT is consequently about 10 to 100 times smaller. It doesn't matter whether program is sold in 1, 10, 10000, or billion of copies- in any case, it only has to be written once. As for routine IT work- computers are doing it.
This radical decrease of demand hit rank and file IT workforce first, of course. While it was downsized, everything was more or less silent. Now, when lack of demand hit academic circles, all kinds of bellyaching broke loose- critical it labour shortage, it skill pipeline crisis, and stuff like this. Less IT jobs means smaller IT workforce, which in turn also means less academic jobs.
There's not much that can be done here. IT jobs are gone, and we can only hope they won't be back. Why? IT jobs go where the cheapest workforce is. Once India becomes too expensive, they will go to China. If and when China becomes too expensive, to the places like Mongolia, Moldova, Somalia, Kosovo, and so on. So, if and when IT jobs start reappearing, this will be a sure sign, that your country won the international "working for peanuts" competition. Congratulations!
In the good old days before globalization, there were dozens of markets, and dozens of competing companies on every market. Every company had its development team, Nowadays, it's one global market, with a couple of global competing corporations. Demand for creative, R&D work in IT is consequently about 10 to 100 times smaller. It doesn't matter whether program is sold in 1, 10, 10000, or billion of copies- in any case, it only has to be written once. As for routine IT work- computers are doing it.
This radical decrease of demand hit rank and file IT workforce first, of course. While it was downsized, everything was more or less silent. Now, when lack of demand hit academic circles, all kinds of bellyaching broke loose- critical it labour shortage, it skill pipeline crisis, and stuff like this. Less IT jobs means smaller IT workforce, which in turn also means less academic jobs.
There's not much that can be done here. IT jobs are gone, and we can only hope they won't be back. Why? IT jobs go where the cheapest workforce is. Once India becomes too expensive, they will go to China. If and when China becomes too expensive, to the places like Mongolia, Moldova, Somalia, Kosovo, and so on. So, if and when IT jobs start reappearing, this will be a sure sign, that your country won the international "working for peanuts" competition. Congratulations!
The problem is that the current administration hasn't met a corporate bribe they didn't like.
Large corporations these days don't give a rat's butt about employees or customers. They only want to rake in huge profits which they don't re-invest in the company, or share with employees.
The present administration not only removed trade barriers to cheap foreign labour, but they implemented tax incentives to do so. As bad as IT has been hit by this kind of corporate greed, look at the auto industry. The whole country is being gutted.
On a side note, has ANYONE EVER gotten a job through Monster?
Large corporations these days don't give a rat's butt about employees or customers. They only want to rake in huge profits which they don't re-invest in the company, or share with employees.
The present administration not only removed trade barriers to cheap foreign labour, but they implemented tax incentives to do so. As bad as IT has been hit by this kind of corporate greed, look at the auto industry. The whole country is being gutted.
On a side note, has ANYONE EVER gotten a job through Monster?
I got my current job off DICE last year, after sending out hundreds of resumes. I'm no longer programming, now I run the office where they help place IT people.
The market has opened up in the last year; there are more jobs. Two years agos, there just weren't very many at all. But of course, companies want all the current skills with 2 years experience, even though the app came out 6 months ago...
The market has opened up in the last year; there are more jobs. Two years agos, there just weren't very many at all. But of course, companies want all the current skills with 2 years experience, even though the app came out 6 months ago...
NOPE! Not one and no recruiting calls from this site but I only have the free version.
The free version of CareerBuilder is much better, seems a lot of recruiters use the search on this site or least for me. Now I will tell you a friend not looking for a job went to the site. I do not know how she entered her profile but she said she started getting emails about jobs not anywhere near what she posted as her career title. The free version sends me two emails twice a week. One of the emails are just general jobs. My opinion for this is some kind of way to help pay for the free version in additon to advertising.
LinkedIn is another site where I only have the free version, no jobs emailed to me, a friend said it never did anything for her but I like the site and maybe if one payed for the other types of accounts better results may occur.
A lot of companies have a website where some of them allow you to enter your resume into their system for searches when hiring. Almost all have a career opportunties link.
The free version of CareerBuilder is much better, seems a lot of recruiters use the search on this site or least for me. Now I will tell you a friend not looking for a job went to the site. I do not know how she entered her profile but she said she started getting emails about jobs not anywhere near what she posted as her career title. The free version sends me two emails twice a week. One of the emails are just general jobs. My opinion for this is some kind of way to help pay for the free version in additon to advertising.
LinkedIn is another site where I only have the free version, no jobs emailed to me, a friend said it never did anything for her but I like the site and maybe if one payed for the other types of accounts better results may occur.
A lot of companies have a website where some of them allow you to enter your resume into their system for searches when hiring. Almost all have a career opportunties link.
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