IT Skill Shortage

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janp0s

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IOL http://www.ioljobs.co.za/article_view.php?fArticleId=3866253

Is this a bad thing, yes... but this is at least one place where the skilled ppl cannot be booted like whats happening in the Health Department.

For as long as our country has a severe IT skill shortage, I CAN stay in this country.

This may sound wrong, but when in a country that thrives on doing wrong, this doesnt feel wrong.

But IT skilled ppl should milk this country and especially the gavamant while they can.
 
The sad thing is Telkom is just forcing more and more senior IT guys out of the country...

If internet developers stay here we fall further and further behind the first world developers....

How can we possibly create something like YouTube, could you imagine the bandwidth cost?
 
Hmmm...you'd think it would be easier for an IT grad to get a job if this is the case.
 
No graduate has it easy finding a job, since all employers want years experience...

But for those with the experience milk, milk, milk the damn cow...
 
I'm a qualified Oracle database administrator, I have had a decent java programming course and extensive systems design and analysis training. I will not work in IT though, I can't stand working with systems which will frustrate me. I realised this only after finishing the course. There is more money to made in easier, more fun professions.
 
Luckily I have another degree, the finance industry is nice. Accountants make more money than people do employed in IT, unless the IT position is very high up. It would be difficult for other IT professionals to switch careers in to another specialised service, but could be worth it in the long term.
 
lsuacner said:
Luckily I have another degree, the finance industry is nice. Accountants make more money than people do employed in IT, unless the IT position is very high up. It would be difficult for other IT professionals to switch careers in to another specialised service, but could be worth it in the long term.
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Well, my brother is an accountant (with a degree), and I am in IT (no degree) and I make almost double his salary... We started working at the same time.
 
andres101 said:
what about myvideo? it is probably hosted in US though...
Click to expand...

hosted in the US and not doing that well.

There are not enough clients in SA for online businesses...

Just look at myADSL, it is the most popular forum in the country and it doesn't even rank on the world scale really...

I blame Telkom completely....
 
What is your job description? I expect 8k for my IT qualification (certified Oracle database administrator, java developer, systems designer and analysis, further I have extensive Linux experience, as my desktop has been Linux for the past 8 years) and 17k for my accounting qualification. I can be a financial or managerial accountant, or an auditor. I would prefer not to work in IT though, a person needs godlike patience.
 
I dont know where you guys work, but where I work all the IT ppl dont make less than 25k p/m

The contractors are pulling anything from R250 p/h and up...

Maybe you guys must get better qaulifications... like a Bsc.

All these little courses means ****... At university they teach you how to think for YOURSELF, where as these mediocre courses teach you squat.
 
janp03s said:
I dont know where you guys work, but where I work all the IT ppl dont make less than 25k p/m

The contractors are pulling anything from R250 p/h and up...

Maybe you guys must get better qaulifications... like a Bsc.

All these little courses means ****... At university they teach you how to think for YOURSELF, where as these mediocre courses teach you squat.
Click to expand...

Jeez where do you work...? When I started in IT with a BSc I earned R6K pm that was five years ago. The degree alone gets you no where as there are lots of other grads currently looking for jobs. My brother started at R8K p/m last year also with a Bsc, in JHB.
I'd say the people earning in excess of 25K p/m are those with at least 4-5 years experience.
 
Just a stab in the dark here, but the reason I think there is an apparant shortage is probably because the IT market has been exploited by the recruitment agencies. They promise companies skills they cannot deliver for an unreasonable amount of money. If you want to understand what i mean, read some of the ads in the career times. They almost always ask for about 3 different career paths for one salary, which only a desperate person will apply for. Usually it goes something like this.


IT Systems Analyst - 2-5 years in similar role. An exciting opportunity exists in this leading innovative financial compnay. You would have previous experience in a Banking or financial environment and working experience with Network and Server hardware. Excellent knowledge, certificates to prove, of Oracle, SQL and Active Directory. Windows 2003 certification a must. Essential understanding of .Net framework, Web security and development lifecycle. Project management experience essential. 2nd line support work will be your main activity, with occassional cover on 1st line. Solaris and Unix experience a big advantage. R12000 CTC, neg.

And I'm reading this thinking..... WTF!!

The REAL reason we have a shortage of IT skills is simple.
THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY US WHAT WE ARE WORTH!!
THEY being a %variable% of course!:-)

FACT, EU recommends 5% of a companies total expenditure should be towards IT. In my previous company our IT director bragged that if he doubled everyone's salary in the company, he wouldn't even be close to breaking the 5% mark.
 
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lsuacner said:
What is your job description? I expect 8k for my IT qualification (certified Oracle database administrator, java developer, systems designer and analysis, further I have extensive Linux experience, as my desktop has been Linux for the past 8 years) and 17k for my accounting qualification. I can be a financial or managerial accountant, or an auditor. I would prefer not to work in IT though, a person needs godlike patience.
Click to expand...

I dont have any qualifications, just experience and Im making R13 000 pm...
 
janp03s said:
All these little courses means ****... At university they teach you how to think for YOURSELF, where as these mediocre courses teach you squat.
Click to expand...

I have a University qualification, still think it is worth 8k a month. Only later with experience it will be worth more, but accounting will be worth even more after 2 years.
 
Griffin said:
IT Systems Analyst - 2-5 years in similar role. An exciting opportunity exists in this leading innovative financial compnay. You would have previous experience in a Banking or financial environment and working experience with Network and Server hardware. Excellent knowledge, certificates to prove, of Oracle, SQL and Active Directory. Windows 2003 certification a must. Essential understanding of .Net framework, Web security and development lifecycle. Project management experience essential. 2nd line support work will be your main activity, with occassional cover on 1st line. Solaris and Unix experience a big advantage. R12000 CTC, neg.

And I'm reading this thinking..... WTF!!
Click to expand...

I know how you feel, its freakin sad... :(
have a look at this job post:
Technical Support job in UK
18000 pounds a month for "1 to 2 years of customer service experience"
18000 pounds a month is like 3m Rands a year! :eek:
 
supersunbird said:
I dont have any qualifications, just experience and Im making R13 000 pm...
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With a degree plus your experience, you could more than double that amount.
Also if you work for a big corporate, don't expect to ascend to a position of influence without qualifications...You might end up doing support and troubleshooting for the rest of your life...
 
NaZKuL said:
I know how you feel, its freakin sad... :(
have a look at this job post:
Technical Support job in UK
18000 pounds a month for "1 to 2 years of customer service experience"
18000 pounds a month is like 3m Rands a year! :eek:
Click to expand...

A while back a UK average salary for IT was an equivalent of R300K. In SA R300k is bit of a pie in the sky for most IT proffesionals...but factoring the different costs of living, I would say IT salaries are on par here...
 
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