How to address the IT skills shortage

[rpm]

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/General/1345.html

 

[TheRoDent]

How to address the IT skills shortage.


1. Double salaries to match international standards.
2. Explain to clients why they need to pay more, instead of less.

 

[stuyv]

How

to address the IT skills shortage.


1. Double salaries to match international standards.
2. Explain to clients why they need to pay more, instead of less.
__________________

AMEN !

To MUCH clients still complains about the "less than standard" price you charge them today. They want the cheapest, but the best knowledge in return. ????? If they ONLY could understand what time & money it cost US to keep up-to-date with technology and to provide them every time with a working solutions instead of an excuse.

 

[SlappY]

Jeesh... I feel so stereotyped. I fit this mold completely. hehe.

 

[CathJ]

We are seeing a shortage of graduates with average to high grades and two to four years’ experience in newer technologies.

Well, yes. Typically, a graduate won't have 2 to 4 years experience, because they're just graduated - by definition. You also typically won't have 4 years experience in a new technology, again by definition.

Companies need to start realising that you can't get experience without having experience - someone has to be willing to hire those without experience so that they can gain experience. And you can't expect to pay peanuts just because someone doesn't have experience yet.

 

[antowan]

Well, yes. Typically, a graduate won't have 2 to 4 years experience, because they're just graduated - by definition. You also typically won't have 4 years experience in a new technology, again by definition.

Companies need to start realising that you can't get experience without having experience - someone has to be willing to hire those without experience so that they can gain experience. And you can't expect to pay peanuts just because someone doesn't have experience yet.

100% true!

 

[greggpb]

Sheez.... I am still waiting for these guy to realise the value of a good IT Developer vs a ****ty one..

What are these guys earning now days 300 - 350k ? No enought for some one who probally has to forck out 50k in studies a year.. to keep up.....

lets replace the CEO earning 25mil a year with this new graduate with a MBA, the graduate has the same qualifications and we can pay hime 200k a year... now thats a good business decision

 

[Sapphiron]

I started my own business, just to get the first few years of experience.

Now My business is doing well, and I will soon be looking at hiring.

any graduates out there with 2 to 4 years experience

 

[gregmcc]

Couldn't agree more - the salary paid to experienced IT staff is shoddy (at least in CT anyway)
Companies always want people with years and years of experience but are only willing to pay a junior engineer's salary.

Sapphiron - where can we mail our cv's to?

 

[theStudent]

Well, yes. Typically, a graduate won't have 2 to 4 years experience, because they're just graduated - by definition. You also typically won't have 4 years experience in a new technology, again by definition.

Companies need to start realising that you can't get experience without having experience - someone has to be willing to hire those without experience so that they can gain experience. And you can't expect to pay peanuts just because someone doesn't have experience yet.

How true....

I have a Bsc Computer Science and IT,
And I have been seeking employment in dbn now since March!

Even the graduate positions I apply for get turned away, with companies saying that I am not experienced enough.... but then y advertise it as a graduate position!

I dont think there is a skills shortage, the fact is that there r many ppl (like myself) who r'nt given a chance, and r quick to learn!
For me to get experience, I need experience... and I need to find a way to get my foot in the door!

At the moment I am doing desktop support privately for small businesses, but again, I apply to a large company (who is looking for an entry-level position)... and I get turned away, with the reason 'not enough 'experience'

I cant win
Hence thinking of going overseas....

 

[Sapphiron]

Sapphiron - where can we mail our cv's to?

Just remember that I'm only offering a 3K per month salary like everybody else.

 

[greggpb]

Companies need to start realising that you can't get experience without having experience - someone has to be willing to hire those without experience so that they can gain experience. And you can't expect to pay peanuts just because someone doesn't have experience yet.

Being a Business Owner I have to disagree.. I will only hire a graduates and pay them peanust but have them on a bit 3 monthly increase program.. which normally brings them up to a descent salary withint a year. They Problem is anyone can qualify with a IT degree.. but it says nothing about the persons apptitude for IT or the interpersonal skill's which sometime are a bigger part of the job.

that is just my business view.. but being a developer before I know where they guy are comming from .. it took me 6 months to find my first developer job after leaving varsity.. and even then i had to work nights at a bar to cover my expenses... think i got R2200 for a 9-5 junior developer.. such is life..

 

[theStudent]

http://www.careerjunction.co.za/car...30&level=20&aa=2&keywords=&searchtype=1&reu=1

Please look at what we have to contend with!!

R2500-R3000 per month!! And they expect you to use your own car

For that wage they want a qualification, experience and the use of your own car...
For R2500 a month, I could maybe afford my medical aid and adsl

 

[McSack]

They Problem is anyone can qualify with a IT degree.. but it says nothing about the persons apptitude for IT or the interpersonal skill's which sometime are a bigger part of the job.

That is very true.

The other problem is that any company with really "big" IT needs is inherently going have a pretty complex system going on. Now no matter how sharp you are technically, it's going to take you around 6 months to get to know the business to a degree where you can really be productive.

If we're going to go the outsourcing route, where's the value in just getting a techie up to speed on your processes only to have them move on to another client before they get to make any real contribution?

 

[McSack]

http://www.careerjunction.co.za/car...30&level=20&aa=2&keywords=&searchtype=1&reu=1

Please look at what we have to contend with!!

R2500-R3000 per month!! And they expect you to use your own car

For that wage they want a qualification, experience and the use of your own car...
For R2500 a month, I could maybe afford my medical aid and adsl

heheheh

My son earns more than that as a part time barman down at the local Dros



However that is the price you have to pay to get some experience. Unfortunately (NOT) a person cannot BS their way through an IT career. You can either do the job or you can't and the f#%kups are painfully obvious.
Prove you can operate and you'll get the tin

 

[GavinMannion]

To address the skills shortage the government should deregulate the telecommunications industry ...

Being an internet developer I am completely gimped by our crappy broadband here. How many employees do you think Google, Yahoo or YouTube have? How many of them are South Africans

Salaries are also becoming disproportionate here. When I complete my studies jobs in the US are going to be offering on average R300k more than here, how is that logical?

 

[semiautomatix]

Unfortunately true... and after 6 months experience you can already demand more money. 1 year and you'll be sorted for a better position. 3-5 years and $$$. So just put up with it for a few years and it will more than pay off.

 

[Roo!]

Unfortunately true... and after 6 months experience you can already demand more money. 1 year and you'll be sorted for a better position. 3-5 years and $$$. So just put up with it for a few years and it will more than pay off.

And then you hit the 6-10+ years mark and suddenly there is no positions available to you because 'you're too experienced'!!! Not all of us actually want to be in management and are quit content with developing for our foreseeable future.

 

[Sapphiron]

Unfortunately true... and after 6 months experience you can already demand more money. 1 year and you'll be sorted for a better position. 3-5 years and $$$. So just put up with it for a few years and it will more than pay off.

IF you have the right skin colour. or if you can get a job in a small company.

otherwise your apprentice simply becomes your manager.

It's so sad that this can happen.

 

[LandyMan]

And then you hit the 6-10+ years mark and suddenly there is no positions available to you because 'you're too experienced'!!! Not all of us actually want to be in management and are quit content with developing for our foreseeable future.

Very true situation!!

The other problem in the IT market is the fact that you get a MUCH bigger "increase" by moving companies, than to get a promotion in your own company ... 30% increase when you move, 6.5% increase when you stay ... the math is obvious