IT skills crisis

[EtienneK]

There is a skill shortage for 2 reasons:

1. Companies pay way too little.
2. IT just isn't that exciting. It's actually quite boring.

Both of the above reasons are why less and less people are studying towards an IT career.

 

[Turiko]

OK gents, so we're clear on the fact that the pay in the IT field is kuk. I agree.

 

[metalcore]

One of the major factors contributing to everyones woes is that management types ( bean counter, non technical people with Bcoms etc) are regarded as higher than technical people and hence are the ones who are living nice lives with nice salaries.

Technical means more like "technical boytjie" as some once put it. The management types don't have to do as much thinking or put in as many hours as the technical people yet they get way over rewarded.

Without the technical people the managers and bean counters would have nothing to count. It should be that knowledge workers should get a higher status and more pay than other non brainy functions. I mean anybody could get a Bcom or study some management or finance diploma, but not everyone has the mind for technical stuff. Technical deserves to be respected.

It seems like technical people have been muscled into a corner where they are just expected to be slaves become to valuable in their positions to go further.

Remember an accountant can always be replaced and someone else can pick up the books, but you will suffer when you replace the technician who knows the intimate details of what is going on in your infrastructure and the replacement has to struggle to reverse engineer. I know I have seen it happen first hand.

Some people have told me that in some parts of the world it is different and technical people do get the respect and reward they deserve over non technical people. Is that true

 

[Smooth Criminal]

Some people have told me that in some parts of the world it is different and technical people do get the respect and reward they deserve over non technical people. Is that true

I don't think that so many people would be leaving if it wasn't true

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Remember an accountant can always be replaced and someone else can pick up the books, but you will suffer when you replace the technician who knows the intimate details of what is going on in your infrastructure and the replacement has to struggle to reverse engineer. I know I have seen it happen first hand.

Care to elaborate?

But damagement doesn't see that - all they see is the tech fixing some issues with windows and that's all they'll see... they don't see what the tech really is doing...

 

[Turiko]

Technical means more like "technical boytjie" as some once put it. The management types don't have to do as much thinking or put in as many hours as the technical people yet they get way over rewarded.

Potentially the core of the problem yes

Without the technical people the managers and bean counters would have nothing to count. It should be that knowledge workers should get a higher status and more pay than other non brainy functions. I mean anybody could get a Bcom or study some management or finance diploma, but not everyone has the mind for technical stuff. Technical deserves to be respected.

Unfortunately I have yet to see them concede that without technical people they'll have no beans to count. The place I worked for previously were only too happy to see me go, and they've also been only too happy to see the others go, who were supposedly more valuable than I.

It seems like technical people have been muscled into a corner where they are just expected to be slaves become to valuable in their positions to go further.

This is a sad fact of SA working life.

Remember an accountant can always be replaced and someone else can pick up the books, but you will suffer when you replace the technician who knows the intimate details of what is going on in your infrastructure and the replacement has to struggle to reverse engineer. I know I have seen it happen first hand.

So have I, but to the bean counter types it means nothing. They laugh in your face

 

[slayerza]

Similar effects are also being seen in the engineering field. I have a M.Eng (computer and electronic) and CCNA and Linux+. The latter diplomas are mostly for personal use and not IT-career based. However job offers are common and the pay is quite good (25-25k pm). Maybe the bean counters are starting to notice that the beans are leaving with the techs?

 

[Turiko]

It depends... the thing is I can't say I had it **** in engineering, except maybe with 1st engineering job but that's besides the point. The thing is, with electronic engineering you have the sweatshops, the big corporates and the SMME's. The SMME's are fine, depending on whether the owner is a deranged lunatic or is someone who actually started off poor. The sweatshops try and pay you as little as possible and abuse you, the big corporates are abundantly full of red tape and if you want to stand still and go nowhere & be just a number then the big corporates are for you.

 

[LottaFun]

We are approaching this from the wrong direction. Let me ask you these basic questions as stipulated in the labour law:

1. Do you have a job description for the position that you are currently employed in?
2. Is your working hours stipulated?
3. Do you get paid overtime for after hours work?
4. Do you get paid for any work that falls outside the scope of your job?
5. Will any of you take a compnay to labour court for not complying with the labour law?
6. If IT had a union, would you join?

Let me guess. No on all accounts. What a bunch of IT wimps we are, hoping that by not making waves, we will not jeopardise our next increase that will in anycase not be market related and below inflation.

 

[Turiko]

We are approaching this from the wrong direction. Let me ask you these basic questions as stipulated in the labour law:

1. Do you have a job description for the position that you are currently employed in?
2. Is your working hours stipulated?
3. Do you get paid overtime for after hours work?
4. Do you get paid for any work that falls outside the scope of your job?
5. Will any of you take a compnay to labour court for not complying with the labour law?
6. If IT had a union, would you join?

Let me guess. No on all accounts. What a bunch of IT wimps we are, hoping that by not making waves, we will not jeopardise our next increase that will in anycase not be market related and below inflation.

Answers:

1 - never, ever had one
2 - every employer, except this one, said one thing and did another. Previous job said 8 - 16:30 in the employment contract but we all had to work 8 to 5 and I picked up problems when I decided STFU and complied with my contract
3 - the last time I got paid overtime was when I worked for a parastatal
4 - never, except now with this job
5 - yes I will and have done so in the past. Not worth the hassle.
6 - Maybe

 

[Amida]

What I've found is to try and work for companies that only does IT. They usually are mostly technical type people which helps a lot.

 

[Turiko]

What I've found is to try and work for companies that only does IT. They usually are mostly technical type people which helps a lot.

Well, the problem is that most of these companies we're talking about here, do just IT

However, I think it's high time an IT workers union was called into being. That, and an engineers union.

At my previous workplace they forced us all to become part of the same union as the factory workers. All it did was cause the most spectacular forms of kuk you ever did see... and that meant that they could intimidate the management level workers when they went on strike. I swear the CEO of that company has got real **** for brains!

 

[MainMeat]

What is interesting, is that when the so called 'techie' (hardware or software) is with a company for a long time (1 - 2 years) they usually become part of the furniture - while there are there no one notices them, when they leave the gap is suddenly noticed, especially when things go wrong.

When are companies going to learn that taking good care of the technicians, who essentially forms part of the backbone keeping the pot boiled, is to their own benefit? How many times have I not seen damn good technicians leave companies because they are being treated like cr!p.

 

[Turiko]

What is interesting, is that when the so called 'techie' (hardware or software) is with a company for a long time (1 - 2 years) they usually become part of the furniture - while there are there no one notices them, when they leave the gap is suddenly noticed, especially when things go wrong.

When are companies going to learn that taking good care of the technicians, who essentially forms part of the backbone keeping the pot boiled, is to their own benefit? How many times have I not seen damn good technicians leave companies because they are being treated like cr!p.

I agree... seen it happen far too many times to post the details here.

 

[MainMeat]

Is there hope when the “so called” qualified few are CHEATS!!!!!!! We developed an internal test for hopefuls who wanted to join our IT department. To tell you the truth we needed to filter the BS from the CV’s. The test comprised of two parts, theory and practical. The test is basic and should not be a problem for individuals with an A+ (USELESS QUALIFICATION!!!!!). We have yet to see an MCSE pass this test. Most MCSE's out there are Brian Dump MCSE's. Their qualification isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on!

Exactly my point too! There are so many colleges (I was a student and a trainer at one of them). What got to me is that this particular college went from well known and respected in the IT industry, to bankrupt in 2 years. Why? Because students get trained the basics in 4 weeks (and pay 20K for it), get a certificate or diploma, not because they passed but because their course is fully paid. Now they think they are certified and can apply for a job - I have no problem with this you have to start somewhere after all - we all did, but they battle like hell because being able to write an application and connect to a database is not the real world scenario.

IT training needs to be more intense and applicable to the real world. I had a group of students once that each had 10 year IT experience with a well known aviation company in RSA - but when explaining basics concepts that I would think anyone with this type experience and exposure would know, I was caught off guard and was surprised at their lack of knowledge.

This 'Crisis' starts at the educational level, and companies having to invest huge amounts of money in getting a 'new' guy up to speed...time = money!

 

[icyrus]

I wouldn't join an IT union and would be loath to see one created.

 

[Turiko]

Ok, explain why? I am not a fan of unions either.

 

[icyrus]

Ok, explain why? I am not a fan of unions either.

I have no desire to hand over the negotiation of my working conditions and remuneration to a third party nor do I have any desire to allow a third party to dictate to me or for me what is and isn't acceptable.

Aside from all the standard criticisms of unions.

 

[Turiko]

I see your point. And it sucked at my previous job. That's when I knew it was time to go.
But what do we do, about the poor lot that get exploited out there?

 

[MGQ4CHRIST]

Hi everyone, I new here.

I need some advice, Ive been in the telecoms industry for over two years now, working for one of SAs leading cellular network providers.
I am currently in the process of completing my Btech in telecoms. One of my subjects is computer networks, which I find quite interesting.

I am planning on doing a CCNA and CCNP once Ive completed my Btech.
How valuable is a CCNA or CCNP certificate in the networking world?
I know there are companies like Neotel who are runninig most of their communications systems over IP, I am looking for a Telecoms/IP job.
I don't know if I'm lookinig in the wrong places or there's really no jobs in that field. I have been searching but can't find anything.

Please advise.