Computer Science Degrees Still In Demand
from the good-to-hear dept
While there's been some talk that students aren't as interested in computer science these days -- and that getting a job with a CS degree is getting increasingly difficult -- CIO magazine seems to be reporting exactly the opposite. More and more students are getting CS degrees, and one of the reasons is that it's one degree that's still in high demand from employers. The article looks at a variety of CS programs and finds strong demand from both students and recruiters, when it comes to CS degrees -- and that there appear to be lots of jobs available -- despite the doom and gloom of folks who claim that computer science and IT jobs are disappearing.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: computer science, cs, degrees, education
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Can't find enough of them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Can't find enough of them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Can't find enough of them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Can't find enough of them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Good Choice
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Good Choice
You might be better off getting out of IT now when you are young
The older you get the more you will regret
The IT train is long gone and you missed it
I missed it too for the most part, but still caught couple of really good years back in 1999-2000
Sweet sweet memories...
alas, good things never last...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I sure hope so.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Just finnished MIS
My entire class is having an easy time getting jobs no less.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Just finnished MIS
Didn't your mom teach you that lying is bad ?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
CS + Law
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: CS + Law
Heh. Well, I'm not sure I consider *that* to be a positive development...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: CS + Law
We don't need more judges that just go "Uh when I hit this button the computer turns on" while he is pointing at his monitor thinking its the entire PC.
That's just my take on it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
lies, lies, and more lies...
And I have a big bridge for sale in Brooklyn
Listen and believe every piece coming out of all the corporate shills out there, be it paid writer for CIO magazine or little Mikey of techdirt
They need fresh meat - YOU
But seriously, fellas, if you want to know the truth about IT profession and the value of CS/EE degree nowadays just go to dice.com and read discussions
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not an encouraging story
Business wants a 4 year degree or better, 5 years experience in each of 5 disciplines [on average] and you have to be willing to relocate anywhere. {Several times if you're layed off.}
Sure, these positions are in demand. No one wants a job putting up that that kind of bullsh*t.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
did not actually work when the above comment as entered using Firefox 3.6 on Mac OS X. I'll now insert breaks manually.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A typical IT job description
Experience in administering a wide variety of Windows and networked based applications such as Microsoft Exchange 2000/2003, Microsoft Active Directory 2000/2003 Domains, Microsoft IIS 5 and up, Outlook, Blackberry Enterprise Servers, licensing, anti-virus (Trend), anti-spam (BrightMail), backup systems (BackupExec and NetBackup) and terminal services, Shavlik (update patches), CiscoWorks 2000 LMS, CiscoWorks CMS, Cisco ACS, and Websense.
Knowledge of UNIX system administration in an enterprise environment for Linux.
Knowledge of the OS X and OSX servers (Snow Leopard and Leopard Mac OS) system administration in an enterprise environment and integration with Microsoft 2000 and 2003 Active Directory.
Knowledge of LAN and WAN Networking Technologies, TCP/IP, VLSM, SNMP, Routing Protocols, BGP, OSPF, RIP, WAN, Transports Lines, OC3, T1, DS3, and Metro Ethernets.
Experience troubleshooting network by use of network analysis tools, Protocol Analyzers (Network General/NetScout Sniffers), Wireshark, TCPDump, Ethereal, cable testing tools.
Experience with O/S security (rights, privileges, accounts) and hardening (upgrades, patches) techniques and Network Authentication services (TACACS+, RADIUS, Kerberos, SSH, SFTP, SCP, FTP).
Experience with Hardware/ Software arrays and Storage Management (LVM, CIFS, RAID, FAT32, NTFS, iSCSI, EXT2, EXT3, NFS, VMFS2, VMFS3, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) File Systems.
Ability to perform physical labor (e.g. racking servers, installing hardware and running wires).
ESX VMware 3.5 and vSphere 4.0, Cisco routers, Cisco Layer 2 though Layer 7 switches, Cisco Pix Firewalls, Cisco ASA Firewalls, Cisco Security Appliances, Cisco IPS and IPS Appliances, Cisco MARS Security Management Appliance, Cisco Management Applications, NetApp, Nagios, and Argent Extended Technologies Monitoring Systems.
Minimum five (5) years of work experience using all types of Cisco Networking Equipment.
Minimum five (5) years of work experience using Microsoft Active Directory and Microsoft Exchange 2000 and up.
Unix/Linux Certification (preferred or similar experience).
MCSE (preferred or similar experience).
Bachelors in related computer field or equivalent experience.
CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) or greater.
Project management skills/experience, ability to transform business requirements into action plans.
Excellent communication skills.
Leadership skills.
keyworkds: systems engineer, network engineer, systems network
Pay ?
under 75K
Enjoy your future IT careers, folks !!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Degree != Education
In the past couple years the company I work for has hired more students from my college than any other and it's not like we are from a gigantic school. Thankfully I was able to secure an amazing job just before the market tanked and have been praised for my willingness to learn thus earning me a promotion and a move into a more diverse team. I never would have imagined this industry to have such a large IT department, so don't write places off until you have really checked them out.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Degree != Education
Good for you but irrelevant for employers:
they all want recent verifiable on the job PAID experience in technology XX, YY, ZZZ etc. etc
The stuff you learn on your own does not qualify
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Degree != Education
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Degree != Education
This was an actual job posting on dice.com
Any takers ?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
why dontl; you do everybody a favor and shut up ?
You have no f!@#$$%G clue
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
another one for 100K in NYC - thanks but no thanks
Department Overview
The Securitized Products IT group supports the IT solutions for trading, analytics, and risking of Securitized Products. The products supported include: TBAs, Mortgage Pools, CMOs, Non-Agencies, and ABS.
Main Function
The role is to be a developer supporting Securitized Products trading systems at Barclays Capital. The position is for an AVP but is subject to the level of experience..
Main Duties
Developing C# components to support the third-party vendor trading system and position management application Winfits from IONTrading. Developing solutions that fit with the strategic direction of the group, making use of current components and delivering new core components. There will be testing and delivering of vendor components, new components, as well as support for the users of the application. All aspects of software delivery: including analysis, requirements gathering, design, development, testing and deployment.
Qualification / Education Required
Degree level (computer science, numerate or financial related)
Qualification / Education Preferred
Post graduate degree level
Person Requirements
* C# 2+ years, Java 2+ years, C++ helpful
* SQL Experience with relational databases, Oracle preferred
* XML, Scripting, Perl
* Experience with messaging.
* Linux/Unix experience helpful
* Familiarity with version control and development lifecycle
* Good communication skills and ability to work with users * traders, operations, risk.
* Someone who is detail oriented and thorough with all aspects of implementation and testing
Experience Preferred
* Knowledge of Securitized Products trading: TBAs, Pools, CMOs, Non-Agencies, ABS.
* Messaging: MQ, ION (helpful), Tibco (helpful), Solace (helpful)
* Experience with vendor based trading system Winfits.
* Knowledge of Perforce
* Oracle experience
* Track record in working on large scale implementations of Fixed Income and/or Securitized Products trading systems.
Skills / Aptitude Required
We are looking for senior level developer who has the following skills:
1. Excellent development skill
2. Catching up up-to-date technology and recent dev-methodology,
3. Regular level knowledge on hardware/network,
4. Interest in the business,
5. wide and deep experiences of business apps development,
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: another one for 100K in NYC - thanks but no thanks
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Whaaaat ?????????????
Also, try to get PAID internship today
Unpaid one does not count
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
There you'd see paid internships, sign-up bonuses for fresh grads with no industry experience, company-paid week-long vacations in places of your choice (airfare + nice hotel + car rental + per diem etc) disguised as "work-related traning" for HR drones and double-digit salary increases year after year, and your 401K going up and up and up
...all for regular IT folks like me
Sounds unreal to you ?
It is unreal nowadays
the good old days are over
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
In fact, I've found that all of the CS internships I have applied to are paid positions.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
one more thing
My starting salary of 50K back in 1998 (a pretty common starting CS/EE salary back then) is about 100K in today's dollars
enjoy your unpaid internships, folks
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: one more thing
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: one more thing
try to graduate in 2009
BIG difference
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: one more thing
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: one more thing
All I'm saying is that the gravy train of IT is long gone and you missed it
Being a senior-level IT today pays pretty much same money as entry-level IT position 10 years ago (that is, if you are lucky to stay employed)
So much for the IT "talent shortage"....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: one more thing
If you want to be taken seriously, I suggest giving hard facts that actually back up what you are saying (as opposed to ones that prove the contrary) and stop talking randomly out of your ass (like claiming there is no such thing as a paid internship).
To everyone else, I strongly suggest you ignore Angry Dude, once his moronic ramblings were a source of great humour, but too often people allow him to derail topics like this. the only way to stop him is to refuse to give him the attention he desperately craves.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: one more thing
Fact: for the past 12 years despite several job title changes and promotions all the way to senior level positions, my salary (adjusted for inflation) hasn't changed
I am making same money as back in 1999 (actually less money if you consider annual bonuses and 401K)
So...
Is there any IT "talent shortage" ?
and
Is there any future in IT (STEM in general) for US college grads ?
The answers to both questions are NO and NO
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: one more thing
I know many folks in the field, and their experience is entirely different from yours.
Fact: for the past 12 years despite several job title changes and promotions all the way to senior level positions, my salary (adjusted for inflation) hasn't changed
I would suggest this may be a statement on you, rather than on IT jobs in general.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: one more thing
And yet if you are even half as skilled as you claim, then you could go out and get a top level position at a much higher salary. It is a well known issue that if you care about raises you get a much bigger one by getting a new job instead of staying with the same company and hoping for raises to match your ability level. This is true for many fields, not just IT.
Also, is your only rant against CS jobs being viable that you can't demand millions in benefits every year? Most of the country would be more than happy with the entry level salary of $75-100K; it is more than most make at the end of their careers and is more than enough to support a family off of, with plenty left over to put away for a very comfortable retirement. Seems to me that anything showing you can make a living off of a entry-level position and that lots of companies are looking for employees with those skills is just support for the original statement that CS Degrees are very valuable.
PS: I do work in the field, I'm a programmer, and frankly you just sound like an arrogant and cranky old geezer who is just sad that you have to keep studying after school and have your depends in a twist because IT didn't end up making you a multi-billionaire like ol' Money Bags Gates and frankly if you got into IT just for the money, then you shouldn't be doing it and the entire IT community would be much happier if you decided to change profession.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: one more thing
I am currently picking up classes in web development and programming with an eye towards an Information degree that recently started at my local university under the Library Sciences college of all things.
Being currently unemployed, and thus in school, I am fairly sure I would have a heart attack if someone offered me a $75-$100k salary entry position. I was figuring that at most I would be able to snag a $40k a year starter spot, at the very top end... and that's if I can move out of South Carolina.
(Don't get me wrong, I am a transplant to SC, from OH, and the only thing I can't really complain about in this state is the weather. Maybe there is some slim chance in heck that I will find a telecommuting position.)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: one more thing
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
CS jobs
in India and 3-4 interface people.
Are companies not getting the message? India-India-India.
I'm a patent attorney now, and while much of that work has also gone to India and Taiwan, the area I prefer (insist on), Small Entity IP (what the founding fathers had in mind) is still over here. But then, small entities don't have much money, so the business is not all that attractive to overseas firms.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: CS jobs
The only jobs I would trust to a telecommuter or outsource would be exactly the same kinds of jobs I'd entrust to a high-school student or intern that my company only pays $3 an hour for.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: CS jobs
Also, the drop in patent filings by smal entities can be directly attributed to weakening of patent rights in US and also to anti-inventor and anti-patent propaganda by paid corporate shills like Mike Masnick of techdirt
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Still in demand!
Phil
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
CCNP Certification Training
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: CCNP Certification Training
When a certification is popular and used as an indication of skill other come up and create programs solely about how to pass the test. Whether or not such programs are valid, this causes a dramatic increase in the number of people who seek the certification, not all of whom live up to the name of the certification.
This effect causes the certification to become less reliable as a measuring stick and subsequently lowers the the value. We have seen this already with the A+, it is happening now (some would say it has already happened) with the MCSE, and the CCNA and any other certification faces the exact same risks.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
CCNA
احصل على الامتحان الدولي رقم 640-802 مجاناً
و 7 شهادات دولية
IT Essentialsو
مع التدريب العملي على أجهزة سيسكو الأصلية
مدربين معتمدين من سيسكو
فقط 1500 جنيه
للحجز
itacademy-eg.com/reg
العنوان : 383 ش الملك فيصل بجوار كلية التربيه الرياضية - الجيزة
www.itacademy-eg.com
info@itacademy-eg.com
Tel.:0020113447260
Tel.:0020196413552
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Thats Great
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://buddypress.freenice.org/blog/2010/03/30/anti-computer-virus-is-absolute-important-find-away -many-today/
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
If you want to be taken seriously, I suggest giving hard facts that actually back up what you are saying (as opposed to ones that prove the contrary) and stop talking randomly out of your ass (like claiming there is no such thing as a paid internship).
To everyone else, I strongly suggest you ignore Angry Dude, once his moronic ramblings were a source of great humour, but too often people allow him to derail topics like this. the only way to stop him is to refuse to give him the attention he desperately craves.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not easy to get a job in IT
The US is in a bad economic state. I am not sure if other fields are doing better. I hear engineering, education and medicine are doing well but most everything else stinks,
I will say certifications and ongoing training do help you land a job. It will help improve your knowledge.
Also, this field is very entrepreneurial friendly. I started my own business with the CS skills I obtained. It has not made tons of money but it does pay the bills. In this economy, I could not ask for anything more.
I would tell new people entering college that enjoy computer science to still pursue the degree. On the job market, the options may be slim. However, the field is always changing. There will always be some demand for this type of work.
I have gone on many interviews recently. I have done well on most of them. The interviews are basically a bunch of tech questions. Then a second interview with the same. The competiton is fierce. I think I may a missed a few of the tougher questions asked. Each open position in IT has tons of qualified candidates sending their resume.
I do disagree to a certain extent with the training posts. I worked in companies that refuse to train their employees. Your skills get outdated in this work environment. Companies should will help train the employees but they refuse because of cost. They look at you as an expense and not an asset.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
you cant just breeze through it
cs degree does not mean youll be handed a job right out of college, everyone has to put effort into it
you are not entitled to a job, this is what our generation is learning
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]