Programming?

[Anonymous]

DC has expressed interest in programming. Started to learn some things on their own, but I keep hearing many of these jobs are still headed overseas. Should I encourage this if I know my kid most likely isn't going to graduate from a top school where Google has set up shop? Is there still a place for US programmers?

[Anonymous]

Programming skills will always be in high demand. Always. Bank on it.

BUT.. it's hard work and the learning NEVER stops, so for that reason it is not for everyone.

Yes, encourage it hard if it is a true passion. It's one of the few that also pays.

[Anonymous]

From what I have gleaned on the internet, there are programmers and then there are talented programmers. Naturally the latter enjoy greater demand for their skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I have gleaned on the internet, there are programmers and then there are talented programmers. Naturally the latter enjoy greater demand for their skills.

Yes. There are the creatives and the basement code monkeys. My friend who is a programmer entered an online contest on a whim and created a little something that caught someone’s attention. Google tracked him down, flew him out for several days worth of interviews and offered him a job. That’s the kind of programmer you want to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I have gleaned on the internet, there are programmers and then there are talented programmers. Naturally the latter enjoy greater demand for their skills.

Yes. There are the creatives and the basement code monkeys. My friend who is a programmer entered an online contest on a whim and created a little something that caught someone’s attention. Google tracked him down, flew him out for several days worth of interviews and offered him a job. That’s the kind of programmer you want to be.

I would rather be John Mayer than a talented programmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I have gleaned on the internet, there are programmers and then there are talented programmers. Naturally the latter enjoy greater demand for their skills.

Yes. There are the creatives and the basement code monkeys. My friend who is a programmer entered an online contest on a whim and created a little something that caught someone’s attention. Google tracked him down, flew him out for several days worth of interviews and offered him a job. That’s the kind of programmer you want to be.

I would rather be John Mayer than a talented programmer.

That's a gross simplification - it doesn't break down that cleanly. There are some superstars, lots of really good coders and those that you call basement code monkeys might be the most talented of all. You don't want to be the one stuck maintaining dated systems (COBOL!), but there is still such a demand for good coders of all types.

And I love coding. Doing it for over 30 years and I still enjoy it. If you like it and are decent at it - just like anything else in life - you'll do fine. Tell him to take a class or two and see if it clicks. It's impossible to tell without trying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC has expressed interest in programming. Started to learn some things on their own, but I keep hearing many of these jobs are still headed overseas. Should I encourage this if I know my kid most likely isn't going to graduate from a top school where Google has set up shop? Is there still a place for US programmers?

Absolutely! A LOT of TJ kids going to college are doing Computer Science. Most of them are children of people that came from the countries where jobs are supposedly being exported to! If they thought these jobs will be offshored, I bet they won't be sending their kids to college to study programming. Don't believe that nonsense. As others have pointed out, it's the low-end information tech jobs will be outsourced much like low-end anything will be outsourced and off-shored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I have gleaned on the internet, there are programmers and then there are talented programmers. Naturally the latter enjoy greater demand for their skills.

CTO here. This is pretty much true. The really good people -- they have a passion for it and truly understand it -- those jobs aren't going to be offshored, and they will be paid well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I have gleaned on the internet, there are programmers and then there are talented programmers. Naturally the latter enjoy greater demand for their skills.

Yes. There are the creatives and the basement code monkeys. My friend who is a programmer entered an online contest on a whim and created a little something that caught someone’s attention. Google tracked him down, flew him out for several days worth of interviews and offered him a job. That’s the kind of programmer you want to be.

I would rather be John Mayer than a talented programmer.

That's a gross simplification - it doesn't break down that cleanly. There are some superstars, lots of really good coders and those that you call basement code monkeys might be the most talented of all. You don't want to be the one stuck maintaining dated systems (COBOL!), but there is still such a demand for good coders of all types.

And I love coding. Doing it for over 30 years and I still enjoy it. If you like it and are decent at it - just like anything else in life - you'll do fine. Tell him to take a class or two and see if it clicks. It's impossible to tell without trying it.

NP. My college sophomore will be taking Computer Science I using Python this semester. Might that be enough exposure to help her decide whether she likes it enough to choose it for a major? Very logical person but has had trouble settling on a major; no prior coding experience, except perhaps scratch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I have gleaned on the internet, there are programmers and then there are talented programmers. Naturally the latter enjoy greater demand for their skills.

Yes. There are the creatives and the basement code monkeys. My friend who is a programmer entered an online contest on a whim and created a little something that caught someone’s attention. Google tracked him down, flew him out for several days worth of interviews and offered him a job. That’s the kind of programmer you want to be.

I would rather be John Mayer than a talented programmer.

That's a gross simplification - it doesn't break down that cleanly. There are some superstars, lots of really good coders and those that you call basement code monkeys might be the most talented of all. You don't want to be the one stuck maintaining dated systems (COBOL!), but there is still such a demand for good coders of all types.

And I love coding. Doing it for over 30 years and I still enjoy it. If you like it and are decent at it - just like anything else in life - you'll do fine. Tell him to take a class or two and see if it clicks. It's impossible to tell without trying it.

NP. My college sophomore will be taking Computer Science I using Python this semester. Might that be enough exposure to help her decide whether she likes it enough to choose it for a major? Very logical person but has had trouble settling on a major; no prior coding experience, except perhaps scratch.

Probably. It will "click" about half-way into the semester, or it won't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably. It will "click" about half-way into the semester, or it won't.

Thank you, this is super helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably. It will "click" about half-way into the semester, or it won't.

Thank you, this is super helpful!

How is it for students who start CS in college and are in class with those who have been programming since middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I have gleaned on the internet, there are programmers and then there are talented programmers. Naturally the latter enjoy greater demand for their skills.

CTO here. This is pretty much true. The really good people -- they have a passion for it and truly understand it -- those jobs aren't going to be offshored, and they will be paid well.

Are you kidding? As long as you're not over 45 and making too much $$, you'll keep your job. I have seen people who love their craft and are good at it be fired in the past few months. Offshoring is happening alright!

[Anonymous]

Most go into management in a few years.