Where did the degree requirement come from for programmers?

[Sam Kreimeyer]

All the (junior/entry level network or system administrator) IT
positions I looked at in Arkansas had experience as the mandatory
requirement of typically no less than three years. Occasionally they
would allow a combination of degree and experience. It's a good time
to be an employer.

On 1/13/12, Brian Weaver <bjweaver at gmail.com> wrote:
> I know many non-degree system admins at the large, blue in color fortune 500
> company I work for in Chandler. Most were probably hired when the economy
> was booming back in the 90s and skilled IT people were in short supply. If
> they were applying today I suspect they would have a much harder time
> getting in.
>
> It really comes down the the hiring manager. I've seen managers do their
> initial resume screen by throwing out every resume that does not have a 4
> year degree, and I've seen cases where we receive only 3 applications and
> everyone gets interviewed.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 13, 2012, at 8:11 AM, Kevin Fries <kevin at fries-biro.com> wrote:
>
>> This requirement comes from the same place as most requirements of this
>> ilk.  Plausable deny-ability.
>>
>>   - We need a qualified programmer
>>
>>   - HR does not know (and often neither does the hiring manager, or policy
>> maker) how to assess programming skills.
>>
>> By requiring a degree, you can't fire the people that implemented this
>> policy... after all, they hired someone qualified, right?  Its not their
>> fault if the programmer doesn't work out.  But without a degree... well
>> then what were you thinking.
>>
>> So... its a CYA move by incompetent people, trying to hire for a skill
>> they don't understand.
>>
>> The last company and current company.I work for both hired on skills and
>> treasure their IT staff.  They both understand how hard it is to find good
>> IT people, and few ever leave.
>>
>> I look as the manditory IT degree as a sure sign that this is not a good
>> company to work for... and I am right more than I'm wrong.
>>
>> Just my $0.02
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>> On Jan 13, 2012 7:56 AM, "keith smith" <klsmith2020 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm wondering if anyone knows where the degree requirement came from for
>> developers.
>>
>> In the early 80's there were very few computer courses available.  I
>> talked with a guy in about 1988 who told me he was a math major because
>> that was the closest thing to a computer science degree in the 70's and
>> early 80's.
>>
>> I read that in the early 80's businesses were offering classes in
>> programming.  The example I read said the course was 6 weeks long.  The
>> graduates were give high paying jobs.
>>
>> The interesting part is I was attending college in the early 80's.  At the
>> UofA intro to computers was a FORTRAN programming class.  Then a class in
>> COBOL.  It was mostly a business degree with an emphasis on programming.
>>
>>
>> I'm curious if anyone knows why corporate America requires a degree to be
>> a programmer.  The degree does not open the door.  Skills do.
>>
>> Do system administrators need degrees?
>>
>> As far as I'm concerned a degree in and of it self means nothing.  I've
>> worked with and know people who do not have a degree that can run circles
>> around some with degrees.
>>
>> Just curious where that requirement came from.
>>
>> ------------------------
>> Keith Smith
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------
>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
>> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>> ---------------------------------------------------
>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
>> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>