[ChemistCat]

Okay, how much of this is because people flocked to get degrees in a field that was "sure employment"--to the point where there is a glut? I know IT has taken some major hits and outsourcing, but the bandwagon effect surely had a bigger effect.

People need to be savvy when they seek a career, and pay attention to trends. If you try to go on the path most travelled, don't be surprised if you're part of a hungry crowd.

What this country REALLY needs is a good free-lance digital camera repair cottage industry...but you can't GET trained in that stuff.

[w1andsodidwe]

Also, you can't just do one thing. I have been in the Idustry for 25 years. I can write mainframe IBM and Unisys Cobol, I can also build and manage a Citrix Metaframe server, manage a flock of outside salesmen and their laptops, Manage and code a Powerpoint Sales system, write VBA code to automate excel spreadsheets, maintain 3 corporate web sites, etc.

I could go on and on with all the different things I can do in the IT world. Too many people are specialist. "Well I can only write Progress Code on a Unix box" is a bad attitude.

[Glenn]

People need to be savvy when they seek a career, and pay attention to trends. If you try to go on the path most travelled, don't be surprised if you're part of a hungry crowd.

Right. Just get out the old crystal ball 25 years ago.

You're gloating is quite annoying.

[Jim Cane]

People need to be savvy when they seek a career, and pay attention to trends. If you try to go on the path most travelled, don't be surprised if you're part of a hungry crowd.

Hmmmm....it seems that companies are trying to "be savvy" by outsourcing, as it is the newest pointy haired trend. It will be highly satisfying to see these same companies starve.

[BabsC]

I didn't get the degree I just went right to work after some programming courses in a technical college. I got into the business in the early '70s and figured I'd get at least 25 years out of it. I lasted 27 years, gave my husband the first 20 years of our marriage to decide what he wanted to do for a living, now he brings home the bacon. He is a computer expert but our money's being made in land developement/management. I've always liked something referred to as "real" estate. The computer work is a side business of value added retail e-commerse software.

The secret is to diversify, not your culture but your business.

[Centurion2000]

Okay, how much of this is because people flocked to get degrees in a field that was "sure employment"--to the point where there is a glut?

Take the H1B's and L1's out of the picture and they would have an employment position.

[null and void]

What this country REALLY needs is a good free-lance digital camera repair cottage industry...but you can't GET trained in that stuff.

Nor should you. A new and much better camera is cheaper than repairing anything that's out of warranty...