Free Republic

If the people of Massachusetts (my former home state) had RED BLOOD instead of WHITE WHINE, Kennedy and Kerry would have been out a long time ago... and, imho, should have been swinging from a tree, left to rot, and their skulls mounted on pikes as a lesson to the next ten generations that treason carries a high price.

But then that's me, wanting to release my inner Viking.

As a Mechanical Engineer - unemployed since 2003 in a full-time capacity - I can vouch for the fact that the "engineer shortage" is complete hooey.

The problem is that companies:

1. Aren't willing to put any effort into training people
2. Don't want to put any effort into managing people
3. Don't have the perspective to realize that their search scope is too narrow

Speaking for myself, I have over a decade of experience; I've saved my employers millions of dollars. I have two patents, two masters degrees. And I can't buy a job... because all the jobs I see are custom-crafted to fit ONLY some guy that they want to hire.

For example, I recently saw a job posted that could have been written from my resume; it was that close. Except for one thing: Must be fluent in Hindi & Mandarin. COME ON!

For all hiring managers who have blinders on to anyone but that "perfect fit" - because (honestly) you're too lazy to be willing to take someone on who needs perhaps a week of training - or too scared of someone who might be a threat to your job... read this:

http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/hatalentshortage1.htm

As a Mechanical Engineer "in transition" who, it seems, can't BUY a job offer, I must state great dismay at the duality of the complaint.

Companies say they can't find skilled people (horsepuckey - go to any networking group and you can't spit without hitting extremely skilled people). They also say that they want the US to succeed.

YET in the very next heartbeat they send the lifeblood of production overseas. To be followed by R&D.

I GAVE UP on pursuing a PhD in Engineering because there were no jobs available for people with PhDs in Engineering, over 10 years ago.

This is driven by cost, which is driven by short-sighted greed and no awareness that the loss will affect the nation, not just the company.

Worse, in cases such as China, I do believe this is part of a deliberate strategy to weaken the US. Read Sun Tzu, it's there.