Many years ago, I was sitting in an office with my boss and another engineer I never worked with before. My boss wanted to assign a problem to me and the other engineer argued that this was something new, it shouldn't be given to me, and we should look to outside consultants from the same field I was in. My boss replied, "He's a professional. He'll figure it out."
I'm reminded of that as I scan all these jobs being advertised everywhere that ask for specific--even niche-- technologies. Many of these companies and positions are advertised for months, making me wonder if they have high turnover and just can't find that one perfect person with that one specific skill. As an electronic engineer, some of the differences might be between working on controllers for mechanical products versus working on computer systems. They are different animals. But the difference between working on Intel processors versus Motorola was less so. If you were a professional, you could figure it out.
Nowadays it seems you are either a React programmer or you are not. And if you are not then shouldn't apply for the job. They want people who will walk in the door and start working on their problems right away. They don't want to give you time to learn. Part of that issue is what I compare to the "Hollywood mentality". What I mean by that is, in Hollywood filmmaking, a company is created to produce a film. That company, and the work needed for it, will only exist for a relatively short period of time. Set designers are only needed till the sets are done. Same with cinematographers, lighting crews, editors, actors, and so on. Once their work is completed, everyone is cut loose and off they go looking for the next gig.
I was on a set one time and talking to a guy who was also Drew Barrymore's "dresser". He's the one guy she trusts to take care of her "costume" when she's doing a film. He told me that the sequel to a film might be happening and I told him that I hoped not because the first was such a bad film. He got irritated with me because it meant work for him. It didn't matter that the film might be bad.
I don't feel this Hollywood mentality works for software development. Sure, if you need a web site created, that site may only need maintenance done for years to come but what I'm seeing is companies plug in a person in to a particular function for a few months and, then, off they go. They're done and released. It seems to be the same about a lot of such development nowadays. A company will use a software plugin to solve an issue without trying to fix the issue themselves. Of course, fixing the issue themselves requires understanding of how it all works and that requires long term employees and a corporate culture of long term understanding of how things work. Always a mentor somewhere with plenty of students.
But with all this switching out of people, there is never any mentor. And does anyone ever hang around long enough to even care about the product or the company? I see ads wanting people to take ownership of the project but then go on to say it's a contract position. I'm the kind of guy who always takes pride in things I work on but what is the attitude of the guy who knows he'll be gone tomorrow?
A very large company in my town loved my background but wouldn't hire me because I don't know React. I told they I could figure it out but they didn't want to wait. This company made an app for a large, regional grocery store chain. It works OK but it's missing pieces. Some things don't work together. Over the weekend it didn't work at all. And they're still advertising for people who know React--months after turning me down for the job.
Note: Sometimes I wake up waaaay too early with nothing to do and start writing. No, I am not hard up for a job. Nor am I asking for career or employment advice. I just felt like applying for this particular one.
I'm reminded of that as I scan all these jobs being advertised everywhere that ask for specific--even niche-- technologies. Many of these companies and positions are advertised for months, making me wonder if they have high turnover and just can't find that one perfect person with that one specific skill. As an electronic engineer, some of the differences might be between working on controllers for mechanical products versus working on computer systems. They are different animals. But the difference between working on Intel processors versus Motorola was less so. If you were a professional, you could figure it out.
Nowadays it seems you are either a React programmer or you are not. And if you are not then shouldn't apply for the job. They want people who will walk in the door and start working on their problems right away. They don't want to give you time to learn. Part of that issue is what I compare to the "Hollywood mentality". What I mean by that is, in Hollywood filmmaking, a company is created to produce a film. That company, and the work needed for it, will only exist for a relatively short period of time. Set designers are only needed till the sets are done. Same with cinematographers, lighting crews, editors, actors, and so on. Once their work is completed, everyone is cut loose and off they go looking for the next gig.
I was on a set one time and talking to a guy who was also Drew Barrymore's "dresser". He's the one guy she trusts to take care of her "costume" when she's doing a film. He told me that the sequel to a film might be happening and I told him that I hoped not because the first was such a bad film. He got irritated with me because it meant work for him. It didn't matter that the film might be bad.
I don't feel this Hollywood mentality works for software development. Sure, if you need a web site created, that site may only need maintenance done for years to come but what I'm seeing is companies plug in a person in to a particular function for a few months and, then, off they go. They're done and released. It seems to be the same about a lot of such development nowadays. A company will use a software plugin to solve an issue without trying to fix the issue themselves. Of course, fixing the issue themselves requires understanding of how it all works and that requires long term employees and a corporate culture of long term understanding of how things work. Always a mentor somewhere with plenty of students.
But with all this switching out of people, there is never any mentor. And does anyone ever hang around long enough to even care about the product or the company? I see ads wanting people to take ownership of the project but then go on to say it's a contract position. I'm the kind of guy who always takes pride in things I work on but what is the attitude of the guy who knows he'll be gone tomorrow?
A very large company in my town loved my background but wouldn't hire me because I don't know React. I told they I could figure it out but they didn't want to wait. This company made an app for a large, regional grocery store chain. It works OK but it's missing pieces. Some things don't work together. Over the weekend it didn't work at all. And they're still advertising for people who know React--months after turning me down for the job.
Note: Sometimes I wake up waaaay too early with nothing to do and start writing. No, I am not hard up for a job. Nor am I asking for career or employment advice. I just felt like applying for this particular one.