The job market

[Sunwins]

I'm looking at ads and I keep running into the same problem. Employers ask for certain sets of specific skills that make it almost impossible to match up with them. Here's a typical ad:

Full Time Programmer-Web Developer. Must have verifiable experience with PHP, Access, Cold Fusion, FoxPro, Crystal Reports, Asp.net, and Adobe Products. Certification, graphics design or other programming languages a plus. 3 years minimum experience required.

I have 4 of the 8 "Must have" skills listed. It's not uncommon at all to see at least 8 skills "required". Are employers actually finding perfect matches to these types of ads? With so many languages out there I'm at a loss as to how to stay marketable.

[Khalid Ali]

I have found out that most important commodity to secure a job is not how much skills you might have(of course you gotta have some), the thing that matters the most is how many people you know in the industry who can recomend you???(the infamous "networking").
'I have seen idiots making a tonnes of dollars only because they know the manager,and you will not believe,I have even seen them to out source the actual work to contract workers to get stuff done,and the employees just friking drink cofee all day and participate in survivor pools

:D :D

[AdamBrill]

Originally posted by Khalid Ali
I have found out that most important commodity to secure a job is not how much skills you might have(of course you gotta have some), the thing that matters the most is how many people you know in the industry who can recomend you???(the infamous "networking").
'I have seen idiots making a tonnes of dollars only because they know the manager,and you will not believe,I have even seen them to out source the actual work to contract workers to get stuff done,and the employees just friking drink cofee all day and participate in survivor pools

:D :D That sounds nice... :D Where do you get to know these "people in the market"??? lol :p

[MikeOS]

There are several reasons why employers do this, the biggest one is to stop the huge flow of applications from those who clearly aren't qualified, what I mean by that is those people who have a couple of languages under their belt and think they're Bill Gates. There are many people like this, and because of this employers get literally thousands of applications, they end up having to wade through them just to pull out those who are even remotely qualified. The truth is most employers don't expect applicants to have all the skills they list, as long as you have the majority of them you should still apply. Having said all that companies do prefer applicants to be as skilled as possible in as many languages as possible, and yes they do find applicants that meet the criteria. You have to remember that the IT market is pretty flat at the moment, so there are many more highly qualified professionals out there, it's currently an employers market (not like the good old days).

So the biggest question is how do you fit in all the time to learn (properly) all the technologies required? Well that's the problem everyone is facing, and it's going to get worse not better. Development is a lifestyle more than it is a career. I think you really have to love it to be in it.

[Dark Dragon]

This is one of the biggest problems I am currently facing as well.

I have a few skills but no experience at all in the field. I cannot get the needed experience by pissing my time away in front of a stinky grill at Wendy's or McDonalds...I can make all the sites I want at home but if none of what I have done has been for a business then I am out of luck.

I have heard all the cutesy-pie platitudes about putting all these nauseating buzz words on resumes but you cannot really fake a skill that you clearly do not have.

Even the so-called "Entry-Level" jobs almost expect you to have senior level experience. So I have to find another avenue of employment..annoying, isn't it?

[MotherNatrsSon]

Do you realize how man "geeks" there are without jobs at the moment? There are too many qualified pople to fill too few positions. If you do not know all of the skills at a minimum people will not even look at you. Hell there are 10 to 14 year olds doing web design for 20$ an hour or less sometimes. It is hard to compete unless you actually can and do have the skills. It is getting to the point that needing to know multiple languages is a minimum and then some require Graphics like Flash, PS FreeHand or Illustrator etc.. on top of that.

If you are good, go freelance. Most people that get hired for positions like that have a piece of useless(in all practical terms) paper called a degree..

Nepotism is "the good 'ol boy system", welcome to America....

MNS

[Dark Dragon]

Do you realize how man "geeks" there are without jobs at the moment?

Heh..I don't view myself as a "geek" though..not by a longshot!


It is hard to compete unless you actually can and do have the skills

Yes...hence the need for a job so I can actually expand those so-called skills!

Nepotism is "the good 'ol boy system", welcome to America....

Sorry, but you just lost me there.:confused:

[Compguy Pete]

Basicly when you see a posting like that put in for it anyways.

If you see an opening like this it's a VERY wide spread of technologies.

If they dont like your resume they wont call you in for an interview.

If your looking for a job go and register with a temp place. They have more connections than you have in the job market and can surely help you get your foot in the door.

BTW - MotherNatrsSon -- your now missing posts in this thread. I will not stand for such tones, nor a topic thats bound to turn into a Flame match of posts.

[MotherNatrsSon]

Edited

Let me re-iterate what Pete said:

Originally posted by Compguy Pete
I will not stand for such tones, nor a topic thats bound to turn into a Flame match of posts.Pyro