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Ask Slashdot: Minimum Programming Competence In Order To Get a Job?

First time accepted submitter Wisecat (3651085) writes "So we all know that computer programming jobs are hot right now. Heck, even President Obama has been urging Americans to learn the skill. But all of us in tech know that not everyone can hack it, and what's more it takes a while to learn anything, and keep up your skills as technology changes. Add to that the fact that companies (and their hiring managers) are always looking for 'the best of the best of the best' talent, and one starts to wonder: just how good does one actually have to BE to get hired? Certainly, there must be plenty of jobs where a level 7/10 programmer would be plenty good enough, and even some that a level 5/10 would be enough. And perhaps we can agree that a level 2/10 would not likely get hired anywhere. So the question is: given that we have such huge demand for programmers, can a level 5, 6, or 7 ever get past the hiring manager? Or is he doomed to sit on the sidelines while the position goes unfilled, or goes to someone willing to lie about their skill level, or perhaps to an H1-B who will work cheaper (but not necessarily better)? I'm a hardware engineer with embedded software experience, and have considered jumping over to pure software (since there are so many jobs, so much demand) but at age 40, and needing to pick a language and get good at it, I wonder whether it would even be possible to get a job (with my previous work experience not being directly related). Thoughts?"

3 of 466 comments (clear)

  1. Ha, hot programming jobs by NotDrWho · · Score: 3, Funny

    So we all know that computer programming jobs are hot right now.

    Only if you have an H1-B visa.

    --
    SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  2. Re:-2000 lines of code (was Re:Average) by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    managers decided that it would be a good idea to track the progress of each individual engineer in terms of the amount of code...[Bill rewrote] the region engine using a simpler, more general algorithm...As a by-product, the rewrite also saved around 2,000 lines of code... wrote in the number: -2000... they stopped asking Bill to fill out the form

    He's lucky; my bosses would see the negative sign and bill me.
         

  3. Re:Relax by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    Most applicants will be lack social skills

    Some of them not write too.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."