The college degrees and skills employers most want in 2015

[nageov3t]

I don't begrudge anyone who settles if they're happy with their job, nor do I begrudge anyone who wants a bigger house with a yard. I hear you on the materialistic stuff -- it is an issue today, but I just roll my eyes and move on. I make six figures and have a nice house, but I drive an old 2001 Grand Prix around, wear a t-shirt and jeans almost everywhere, and only splurge on vacations. I'm sure people who see me driving up in my old junker think I'm poor, but it doesn't matter to me what people think.

I feel like it's one thing to say "I'm happy in my job and that's that" in your 40's or 50's.... completely different when you're 23 and working your first post-college job that doesn't involve a hairnet.

 

[TheSlamma]

Companies are desperate for domestic technical talent, but 95% of college graduates are not good enough. In technical fields, a great employee (top few percent) is 10-100x more productive than good employee (top 5-10%). A mediocre employee (not in top 10%) is useless and/or more trouble than they're worth.

There are plenty of good CS graduates in my neck of the woods and they flat out cannot get jobs.

Kids first guy is right about the H1-b.. don't bother with CS, it's a waste of time.

I've watched the phantom jobs cycle over the years at places like MS, Federal and state governments cycle on and off too. There is in actuality no job to even fill.

 

[xeemzor]

There are plenty of good CS graduates in my neck of the woods and they flat out cannot get jobs.

Kids first guy is right about the H1-b.. don't bother with CS, it's a waste of time.

I've watched the phantom jobs cycle over the years at places like MS, Federal and state governments cycle on and off too. There is in actuality no job to even fill.

CS is the next blue collar manufacturing or nursing job. There is a dramatic oversupply that will depress wages over the next decade.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I feel like it's one thing to say "I'm happy in my job and that's that" in your 40's or 50's.... completely different when you're 23 and working your first post-college job that doesn't involve a hairnet.

True. I'm almost 45 so now I'm in "I want to coast to retirement" mode.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

If companies truly wanted to find the best candidates, they would talk to school administrators about tailoring classes to their needs.

Companies would seek to have classes offered that stress problem solving, teamwork, and adaptability.

Companies would talk to instructors to gain insight on possible candidates.

Companies would have recruiters interview students as fellow students to gain insight to the programs offered.

Companies would offer options for different types of employment, modified schedules, daycare, work from home etc.

Companies would research and implement interview styles, questions and, exercises that more accurately address their needs.

Recruiters would have intimate knowledge of benefit plans and options.

Instead, most companies do a two day recruitment tour. They collect resumes and arrange a few boiler plate interviews. They rarely know about anything outside their division, can’t answer questions about benefits and, don’t know specifics about opportunities for training, scheduling or, company direction/mission statement. Their entire current approach could be done better by a computer kiosk dropped off at the job fair by an intern.

 

[xeemzor]

If companies truly wanted to find the best candidates, they would talk to school administrators about tailoring classes to their needs.

Companies would seek to have classes offered that stress problem solving, teamwork, and adaptability.

Companies would talk to instructors to gain insight on possible candidates.

Companies would have recruiters interview students as fellow students to gain insight to the programs offered.

Companies would offer options for different types of employment, modified schedules, daycare, work from home etc.

Companies would research and implement interview styles, questions and, exercises that more accurately address their needs.

Recruiters would have intimate knowledge of benefit plans and options.

Instead, most companies do a two day recruitment tour. They collect resumes and arrange a few boiler plate interviews. They rarely know about anything outside their division, can’t answer questions about benefits and, don’t know specifics about opportunities for training, scheduling or, company direction/mission statement. Their entire current approach could be done better by a computer kiosk dropped off at the job fair by an intern.

This isn't done because the hard truth is that, in general, the supply for candidates in much higher than the demand. Companies can get away with poor hiring practices and still find enough candidates.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

This isn't done because the hard truth is that, in general, the supply for candidates in much higher than the demand. Companies can get away with poor hiring practices and still find enough candidates.

And, it would cost more. The most annoying thing is the influence large businesses have on each other and smaller companies. Rather than approach recruiting from their own perspective they copy the practices of large companies. I mean they're fortune 500, they must know what they're doing, right, right? Like I said, inertia. They judge their 'success' on metrics they choose themselves. If there are fewer 'good' candidates than obviously it's the candidates who are poorer, right, right? Bad communication, poor business practices and, blind inertia are the order of the day. But, the company earned millions and stock gained 20 cents, they MUST have good business practices right, right? The self satisfied gonifs who create company policy make me sick. Yet, they control all the marbles. "The only winning move is not to play."

 

[Leros]

This isn't done because the hard truth is that, in general, the supply for candidates in much higher than the demand. Companies can get away with poor hiring practices and still find enough candidates.

There a handful of markets, like engineering, where this is flipped. Yes there 10 engineering graduates per job opening but there is only one good engineering graduate for every 4 job openings.

 

[videogames101]

There a handful of markets, like engineering, where this is flipped. Yes there 10 engineering graduates per job opening but there is only one good engineering graduate for every 4 job openings.

Over and over again, if you know what you're doing the degree doesn't matter. Especially in engineering.

 

[xeemzor]

There a handful of markets, like engineering, where this is flipped. Yes there 10 engineering graduates per job opening but there is only one good engineering graduate for every 4 job openings.

It's very hard for companies to differentiate between good and bad engineers just out of college. Often times you need months of on-boarding before you can really tell the difference. Until there is an easy metric for HR to monitor nothing will change.

 

[videogames101]

It's very hard for companies to differentiate between good and bad engineers just out of college. Often times you need months of on-boarding before you can really tell the difference. Until there is an easy metric for HR to monitor nothing will change.

I disagree, I can spot the idiots in about 2 seconds.

 

[xeemzor]

I disagree, I can spot the idiots in about 2 seconds.

Maybe for hard sciences but not for consulting. I run into a decent amount of people with great social skills but no critical thinking skills. It's hard to see exactly how people learn until you spend a a week or two with them.

 

[Ns1]

Maybe for hard sciences but not for consulting. I run into a decent amount of people with great social skills but no critical thinking skills. It's hard to see exactly how people learn until you spend a a week or two with them.

that's cuz nobody puts "Bullshitting" into their skills section, even though we all know it's a great skill to have.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

If companies truly wanted to find the best candidates, they would talk to school administrators about tailoring classes to their needs.

Companies would seek to have classes offered that stress problem solving, teamwork, and adaptability.

Companies would talk to instructors to gain insight on possible candidates.

Companies would have recruiters interview students as fellow students to gain insight to the programs offered.

Companies would offer options for different types of employment, modified schedules, daycare, work from home etc.

Companies would research and implement interview styles, questions and, exercises that more accurately address their needs.

Recruiters would have intimate knowledge of benefit plans and options.

Instead, most companies do a two day recruitment tour. They collect resumes and arrange a few boiler plate interviews. They rarely know about anything outside their division, can’t answer questions about benefits and, don’t know specifics about opportunities for training, scheduling or, company direction/mission statement. Their entire current approach could be done better by a computer kiosk dropped off at the job fair by an intern.

Umm... It does happen. I've seen it at tech schools and smaller colleges. HOWEVER the larger the college, the more ivory-towerish it is and thus doesn't want the influence of the big bad evil businesses dictating what is taught.
I know of atleast 2 very large companies that have partnered with tech/community colleges to "create" degrees/programs specifically to teach skills the employer wants and needs. But maybe your spectacles are too far down your nose?
<- no degree, worked way up technical ladder, started own biz...

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Over and over again, if you know what you're doing the degree doesn't matter. Especially in engineering.

Yep, you either "get it" or you don't usually. I'm an "engineer" but not an "engineer" because I'm not degreed. Doesn't matter now because no one asks the owner what their degree is.

 

[videogames101]

Maybe for hard sciences but not for consulting. I run into a decent amount of people with great social skills but no critical thinking skills. It's hard to see exactly how people learn until you spend a a week or two with them.

I'm not actually sure what a consultant does, because that's a fairly general term. But I am speaking from an engineering perspective.

 

[nexus5rocks]

Kids: Don't fall the "We need more CS Graduates" BS and job postings coming out of companies like IBM and Microsoft. They're just posting "phantom jobs" that only exist to fill H1-B positions. Those foreign tech workers will get paid about 25% less than a domestic tech worker.

My company pays H1B developers $90k-150k, so not all companies do this.

 

[ultimatebob]

Their entire current approach could be done better by a computer kiosk dropped off at the job fair by an intern.

True, but the computer kiosk can't rack up airline miles, hotel rewards points, and expense their steak dinner after the trip, though

If the recruiters actually find a few decent candidates, that's just a bonus. They just need to meet their quota so they get invited back next year.

 

[Sonikku]

The (...) skills employers most want in 2015

"The ability to do the work of 2-3 people while making money typical of the 80's".

 

[JMapleton]

99.9% of people never get anywhere working for medium or large sized companies. They'll work you to the bone, take credit for what you did, and give you a small pittance so you can lease your 3-series BMW.

They'll put you in a cubicle and bark orders at you for 40 years.

Start a business, it's the only way to become financially successful.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

I'm soon going to market myself for what I am : A Mechanical Engineer that is a Computational Scientist (NOT Computer Science major) that is going to develop the numerical models that save your R&D division money. And yes, I am good at it, and have the history now to back it up. Why I am good at it? Because I'm passionate about it and find developing code that simulates and accurately predicts reality just fascinating. It's like the beginnings of The Matrix.

A government lab will pay me $75-80K with benefits to work on pretty much whatever I want. So for the industry, I'd be looking for a solid $100K (or more depending on the area) to work on your project and have to deal with the salaried hours and additional stress. Other I have no problem taking every other Friday off, working a 4-10 schedule if I wish, getting like a month of vacation per year, etc, etc. But the hell I had to go through to open these opportunities... Passion drove me, and I feel like I'm one of the few from my generation that figured out what they were born to do, and thus had the drive to just... do!

 

[Hugo Drax]

I would say.

Good reading comprehension
An imagination
Good problem solving skills.
Good social skills.
Someone who is self directed and does not need constant handholding and know how to manage their time.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I'm soon going to market myself for what I am : A Mechanical Engineer that is a Computational Scientist (NOT Computer Science major) that is going to develop the numerical models that save your R&D division money. And yes, I am good at it, and have the history now to back it up. Why I am good at it? Because I'm passionate about it and find developing code that simulates and accurately predicts reality just fascinating. It's like the beginnings of The Matrix.

A government lab will pay me $75-80K with benefits to work on pretty much whatever I want. So for the industry, I'd be looking for a solid $100K (or more depending on the area) to work on your project and have to deal with the salaried hours and additional stress. Other I have no problem taking every other Friday off, working a 4-10 schedule if I wish, getting like a month of vacation per year, etc, etc. But the hell I had to go through to open these opportunities... Passion drove me, and I feel like I'm one of the few from my generation that figured out what they were born to do, and thus had the drive to just... do!

Government jobs are more like academia than you realize. The first thing you need to understand about government jobs is no one wants you to be efficient, build a better mousetrap or, make a difference. The only thing more soul sucking than government jobs is the corporate world. You can use them in the short term to accomplish your goals but, never confuse the job you do with your passion.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

I don't want to disagree, but I'm going to say it depends on the field. I've met people who have loved their job there, and others who didn't seem to enjoy it. I've worked at two government labs now. It may be a YMMV thing.

In my scenario, as a postdoc with interest in computational science, I would be going into one proposing a project. I've already done this for one, and am scheduled to give a one hour public seminar this summer describing the work to anyone who feels like showing up (but I have not yet decided if I will go longer term with this - but regardless I will do it anyway because I do enjoy giving presentations about my work). This part is very difficult. But 1) if you're not a postdoc, most likely you won't even get the chance to do this, and instead you will be trying to fit into an "available positions" (like searching for a job normally) with specific tasks and goals, and of course 2) not just coming up with ideas, but the whole plan including the approach, execution, timelines, etc. And I can say since some of this was discussed already before I came back to finish up my degree, this is pretty much a done deal if I accept. All of this happened because I had this passion while I was working where the ideas just kept spilling out left and right, and all the directions I want to take the work (but bummer I have to settle just one ). If you're not passionate about your work, then a PhD and postdoc related work is not for you. Because that's where all the creativity, innovation, and most importantly - the drive to pursue comes from. Academia teaches you the other necessities (research approach, writing, oral presentations, etc).

And then the advantage with computational science is that 1) it is huge in government laboratories, 2) there are no shortage of models that need to be updated, improved, or just flat out rebuilt and 3) start up and maintenance cost is very, very little compared to other areas. If you're doing experimental work, again, you probably won't even get the chance to do what I am doing because how insanely expensive experimental type work is, government regulations, etc, compared to computational. I'd say if you're an experimentalist, you probably don't want to look at the government unless they have positions available that really fit you. Both are needed in the end, but if there's a side there is an obvious more demand for - it's the computational one. Because the code you build will work its way into some huge larger package that all of these government labs have.

A government lab to me is academia-lite. The expectations there are ~1 good publication a year from someone like me (not an exact metric, but the "amount of work"), and they are happy. I'm used to a rate of ~3/year right now (which is too much and exhausting especially when you feel like you're not being treated like a professional). That's not to say I will not find a specific job description in the industry, that I will end up interested in and at least apply.

Sometimes I do wonder if people mix up computational science with computer science. Because computational science is, and will be (probably forever) a field in demand. But it really has nothing to do with computer science. It's engineering based.

P.S. My ATOT walls are in no way representative of my technical writing.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Actually, it does depend on what you make to a large extent. People who make $20K pretty much have to spend all their income to survive - they have little choice.



I don't begrudge anyone who settles if they're happy with their job, nor do I begrudge anyone who wants a bigger house with a yard. I hear you on the materialistic stuff -- it is an issue today, but I just roll my eyes and move on. I make six figures and have a nice house, but I drive an old 2001 Grand Prix around, wear a t-shirt and jeans almost everywhere, and only splurge on vacations. I'm sure people who see me driving up in my old junker think I'm poor, but it doesn't matter to me what people think.

Hell, every time I switch jobs, I say "This is it and I'm settling" but inevitably I find out that there is still this burning desire in me to want to do more. I think this time, though, my desire to settle down is real.

I didn't mean to come of "begrudging".

I just believe that materialistic items only give people temporary happiness, and they are mostly HARMFUL!. We spend our entire lives working to obtain them (while ignoring loved ones/things that matter).....then when we obtain them, we waste even more time using those things.

Anyways, I'm just like you....and I have 4 kids.

I was brought up around NOTHING and had NOTHING, and was plenty of happy and some.....and TODAY I live like a king (by my standards) and my happiness levels are the same.

If you can't be happy with what you have TODAY, NOTHING you can buy or obtain will ever make you happy. Fine, temporarily....but it will wear off and you will be back to square one.