What can employers do to address the IT skills shortage?

[mota bhai 2,675]

My point isn't about your certs though. What I'm saying is SDN is going to be highly disruptive to staff in infrastructure/systems and one way to try to stay ahead of that is to bone up on those scripting skills (like Python or Ruby).

[GandD 5,966]

That's pretty cool. Def not a bad idea. I don't imagine some of the older Cisco cert holders are going to be very receptive.

[mota bhai 2,675]

That's pretty cool. Def not a bad idea. I don't imagine some of the older Cisco cert holders are going to be very receptive.

And that's why there are so many 50 year old ex-IT malcontents out there.

[GandD 5,966]

And that's why there are so many 50 year old ex-IT malcontents out there.

You know, that's the sad thing. If you don't make it to management by that age, its over. No way to keep up for that long.

[mota bhai 2,675]

You know, that's the sad thing. If you don't make it to management by that age, its over. No way to keep up for that long.

That's just not true. There are plenty of 50 and 60 somethings where I work who keep up just fine. Yeah, they don't get raises anymore because they're pegged at the top of their payband...

[GandD 5,966]

That's just not true. There are plenty of 50 and 60 somethings where I work who keep up just fine. Yeah, they don't get raises anymore because they're pegged at the top of their payband...

Really? That's surprising to me. I don't see many old dudes that are worth a ####### anymore. Granted, you do come across some of the older one's I think Bill was referring to that seem to do well with anything. These guys are usually strong scientifically and mathematically.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Really? That's surprising to me. I don't see many old dudes that are worth a ####### anymore. Granted, you do come across some of the older one's I think Bill was referring to that seem to do well with anything. These guys are usually strong scientifically and mathematically.

My employer used to be the kind of place where you started in your 20s and retired from in your 60s. All the old guys where I work have gold plated retirement benefits (I don't, I was still in college when they stopped offering that). A defined benefit pension and 100% paid medical cover after they retire. Call me cynical but I think that is why the old dudes here work hard. All that isn't worth a damn if you get fired before 55 (earliest age at which you become retirement eligible here). And the money is so much more if you go all the way to 65 so most of them do, if able.

Edited December 10, 2013 by mota bhai