Expectation Disparity

I mentioned in my earlier blog that, “most of the IT companies out there are basically con jobs manned by people who do not know very much about computers. Most people in this world think that computers are something simple that even their teenage neighbour can do.” I feel that I should clarify that statement a little more, in case anyone else feels slighted and think that Shawn is so lan si (cocky) and is slapping the whole computer/IT industry.

The fact of the matter is that any teenager with half a brain can work with computers. In fact, they are starting younger and younger these days. Kids barely old enough to ride a bike are capable of using computers. All the stories of Silicon Valley billionaires who all started dabbling in computers during their teens, reinforces the belief that anyone should be able to get into computers easily. And that is entirely true.

The trouble is that computers have a very low barrier to entry, but they are exceedingly difficult to master. Everyone knows that the world of IT moves so fast that it takes a full time job just to try to keep up with everything. In addition to being fast paced, IT is also broad based. You will hardly be able to find an area that has not been touched by computers and IT in some way. So, there is just a whole lot of stuff out there to learn.

Therefore, it becomes exceedingly difficult for you to find people who are knowledgeable at all the different ares of technology. Most of the knowledge has to be gained through experience and in this sense, the people who only started with computers when they went to study IT at university, are at a distinct disadvantage. These latecomers are trying to step on a moving bullet train and it is definitely not easy.

I personally knew someone my age who started learning programming at the age of 4 (his dad was an engineer). Assuming that he had kept at it, he would have had 20+ years of computer knowledge amassed. Someone like him would have started learning computers during their infancy and boomed with them during his late teens. He would have knowledge in practically all the different areas of computing.

However, people like this are extremely rare and just like all other rare items, very expensive.

So, when I say that most IT companies are con jobs, what I meant is that they are rarely staffed by the rare breeds. Most computer graduates would have had minimal knowledge of computers and would be hard pressed when faced with anything other than the norm. As a result, the products and services delivered are usually lesser than what can potentially be delivered.

No one is to be blamed here. It is merely the nature of the industry to require both depth and breadth.