‘The USA is back’ so the headlines say. If you are a software developer I do not think you can share that sentiment. In fact, you are being kicked while you are down. Wages for skilled developers have fallen over 75% in this decade. No wonder Computer Science enrolment in Colleges is down 60% as of 2007 and have taken a nose dive since.
Employers are now telling highly skilled US workers 'work for peanuts or they will hire foreign workers that will'. Add to that the spineless congress that keeps handing out H1 visas at a rate ABOVE the job creation numbers each month and you start to see a trend. Industry wants to break the back of the development community and make them equal to ‘clerical’ works on a pay scale. They block efforts to use e-verify to enforce the rules and offer pay scales that a truck driver would not work for.
The State of Pennsylvania is a case in point. In the last 2 days I have received these 2 requests on behalf of the State of PA.
1) 1) Position Title: .Net Architect (10 Years)
Phone Screen by CAI and F2F Interview by Hiring Manager. Candidates Must be able to do a F2F Interview at their own expenses.
The candidate must have government experience.
Resume must match with required skills along with the number of years required with each skill.
.Net Architect responsible for designing, developing, and implementing application infrastructure to provide highly-complex, reliable, and scalable applications and systems to meet the organization''s objectives and requirements.
Complete Description:
Required Skills and Experience
. Required: 10+ years full SDLC experience as an applications developer
. Required: 7+ years experience with Microsoft .NET development
. Required: 5+ years experience with ASP.NET development
. Required: 5+ years experience with web services development
. Required: 2+ years experience architecting common components, services and frameworks in a .NET environment
. Required: 2+ years experience as a development team leader
. Required: 2+ years experience developing .NET front end applications for Oracle databases
. Required: Experience with Microsoft Visio
. Required: Strong oral communication skills
Duties:
. Meet with end users and technical staff of all types to gather business, technical and system requirements
. Analyze existing .NET applications and the portfolio of requirements for new applications to identify opportunities to incorporate common components and services
. Design, build, test and implement common components and services for such items as authentication and authorization, role-based security, user interface elements, etc.
. Work with .NET developers to integrate common components and services into existing and new .NET applications
Offered rate $40/ on 1099 No benefits, no expenses and payment terms of Net 60 days.
2) Winforms Developer
Location: Allentown, PA
Duration: 1 year contract
Interview Process: Phone Interview followed by MANDATORY PERSONAL INTERVIEW at candidates expense.
Bill Rate: $45/hr
Technologies and Tools:
VB.NET
Winforms
.NET 2.0
SQL Server 2008
SSIS, SSRS is a plus
SQL XML
Stored Procedures
Strong SQL
Notes from Manager Conversation:
· They are working in a Visual Studio environment, currently in 2005 and upgrading to 2008
· Team Foundation Server experience is a plus.
· Must have strong experience with VB.NET.
· Need to be able to hit the ground running. 4-6 years of experience
Job Description:
Develop and maintain software systems. Work with end-users to document the requirements for systems. Write code to develop applications. Test and document systems. Work with users to implement systems and complete user acceptance testing. Maintain systems by correcting discrepancies and/or adding enhancements to existing systems.
· Applies Good Manufacturing Principles in all areas of responsibility.
· Demonstrates and promotes the company vision.
· Interacts with users to define system requirements. Gather information to gain an understanding of the user's job / function.
· Works with other members of the development staff to ensure all application development adheres to the guidelines set forth in application development SOPs.
· Confers with ADM to determine feasibility, outline project time lines and work plan.
· Consults with ADM to clarify application intent, identify issues, assess the impact of modifications to application, and suggest potential courses of action.
· Evaluates application performance and environment in terms of effectiveness and applicability for a given need.
· Works with ADM to design, modify and implement solutions throughout the organization.
· Coordinates physical changes to applications, and ensures these are documented accordingly.
· Reads manuals, periodicals and technical reports to stay abreast of current environment in order to adequately meet ongoing user requirements.
· Establishes and maintains application development practices and procedures.
· Collaborates with ADM and development staff to develop new programming methods and techniques.
· Analyzes, reviews, and alters data retrieval techniques to increase operating efficiency or to adapt to new requirements.
· May use computer aided software tools, such as flow chart design and data modeling during each stage of the development process.
· May monitor performance of an application/database after implementation and suggest areas for improvement.
· Will be involved in the developer and system level testing process.
· Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
· Provides 24 hour on-call support.
· Conducts all activities in a safe and efficient manner.
· Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.
Basic Minimum Qualifications (BMQ):
To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill or ability required.
· Good communication skills - written and verbal
· Must be able to develop Windows based software applications using one or more of the Microsoft .NET languages.
· Must be able to write stored procedures to retrieve and manipulate data stored in Microsoft SQL Server.
· Must have a solid understanding of relational database theory.
· Must have the ability to manage multiple simultaneous tasks including good time management skills
Education/ Experience (BMQ):
· Bachelor's degree plus 2 years of software development experience including at least 1 year working with Microsoft Visual Basic.NET and 1 year working with Microsoft SQL Server.
OR
· Associates degree plus 3 years of software development experience including at least 2 years working with Microsoft Visual Basic.NET and 2 year working with Microsoft SQL Server
OR
· HS/GED diploma plus 4 years of software development experience including at least 3 years working with Microsoft Visual Basic.NET and 3 year working with Microsoft SQL Server
Ability and/or Skills:
· Principles and techniques of the system development life cycle.
· Current technological developments/trends in area of expertise.
· Act upon verbal and written instructions.
· Use a designated relational database environment.
· Analyze user requirements
· Establish and maintain working relationships with employees, other departments, and upper management.
· Provide technical guidance and leadership to fellow team members in area of expertise.
· Follow written and verbal instructions.
· Interpret data models and to develop database structures.
· Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
So 2 requirements demanding long years of experience and offering lousy wages, no benefits and long pay schedules. So why would you ever suggest a student spend 10’s of thousands of dollars to train in a profession that treats workers this way.
To the people of Pennsylvania, SHAME ON YOU.