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Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

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Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#191

Post by smhost »

nerpderp83 wrote: post #167
ThrustVectoring wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

... and the ability to be trained into learning arbitrary skills is IQ. Higher IQ means its easier to train yourself into being able to use a new system of thinking. Like, being a soldier doesn't require any sort of exceptional intelligence either. It doesn't even require average intelligence. What it requires is an IQ of 85 - below that point, and the US army cannot effectively train you to become a soldier. Despite…

15% of the population doesn't apply to join the Army. And those that do self select. Using the Army rejection rates for determining the IQ level of the population isn't a good method.

It's the definition of IQ. 15 points is 1 standard deviation, so about 15% of the population has an IQ of 85 or below by definition.

Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#192

Post by xfer »

thatonechad wrote: post #68

Universities need to start focusing on skills instead of general education. Imagine the amount of skills you could learn if you didn't have to take 60 hours of nonsense credits and focus on skills you require. Programming / Networking / Hardware need a new type of University that is similar to Trade colleges but focus primarily on the skills and nothing more. The first 1-2 years could focus on the foundations while t…

I am not sure, how "skills" would be helpful in long term. People need to develop a good understanding and ideas on Computer science, not learn a particular software/language or whatever.

As, there is no guarantee that it will even be alive by the time you leave university/your potential employer would be looking for that particular "skill".

Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#193

Post by WalterBright »

vkou wrote: post #173
WalterBright wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Does our owner class have a natural god-given right to a 6% return on their investment every year, for doing nothing? You, too, can become an "owner class" by opening an online trading account and buying stocks. Commissions are often under $10 for a trade.

Since I wasn't born into money, or won the lottery, I can't live off that 6% return for another two decades. Either way, even if I can, the guy who makes my morning coffee can't, and never will be.

> for another two decades

I.e. start investing and in 20 years you'll be financially independent. Sounds good to me to be living in the US.

> the guy who makes my morning coffee can't

I talked with a guy once who told me he "can't". He was driving a new car, and the payments, rent, etc., added up to more than his income. I suggested he sell the car, buy a car he can afford to pay cash for, and start investing.

He partially did take my advice. He sold the car, bought one he could pay cash for, and then blew the extra income on some other luxuries. Of course, then he still was in "can't" territory.

My current car I bought used 25 years ago and still drive every day. It costs me practically nothing.

Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#194

Post by runT1ME »

swendoog wrote: post #27

Everyone hates a cynic so bring on the downvotes: I'm going to warn everyone of what's coming. Software engineer jobs will be blue collar, $40-$60k a year jobs, by 2030. The HUGE push from government, and private business, to fill the PERCEIVED lack of engineers, will come to fruition around that time. Make no mistake about it - there is NOT a lack of skilled engineers right now. There is a disinterest among business…

>software engineer jobs will be blue collar, $40-$60k a year jobs, by 2030.

There have always been 'blue collar' engineering jobs. When I started in the tech industry I was making $13 an hour writing HTML and a bit of SQL here and there.

There are probably tens of thousands of "Software Engineers" putting together PHP sites, doing front end JS work at an entry level, hacking together some minor software customizations. I think you're right, this will become more prevalent. The world needs a lot more engineers to do this kind of work.

>There is a disinterest among business to pay higher, and higher salaries.

Evidence points to the contrary, salaries have skyrocketed in the last ten years... have you been paying attention?

Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#195

Post by s73ver_ »

WalterBright wrote: post #155

It's never been easier to get training in all sorts of things, for free. For example, I'm currently taking MIT's 6.002 electronics course because I never learned circuit analysis properly. It's on youtube, it's free, I watch it anytime. There's the Khan Academy, too.

Yeah, but there's no certificate. And, despite what everyone wants to believe, most employers still want that certificate or degree. They're not gonna accept "I watched a bunch of videos on YouTube" as an alternative.

Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#196

Post by hobofan »

Joeri wrote: post #128
swendoog wrote: post #27

Everyone hates a cynic so bring on the downvotes: I'm going to warn everyone of what's coming. Software engineer jobs will be blue collar, $40-$60k a year jobs, by 2030. The HUGE push from government, and private business, to fill the PERCEIVED lack of engineers, will come to fruition around that time. Make no mistake about it - there is NOT a lack of skilled engineers right now. There is a disinterest among business…

Counterpoint: The amount of programmers needed is rising across the globe. Every country is going to try to retain its IT talent. In a cut-throat globally competitive world you can't afford to be the country that lets its best minds leave to greener pastures. Also, programming isn't the sort of job where you can fake your way through. If new people are trained up to enter the field they'll need to skills to match. As…

> Also, programming isn't the sort of job where you can fake your way through.

Not sure why you think programming would be special in that regard. In a lot of companies, you will be able to keep your badly done job for a really long time as long as you have a good bond with your higher-ups. This goes for programming the same as sales or any other profession.

Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#197

Post by jaibot »

School-Cotton wrote: post #97
mlloyd wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe - or maybe it just requires a specific way of thinking about things i.e. Problem Solving and Time/Task Management? As well as the ability to learn the task of course.

What's the difference between "problem solving" and "IQ" ? They seem like almost the same thing.

"IQ" is a scalar semi-objectice well-defined metric that predicts some things about the much more complicated and less-well-defined concept of problem solving.

Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#198

Post by jimmaswell »

was_boring wrote: post #154
jimmaswell wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm thankful I found a company like that after graduating. Seemingly the only such specimen in America today. It's a giant international consultancy company that seemingly has a questionable reputation online but it was all I could get that paid anything remotely respectable and they even do paid training. It's seems to be one of a rapidly dwindling handful of paths for new grads who are graduating and finding out th…

Was this Accenture? They used to have a 3-week java training program for those entering as new grads, but I believe that's been reduced in scope now.

Tata. Is Accenture one of those ones with clauses that you have to pay a fine if you quit within a few years like Revature?

Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#199

Post by kazinator »

smhost wrote: post #191
nerpderp83 wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

15% of the population doesn't apply to join the Army. And those that do self select. Using the Army rejection rates for determining the IQ level of the population isn't a good method.

It's the definition of IQ. 15 points is 1 standard deviation, so about 15% of the population has an IQ of 85 or below by definition.

Just following up to add that these two 15's are unrelated, in case any readers get the wrong idea.

The area under the normal distribution curve from minus infinity to -1 (one standard deviation left of centre) is about 0.1586 or about 15-16%.

The 15 points = 1 stddev property of IQ is arbitrarily established.

Re: Google commits $1B in grants to train U.S. workers for high-tech jobs

#200

Post by WalterBright »

s73ver_ wrote: post #195
WalterBright wrote: post #155

It's never been easier to get training in all sorts of things, for free. For example, I'm currently taking MIT's 6.002 electronics course because I never learned circuit analysis properly. It's on youtube, it's free, I watch it anytime. There's the Khan Academy, too.

Yeah, but there's no certificate. And, despite what everyone wants to believe, most employers still want that certificate or degree. They're not gonna accept "I watched a bunch of videos on YouTube" as an alternative.

In the programming biz, they often will if you've got a track record to back it up. Contributing to open source projects is a route to getting such a track record.

If you already have a degree, just in the wrong field, you don't need to get another degree. Just get the training by whatever means.

Heck, my degree is in mechanical engineering, yet I had jobs writing software.

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