RE: Growing your own programmers

I was working as an accountant in the finance department of a previous
employer.  I was working closely with the I/S folks to develop a new process
to support our budgeting process.  My boss remarked that I really had a
knack for the computer stuff.

A job opened up for a programmer to support the accounting applications.
The req stayed open for 2 or 3 months.  Finally I got up my nerve and asked
if it was something I could learn to do.  They thought about it and decided
that their choices were either hiring a programmer and teaching them
accounting (because they couldn't find anyone with both), or bringing in an
accountant and teaching them programming.  So, I got the job.  

Three years after I learned programming, the company converted to the AS400
and they trained me all over again.  I've been doing it ever since.  I love
it and seem to be successful at it (at least my present employer hasn't told
me otherwise).

I finally left because like most home-grown programmers, once you get the
skills, the company fails to adjust your compensation accordingly.  So
that's definitely something else to keep in mind.

Chris Gonzalez
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Allen, Mark [mailto:ALLENMA1@Mattel.com]
> Sent: June 17, 1999 4:42 PM
> To:   MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject:      Growing your own programmers
> 
> Would appreciate any input from companies and/or individuals who have
> taken "non-programmers" and through in house training/external training
> converted them to AS/400 RPG programmers.  I am considering starting a
> program here to do that and would like all the "experts" out there who may
> have done something similar to share their experiences.
> 
> Mark Allen
> MIS Manager
> Mattel-Murray
> allenma1@mattel.com
> 
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