Re[4]: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG

[eric.delong@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

     I'll agree that there exists a class of "programmer" that should 
     have considered other career options. Many have found their "niche" 
     jobs, and once there will never progress. They may have years of 
     service in IS, but just ask them to try something they don't 
     understand and they go to pieces. 
     
     You state "There is a market for certification.  It is a tool used 
     to measure experience, how ever controversial." I don't agree. 
     First, certification does *not* measure experience. All it can do 
     is indicate a minimal level of proficiency. It does not, can not 
     show ability or aptitude. It cannot gague a person's desire to 
     advance or hold back. 
     
     To be fair, depending on the scope of the certification program, 
     one can assume a certificate holder has the skills necessary for a 
     position. Advanced certification in specific disciplines can be 
     very effective in determining competence. If, for example, you are 
     looking for an APPC specialist, then a candidate with certification 
     in APPC communications may deserve the first look. They have at 
     least been exposed to the technologies needed for the position.
     
     My gripe, I suppose, is that the scope of the certification 
     programs offered by IBM seem (to me) to be too generalized to be of 
     real value. One could assume that someone certified as RPG 
     programmer would know all the best ways to write an RPG program. 
     But this is not the case! They may know all about all the current 
     flavors of RPG and the mechanics of writing a program, but 
     certification cannot prove that they're really any good at it.
     
     Nearly all of us have met ol' Doctor Who, with his advanced degrees 
     in software engineering and systems design, that "couldn't program 
     his way out of a wet paper bag". Ability is not related to 
     certification, but rather desire, practice, natural inclination, 
     perseverance, and so on.
     
     Eric


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Re[2]: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG
Author:  <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com > at INET_WACO
Date:    9/23/98 11:08 AM


Experience does pay.  However length of service at any one company or number of 
mpanies
does not necessarily indicate experience.  I've seen individuals with years of e
erience in the
field who would not try anything new without being beaten with a stick.  Convers
ion with one
gentleman.  "Hey, why don't you do that with Query?"  "I've not been trained."  
ave you tried it?"
"I've not been trained."  Turns out that I truly believe that he didn't want to 
e Query because 
about the only programs he could write are those that could be banged out with Q
ry.  He floated
through the interview process.
     
There is a market for certification.  It is a tool used to measure experience, h
ever controversial.
At least the people who came up with the test tried.  I've been on interviews wh
e once they've
seen my experience and my CCP then the interview was strictly about personal ski
s.  They came
right out and said that the certification speaks for itself.  Managers need to m
sure skills.  Systems
personnel are tools hired to perform a task.  Do you go to your managers saying 
'Iwant to hire
someone to grow them and watch them blossom.'?  Or do you say 'We have this and 
at which
needs to be done.  I feel that, to complete these assignments and future assignm
ts, we need to
hire more staff.'?  I am an individualist and only use the tool analogy to make 
point.
     
The individual is the primary person responsible for attaining that experience. 
here they can
work can be a huge factor by staying current on OS levels, purchasing magazines,
aving decent
Internet access, supplying training materials, participation in conferences, let
ng employees try, etc.
     
SNIP>Years of experience pay 
     off in terms of skill and wisdom that cannot be matched in a 
     classroom. 
     
+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com. 
| To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com. 
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com 
+---
     


+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
| To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---