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This Could Be the New Face of Computer Science
Technology employers and their business-group allies, such as TechAmerica and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, often tout high wages earned by computer science and other technology graduates. Even when these wages are reported accurately (and they are often misleadingly inflated in the media), it is helpful to keep in mind WHY these jobs are well paid. Pay in any occupation is always influenced by supply-and-demand; the supply of qualified workers vs. the demand by employers for these workers’ skills. Therefore high wages are always indicative of a relative shortage of qualified workers. Why does this shortage of workers exist in technology occupations? Among the reasons are that this work is very demanding. Those who succeed in these kinds of jobs long term are those who have many strengths in their characters: They are very good students, are intelligent, hardworking, industrious, conscientious, persistent, detail oriented, and disciplined, just to name a few. Yet long term success in these careers requires not only these attributes, but also a degree of luck. If you choose to pursue these careers, hope that your life’s path involves few unforeseen distractions or detours, such as marital breakups, illness, or other misfortunes. Because any of life’s problems can easily derail a career so dependent upon the ability to give your all, day in and day out, until the day you retire.— July 9, 2011 1:42 p.m.