In the computer industry, it used to be the rule that if you didn’t have experience, you didn’t have a job. Now experience is out and degrees are in. Certifications are somewhere in the middle. The days of sitting in your garage or basement hacking until the sun rose are over. It just won’t get you hired.
Why the hell not?
Honestly folks. Wouldn’t you rather have someone with a portfolio of real world experience than a yuppy with a piece of paper? The real hackers never sleep. There’s always a real world problem to be solved. Caffeine exists for a reason.
The yuppy with the nice piece of paper did what their professor assigned them. Whoop-dee-fucking-doo. Sure, maybe the exercises actually test individual skill areas. But, does it necessarily mean the person has the stamina and mindset to find and solve problems on their own? I doubt it.
Really, anyone can get a degree with enough money. What you can’t buy is talent and drive. Hackers have that fervent passion to make things work—sleep, family, money, fame, and fortune be damned.
Alas, those who can are rapidly being overtaken by those who monkey.
