TechRepublic : A ZDNet Tech Community

Programming and Development

Host: Justin James
Contact

A common complaint I hear from Programming and Development readers is that they’re disappointed with entry-level developers. These developers start the job either having way too much theory and not enough practice or being able to sort of write code but not knowing how to truly develop software.

But if entry-level developers are so unsuited for work, why do we keep hiring them? Is it a sense of gratitude to the people who gave us our first opportunity? Is it a belief that their salaries are so low that they are not a huge risk? Is it the hope that mentoring them will help them become great programmers? Is it something else entirely? Let me know what you think by taking this poll and sharing your comments in the discussion.

Why do we hire entry-level programmers?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

J.Ja

Justin JamesJustin James is an employee of Levit & James, Inc. in a multidisciplinary role that combines programming, network management, and systems administration. He has been blogging at TechRepublic since 2005. Read his full bio and profile.

Print/View all Posts Comments on this blog

Every time we looked at hiring entry levels... Justin James | 07/10/09
re: Every time we looked at hiring entry levels... intothinair | 07/10/09
Dunno, I had one spend fifteen minutes justifying all the Tony Hopkinson | 07/12/09
Good system, as long as ... PsiFiScout | 07/14/09
Well Said!! jbaig82 | 07/17/09
Too late Mark Miller | 07/10/09
Mentoring entry level programmers is a bad idea jkameleon@... | 07/13/09
Which reveals the shortsightedness of management. PsiFiScout | 07/13/09
I agree that long term vision is lacking Justin James | 07/13/09
It's hard to break into it Mark Miller | 07/13/09
Why hire anyone at all? Baruch Atta | 07/13/09
Exposure to Really Professional People improves the industry jimw@... | 07/14/09
The health of the industry paramount? jkameleon@... | 07/14/09
Entry level programmers bguthrie1@... | 07/14/09
So much with you on this NEW victor.hsu@... | 02/09/10
My point exactly... PsiFiScout | 07/14/09
Right on -- Reality meets dreams pfutrell | 07/16/09
We'll probably move back to the old mainframe staffing model Mark Miller | 07/16/09
Scary thought Justin James | 07/16/09
It wasn't all neat and tidy back then Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/17/09
Experience is not Inherent!!! jbaig82 | 07/17/09
I'd hire you if I could Tony Hopkinson | 07/17/09
Great attitude Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/18/09
Future of the industry sanjay.karnam@... | 07/22/09
They still want background history though Maarek | 07/10/09
Some employers rely too much on the school and not enough on the brain. PsiFiScout | 07/14/09
RE: Poll: Why do we hire entry-level programmers? dmitreyg@... | 07/10/09
Interns too... KSoniat | 07/10/09
Interns are another story Justin James | 07/10/09
It depends on the person Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/10/09
Why do schools produce entry-level programmers? Saurondor | 07/11/09
Because they can't do anything else Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/11/09
You get what you pay for PsiFiScout | 07/14/09
Well they don't at our place at the moment Tony Hopkinson | 07/10/09
I don't see why you're asking this question Mark Miller | 07/10/09
Something that changed a lot over the last 100 years... Justin James | 07/11/09
It depends on the company Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/11/09
Are employees worth the investment? Mark Miller | 07/12/09
Thta's the lie that employers are now Tony Hopkinson | 07/12/09
A few companies still do it Justin James | 07/12/09
Don't do it. Jaqui | 07/11/09
The biggest flaw I find in CS grads Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/11/09
yup Jaqui | 07/11/09
Like what? Mark Miller | 07/12/09
for some people Jaqui | 07/12/09
I never did CS, and I still have problems Tony Hopkinson | 07/12/09
I notice Jaqui | 07/12/09
Bubble sort the fastest? Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/12/09
Unbreakable rules Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/12/09
GOF has caused as many headaches as it solves... Justin James | 07/12/09
Ah yes, religions Mark Miller | 07/13/09
Like most good rules Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/13/09
You forgot Tony Hopkinson | 07/13/09
Hardest thing to let go of coming out of pure theory CS program was... charles.bundy@... | 07/13/09
I'll bash academics until they realise the classroom Tony Hopkinson | 07/13/09
"Get the banana" Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/13/09
That's awesome XD Caggles | 07/13/09
Thanks! Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/14/09
Good one! :) Mark Miller | 07/13/09
Assumptions Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/14/09
Yours is an excellent presentation - Case in point charles.bundy@... | 07/14/09
There's no need to hire entry-level programmers jkameleon@... | 07/11/09
RE: Poll: How about attrition? Jack.Manger | 07/12/09
Yeah but who's leaving Tony Hopkinson | 07/12/09
A professional liason task group is needed to work with schools kferraro@... | 07/13/09
Not a bad idea Justin James | 07/13/09
To some degree the problem is... Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/13/09
On the idea of a Votech model PsiFiScout | 07/14/09
Or... Caggles | 07/13/09
Don't know about the US Tony Hopkinson | 07/13/09
Living Forever?? escapepod | 07/13/09
RE: Poll: Why do we hire entry-level programmers? smoran@... | 07/13/09
RE: Poll: Why do we hire entry-level programmers? Viperfriends12 | 07/13/09
Perhaps it's an HR issue Anita Y. Mathis | 07/13/09
HR is certainly an issue Tony Hopkinson | 07/13/09
I've seen that too Justin James | 07/13/09
It's sort of like Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/14/09
Interesting ... Osiyo53@... | 07/19/09
Me too Tony Hopkinson | 07/19/09
Which means... Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/19/09
Entry-level programmers shouldn't exist Caggles | 07/13/09
I'd change that to "actually used" Tony Hopkinson | 07/13/09
Agreed, and one more thing... Justin James | 07/13/09
Work on open source projects Mark Miller | 07/13/09
Definitely Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/14/09
Those used to exist. Maybe they still do? Mark Miller | 07/13/09
It's called On-the-Job-Training... Four-Eyes | 07/14/09
don't want to do that?... Hand it to the new guy Duke E. Love | 07/14/09
So don't The 'G-Man.' | 07/14/09
Where Is the Next Software Engineering Superstar? bweiss@... | 07/14/09
How many... Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/14/09
Great point Justin James | 07/15/09
All good an well... The 'G-Man.' | 07/16/09
I did it for free, and next to free, just like I tell others to do Justin James | 07/16/09
Same here Sterling "Chip" Camden | 07/16/09
Someone's gotta do the dirty work joshua.buhr@... | 07/14/09
RE: Poll: Why do we hire entry-level programmers? abuse.this2@... | 07/14/09
Would you let a new surgeon do surgery on you? Justin James | 07/15/09
New Englebert | 07/16/09
You would never know The 'G-Man.' | 07/16/09
So they can be jaded and unhappy like us! ;) vmax@... | 07/14/09
RE: Poll: Why do we hire entry-level programmers? Peleg | 07/15/09
RE: Poll: Why do we hire entry-level programmers? kmellentine@... | 07/16/09
I cut my teeth on a 8086, 128k RAM, 2 floppy system. wallace.wood@... | 07/16/09
RE: Poll: Why do we hire entry-level programmers? steve.rayner@... | 07/16/09
No such thing as a dumb question, after all if you Tony Hopkinson | 07/16/09
RE: Poll: Why do we hire entry-level programmers? venkat_athota@... | 07/27/09

What do you think?

Essential Topics Click Here

White Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

Recent Entries

TR on Twitter

Archives

TechRepublic Blogs


IT Professional's Guide to Policies and Procedures, Third Ed
Whether you're creating policies for management, training, personnel, support, privacy, Internet/e-mail usage, security, or inventory, you'll meet the needs of your entire enterprise with this one download!
Buy Now
Administrator's Guide to TCP/IP, Second Edition
Maintain your critical TCP/IP system and ensure reliable, safe remote access. Get the expert advice and solutions to handle Windows networking, Cisco routing, documentation, and troubleshooting.
Buy Now

SmartPlanet

Click Here