Perhaps part of the reason is that we need something to motivate us, after all it has been a really (shall we say) lousy year for most of us. Even though many are still doing business, albeit, not as much as they would like, (although I must ask, “Is there ever enough business?”), doing so is depressing. The talk has been so negative that even the most minute spec of good news brings joy. And fortunately, the specs of good news have really started coming, even in our sector.
Most of the CEO’s and those “in the know” are all saying that things are certainly not nearly as negative as just a short time ago. Be clear though, few are jumping for joy begging me to find them new recruits. Having said that, I have never had a more heavily scheduled DAC, and while I know many of the appointments will not result in new reqs, several will. So what does all this mean on the job front.
As I have said before, we all listen to the same crap on TV, and read many of the same assorted published reports. While the economy is absolutely showing signs of life, employment is not, and virtually all experts agree that robust hiring will not start till Q4/Q1. Hiring is still happening, and we are (fortunately) still getting calls, but the criterion is more exacting than ever before. If I have to say to a candidate one more time… “I am sure you can learn that”, or “I know you did that 10 years ago at xxx”…I will…well you get the point. And don’t get me wrong, I totally get it, people want to go to work, and are willing to do whatever they have to, to secure the position. The problem is that companies want the hire to be up and running yesterday, and are not willing to do the necessary training, and that is always a difficult message for me to deliver.
One shining note, (like I said earlier) is that I have more meetings scheduled at DAC than ever before. I can say from my talks, that while unemployment is still predicted to rise, hiring will start sooner in EDA. Companies have been holding off as long as they can, and know that sooner, rather than later, they are going to have to pull the plug and bring in a few new people. Several say, that while they know they should wait a few months more, they understand full well, that waiting a few months more pushes them that much further back. As things start to unfold and improve, they need to be ready to hit the ground running, if they are to take full advantage of the recovery. That means the product needs to be as far along as possible, and that AE’s need to be in place to go out and support it. I also think that good Sales people will soon start getting the calls to do their magic, which of course is bringing the bucks in. Of course, same thing here, companies will want the best of the best, and unfortunately, I doubt they will be willing to pay for it. That (again unfortunately) might be a true statement all the way around. However I still think that those that are really good will demand the appropriate compensation.
I plan on discussing all that I learn at DAC in my next column, which I will write shortly after DAC. (I have a bad feeling I will be writing it once again from Chili’s at LAX). I would love to hear what some of you thought about DAC, and EDA as well, for the near future.
I shall look forward to seeing so many of you I have had the pleasure to meet at the last, well so many DACs. Stop me at DAC and say hi, give me your thoughts, opinions, and concerns, as that is the fuel for each column I write.