Outsourcing trends in U.S. IT industry

[Asher]

Originally posted by Feephi
Tell us about your outsource-proof career, Asher..

There is a difference between having an outsource-proof career and one that is far less likely to be outsourced.

I'd like to know the chances of outsourcing somebody with a CS Masters or CS Bachelors + MBA compared to somebody with a 2-year computer programming diploma from their community college.

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by rah

A perfect example is some of the support work I do on projects. Since I'm a director, my billing rate is quite high. When I proposed transitioning some of my responsibilities on certain projects to lower rate programmers on my staff, the people in charge of those projects declined because they felt that in the long run, my skill and experience with the projects actually saved them money.

I suspect that you make this offer just to hear the expected answer.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by rah
Short of being CEO there are NO jobs that can't be outsourced.

Oh, where shall I begin....

1) I own the company, so I won't be likely to outsource myself....

Of course, that just makes my job tougher, not easier.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Asher
The people at risk are code monkeys and tech support, mostly.

It really doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Yeah, you really need that person-to-person connection for that high paying sales position, dontcha?

[Lawrence of Arabia]

There is a difference between having an outsource-proof career and one that is far less likely to be outsourced.

I'd like to know the chances of outsourcing somebody with a CS Masters or CS Bachelors + MBA compared to somebody with a 2-year computer programming diploma from their community college.

Well you never know. The less educated person will get paid less, but still retains the same set of skills that the better educated person does (speaks english, does things correctly the first time)

I can bet that in those 3.3 million jobs that have been lost, quite a few were very well educated people.

[Gatekeeper]

Outsourcing is simply one of the trends that globalization and trans-national corporations are making more obvious.

This pattern will not change as long as there are parts of the planet where companies can go to get cheap labor, fewer environmental/health/work regulations and whatnot. For example, the article had a Bulgarian firm that touted its IT employees make, at most, $300 a month. You figure for a U.S.-based IT employee, the minimum would be $1200. That's a difference of $900; rather substantial, isn't it?

Apply this to other industries and, insofar as I'm concerned, the United States, Europe, et al., simply can't compete. Then, on top of cheap wages, throw in the fact that many other these other nations have weaker workplace and environmental regulations ... heck, if I were an unscrupulous businessman, I'd certainly make use of the cheaper resources.

All in all, it's hard for "First World" nations — with their higher labor costs and workplace/environmental rules — to compete with nations that have no such concerns. Either way, business wins and the worker/consumer pays a certain price.

Gatekeeper

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Outsourcing is simply one of the trends that globalization and trans-national corporations are making more obvious.

This pattern will not change as long as there are parts of the planet where companies can go to get cheap labor, fewer environmental/health/work regulations and whatnot. For example, the article had a Bulgarian firm that touted its IT employees make, at most, $300 a month. You figure for a U.S.-based IT employee, the minimum would be $1200. That's a difference of $900; rather substantial, isn't it?

Apply this to other industries and, insofar as I'm concerned, the United States, Europe, et al., simply can't compete. Then, on top of cheap wages, throw in the fact that many other these other nations have weaker workplace and environmental regulations ... heck, if I were an unscrupulous businessman, I'd certainly make use of the cheaper resources.

All in all, it's hard for "First World" nations — with their higher labor costs and workplace/environmental rules — to compete with nations that have no such concerns. Either way, business wins and the worker/consumer pays a certain price.

Gatekeeper

And that my friends, is entirely correct. Which is why if you want to be sure to keep your job, move into the services sector. These jobs are never outsourced, because some just cant be (like tourism, (tour guides and ****)), other needs high levels of education and financial insitutes to function (banks and bankers, investment firms, stockmarkets etc)

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Asher
I'd like to know the chances of outsourcing somebody with a CS Masters or CS Bachelors + MBA compared to somebody with a 2-year computer programming diploma from their community college.

First, I don't know where you've looked, but a 2 year programming diploma won't even get your resume looked at with the majority of employers down here.

An MSCS or BSCS + MBA without a requisite number of years of valid industry experience will get looked at, but you'll be very much expendible. BSCS degrees are a dime a dozen, and so are mediocre code jockeys with no imagination and no drive. Getting the MBA or MSCS without having put grunt time in the real world just tells me that you couldn't get a decent job so you stayed in school to delay paying back those student loans.

At best, until you work yourself up into senior level project management or architecture positions, your extra diplomas will buy you a slot on the transition team training your Indian replacement, instead of being one of the first out the door.

[Gatekeeper]

On a side note, what MtG said is true. When I earned my BS in journalism and geography (major/minor), I was told to get out into the real world for at least five years before even considering coming back to pursue a masters/doctorate.

Gatekeeper (who's still in the real world, 5 years, 4 months and counting ... )