Student debt bubble popping

[VBRonPaulFan]

Is going to college necessary to land programming/developing jobs or can getting certificates cut it? Wondering if going to school is worth it.

Just learn a language and learn it well. When you go into an interview for a job using a particular language and set of tools - if you show you are competent and can talk about the tools/language, their pros/cons, and show solid problem solving skills... the degree doesn't matter at all. Experience is a big factor for programming jobs. I've interviewed folks with CS degrees and resumes that looked amazing, who were dumb asses in the interview who obviously bullshitted on their resume. A couple of the smartest programmers i've ever worked with were self-taught guys with no CS degree who just loved programming and had an aptitude for it. Why would a guy who knows say, C++, inside and out, go spend 4 years of their life and tons of money taking classes that they could themselves be teaching?

[torchbearer]

Pretty much. Inflation had been persistant and high. To fight that, interest rates were raised to as high as 20%. The cost was higher unemployment which hit 10% but as the rate of inflation declined, stocks rose and the price of gold fell. Lasted 20 years.

and what are the odds helicopter ben and company are going to raise rates as much as Volker did?
do we want the 80's/90's or do we want japan?

[Zippyjuan]

If inflation takes off due to all the stimulus they have tried to put out there (with very limited successs in my opinion), they won't be able to pull it back fast enough by selling off all the assets they have purchased so yes, I would expect them to try to raise interest rates in an attempt to slow things down again. I do think we are quite aways from that happening at this time though. As inflation rises, interest rates will also rise on their own. Bernanke said he does not want another term as Fed Chairman (the current one ends in 2014) so he will not likely be in charge when that hits. Question will be if whoever is in charge would be willing to take the hit on unemployment as a tradeoff for taming inflation like Volker did.

[angelatc]

July 12, 1976 1011 Highest point between Jan '73 and Oct. '82

Gold was around $130

See, let's play these stupid games all day long.

Oh no, March 6, 2009 6,626.94
Gold Price Close That day : 922.60

so do the math.

which is higher now...GOLD!

WHich is why I suggest a diverse portfolio.

[torchbearer]

If inflation takes off due to all the stimulus they have tried to put out there (with very limited successs in my opinion), they won't be able to pull it back fast enough by selling off all the assets they have purchased so yes, I would expect them to try to raise interest rates in an attempt to slow things down again. I do think we are quite aways from that happening at this time though. As inflation rises, interest rates will also rise on their own. Bernanke said he does not want another term as Fed Chairman (the current one ends in 2014) so he will not likely be in charge when that hits. Question will be if whoever is in charge would be willing to take the hit on unemployment as a tradeoff for taming inflation like Volker did.

you must be sitting on a solid flow of government stimulus, because the people I know are hurting and are feeling the squeeze now... I don't see how the system endures anymore.

[Zippyjuan]

As I said- I did not think it was very effective.

[bxm042]

Just learn a language and learn it well. When you go into an interview for a job using a particular language and set of tools - if you show you are competent and can talk about the tools/language, their pros/cons, and show solid problem solving skills... the degree doesn't matter at all. Experience is a big factor for programming jobs. I've interviewed folks with CS degrees and resumes that looked amazing, who were dumb asses in the interview who obviously bullshitted on their resume. A couple of the smartest programmers i've ever worked with were self-taught guys with no CS degree who just loved programming and had an aptitude for it. Why would a guy who knows say, C++, inside and out, go spend 4 years of their life and tons of money taking classes that they could themselves be teaching?

Indeed. It's ridiculous how much people lie on resumes sometimes, I barely even read it anymore. It's all about the interview. When it comes to programming, know your shit, and get the job.

In larger companies the degree may help you get an interview, though. I don't know about other small companies, but in mine I pretty much interview anyone who applies.

[torchbearer]

As I said- I did not think it was very effective.

how do you also see Ben getting out before the brakes need to be applied?

[torchbearer]

Indeed. It's ridiculous how much people lie on resumes sometimes, I barely even read it anymore. It's all about the interview. When it comes to programming, know your shit, and get the job.

In larger companies the degree may help you get an interview, though. I don't know about other small companies, but in mine I pretty much interview anyone who applies.

it always kinda pissed me off that employers never asked to see proof of my degrees and certs...
the other person applying could lie about being a PhD with an MCSE and get the job.
Con artist could be great interviewers, while brainiacs could be horrible interviewers.

[Zippyjuan]

how do you also see Ben getting out before the brakes need to be applied?

His term is up January 31st, 2014 which is actually just over a year from now (14 months). I expect the economy to still be limping along at that time and not into overdrive with soaring inflation.