Comments on: Offshore Outsourcing Alternative: College Students http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/ A hindsight perspective on the everlasting trail of improvement. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:25:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Clinton Staley http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-908 Mon, 12 Jun 2006 03:31:05 +0000 http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-908 Interesting article. I specialize in setting up exactly such college intern teams and have had good success over the years. The "nuggets" are indeed able to perform the work of a mid-level professional. In fact, they're usually faster and better programmers than the typical professional, though this is offset by inexperience and the need to work parttime while in school. We hire exclusively the "nuggets" in our teams, which makes a big difference. (The fact that I'm a professor of Computer Science helps considerably in doing this :)) If you hire from the top 5%, you'll find excellent results. And because we give the students more responsibility than the typical intern, they benefit too, and we are able to retain many of the best ones when they graduate. Interesting article. I specialize in setting up exactly such college intern teams and have had good success over the years. The “nuggets” are indeed able to perform the work of a mid-level professional. In fact, they’re usually faster and better programmers than the typical professional, though this is offset by inexperience and the need to work parttime while in school. We hire exclusively the “nuggets” in our teams, which makes a big difference. (The fact that I’m a professor of Computer Science helps considerably in doing this :) ) If you hire from the top 5%, you’ll find excellent results. And because we give the students more responsibility than the typical intern, they benefit too, and we are able to retain many of the best ones when they graduate.

]]> by: For Love or Money » Does Anyone Get Mad if You Outsource to College Students? http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-216 Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:02:36 +0000 http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-216 [...] Link Filed under: Looking for work?, Managing People by john | [...] […] Link Filed under: Looking for work?, Managing People by john | […]

]]> by: Retrospector http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-51 Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:45:25 +0000 http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-51 As soon as you learn to post with more proper etiquette, I'll consider it. Amazing how easy it is to point fingers and call names with so many accusational assumptions when you're anonymous. Had you kept the tone of your post at a more considerate level, I'd have simply responded with my point of view in a more conversational manner. As it is now, I enjoy allowing anonymous posts. This is not slashdot, and I will maintain a verbal decency level as I see fit. Perhaps you should be attacking the post, and not the poster. It's one of the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.retrospector.com/2006/05/30/the-50-habits-of-highly-effective-blogging/">highly effective blogging habits</a>. If you really have a point to make (and you had a few I agree with even though you've pre-judged me and thought I wouldn't) don't clutter it with all the derogatory statements and you might actually get an audience. I'll summarize to at least share with everyone what I remember from it since you bothered to come back to see how I'd respond.  One thing to keep in mind is, I'm not some ROI Powerpoint-making manager.  I've filled the role, but I'm currently a Development Lead for a fortune 1000 company.  I'm also not in the heart of NYC where there's 1000s of people lined up to fill a job...we simply do what we can. 1.  "use agile, try using other languages instead of only looking for people with a specific 'skill set'" Ok, my definition of skill set implies the ability to use any language or tool necessary to get the job done.  Sure, Java is a more-often used language for things in my arena, but I won't hesitate to have my team dive into other technologies to complete a task. 2.  "give the developers a WELL LIT environment with comforts, amenities, and perks" I completely understand the need for giving good equipment and a comfortable environment.  I've yet to be in a place where we didn't give 21" monitors and productive environments.  I disagree with the well lit part, I prefer dim lighting with lots of desk lamps.  But that's besides the point.  Being a developer myself, I mostly agree here but I don't think we deserve red-carpet treatment anymore than other employees get. 3.  "give some presentation about ROI and good time management...or something"  (I don't really remember this, it was totally off base with what I even do) I'm not a presentation person.  I can do that job, but I prefer to get into a good design session with a group of people and make something out of nothing.  I'm guessing you saw a few posts in my history from the perspective of a manager or something and figured I wasn't a technical person.  This website is about things I've learned.  What I mostly have here so far are the things most developers don't seem to grasp while being in a development role.  They're the first things that came to mind that I'd have liked to know when first starting out. I may as well have made a post about this, but I don't think defending my viewpoint is something in my niche. As soon as you learn to post with more proper etiquette, I’ll consider it. Amazing how easy it is to point fingers and call names with so many accusational assumptions when you’re anonymous. Had you kept the tone of your post at a more considerate level, I’d have simply responded with my point of view in a more conversational manner.

As it is now, I enjoy allowing anonymous posts. This is not slashdot, and I will maintain a verbal decency level as I see fit. Perhaps you should be attacking the post, and not the poster. It’s one of the highly effective blogging habits. If you really have a point to make (and you had a few I agree with even though you’ve pre-judged me and thought I wouldn’t) don’t clutter it with all the derogatory statements and you might actually get an audience.

I’ll summarize to at least share with everyone what I remember from it since you bothered to come back to see how I’d respond.  One thing to keep in mind is, I’m not some ROI Powerpoint-making manager.  I’ve filled the role, but I’m currently a Development Lead for a fortune 1000 company.  I’m also not in the heart of NYC where there’s 1000s of people lined up to fill a job…we simply do what we can.
1.  “use agile, try using other languages instead of only looking for people with a specific ’skill set’”

Ok, my definition of skill set implies the ability to use any language or tool necessary to get the job done.  Sure, Java is a more-often used language for things in my arena, but I won’t hesitate to have my team dive into other technologies to complete a task.

2.  “give the developers a WELL LIT environment with comforts, amenities, and perks”

I completely understand the need for giving good equipment and a comfortable environment.  I’ve yet to be in a place where we didn’t give 21″ monitors and productive environments.  I disagree with the well lit part, I prefer dim lighting with lots of desk lamps.  But that’s besides the point.  Being a developer myself, I mostly agree here but I don’t think we deserve red-carpet treatment anymore than other employees get.

3.  “give some presentation about ROI and good time management…or something”  (I don’t really remember this, it was totally off base with what I even do)

I’m not a presentation person.  I can do that job, but I prefer to get into a good design session with a group of people and make something out of nothing.  I’m guessing you saw a few posts in my history from the perspective of a manager or something and figured I wasn’t a technical person.  This website is about things I’ve learned.  What I mostly have here so far are the things most developers don’t seem to grasp while being in a development role.  They’re the first things that came to mind that I’d have liked to know when first starting out.

I may as well have made a post about this, but I don’t think defending my viewpoint is something in my niche.

]]> by: bitter http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-48 Tue, 06 Jun 2006 08:06:44 +0000 http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-48 dont' delete my comment, you jerk! dont’ delete my comment, you jerk!

]]> by: Retrospector http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-42 Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:57:47 +0000 http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-42 They don't normally stick around after graduating, and most fortune 500s are waiting for just that...graduation. It's the few years they're around working on the degree that's the key here. They're likely going to cash in on the experience you've given them through higher salaries at another company, and you've cashed in on their work. And if you manage to convince one or two to stick around, it's definitely a win. They don’t normally stick around after graduating, and most fortune 500s are waiting for just that…graduation. It’s the few years they’re around working on the degree that’s the key here. They’re likely going to cash in on the experience you’ve given them through higher salaries at another company, and you’ve cashed in on their work. And if you manage to convince one or two to stick around, it’s definitely a win.

]]> by: Ryan http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-41 Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:27:34 +0000 http://www.retrospector.com/2006/06/05/offshore-outsourcing-alternative-college-interns/#comment-41 Wow, it's almost like they're stemcells. So adaptable, so versatile. How amazing. No seriously, the "golden nuggets" can work maybe 4 months out of the year, and are being courted by fortune 500's. Do you really expect them to stick around? Wow, it’s almost like they’re stemcells. So adaptable, so versatile. How amazing.

No seriously, the “golden nuggets” can work maybe 4 months out of the year, and are being courted by fortune 500’s. Do you really expect them to stick around?

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