If you pay peanuts you get monkeys

#41

Tony Gravagno <g6q3x9lu53001 (AT) sneakemail (DOT) com.invalid> wrote in
news:gin6615oicj7lqebicslu7j7du9ihokrl5 (AT) 4ax (DOT) com:

Quote:

I see the smile dawn... Norman says he encourages kids to take
an interest inventory test. Based on my experience, yes
limited, I just think it may be a good idea to follow that up
with the advice that such tests should only be considered
general guidelines, and if you're going to take one then maybe
you should take a few to balance them out - sort of like going
to a psychic.

I took the tests on a lark, not because I
wanted professional career counseling. A more impressionable
kid might look at the ASVAB and actually believe he had no
talent for Skill X. A healty attitude about such testing lies
somewhere between my lack of confidence in those tests (not as
severe as I describe), and blind acceptance by some kid trying
to figure out what he/she wants to do in life.

I do want to make one other point. Tony is right. Those tests
are suggestions only. And the specific test I mentioned was NOT
an apptitude test. The Strong-Campbell Vocational Interest
Inventory tries to point out career choices that a person is
psychologically suited for, work they would find satisfaction
doing, not necessarily what they have the most talent for.

I took the test while changing jobs from one at which I had some
talent but was miserable doing. I got totally fed up with being a
radio announcer, and was looking for any kind of job that wasn't
behind a microphone. I wound up as a customer service clerk for a
small manufacturer. It was only after 6 months of successful
performance in that position that the company dragged out those
old tests and offered me the chance to learn programming.

That is all ancient history, of course. I've been wrangling
computers for the just over 30 years now. I was watching an IBM
System/3 ponder the (card-deck) compilation of one of my COBOL-68
programs when I first read about the newly announced Microdata
Reality system that you could program in English! I don't
remember if that was in Computerworld or the now long-defunct
Datamation magazine, but I remember the ad was a two-page spread.

--
================================================== =========
Norman Morgan <> http://www.norm-morgan.com
================================================== =========
Sometimes I wake up grumpy. Other times I let her sleep.
================================================== =========

#42

In article <4254a571$1 (AT) quokka (DOT) wn.com.au>, John V
<johnv.invalid.chemform.com.au.z@?.?.invalid> writes

Quote:

I read an article once that suggested that good programmers
had a form of dyslexia. The ability to focus on specific
needs and not be distracted by minor annoyances, like users,
bosses, etc.

Rog,

Very interesting you should mention that. I don't know if I'm a 'programmer'
as such, however my position involves some coding. (I'm the accounts kid
come IT guy that Gulraj/TG speak of). I am Dyslexic/ADD (not ADHD), I have
always considered this as an ASSET so far as IT and programming is
concerned. I have also noticed dyslexic behaviours in one of the Pick people
we get in from time to time, and he is a Wizard! There is a book called
'Hunters in a Farmers World' (I think) which deals with ADD not as a a
disorder but as a genetic trait which would actually have produced
desireable behaviours in some communities (particularyly nomadic/hunting
tribes). It's been a while since I read it, If anyones interested I'll dig
it out.

There's also Aspergers - one trait of which is obsessive attention to

detail ... not that I pay much attention to detail that often, but give
me a problem and I will worry obsessively until I find the solution (at
which point, my boss, if he has any sense gives the solution to someone
else to implement :-)

Cheers,
Wol
--
Anthony W. Youngman - wol at thewolery dot demon dot co dot uk
Witches are curious by definition and inquisitive by nature. She moved in. "Let
me through. I'm a nosey person.", she said, employing both elbows.
Maskerade : (c) 1995 Terry Pratchett

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

If you pay peanuts you get monkeys

comp.databases.pick comp.databases.pick

Re: If you pay peanuts you get monkeys - 04-18-2005 , 09:32 AM

Re: If you pay peanuts you get monkeys - 05-25-2005 , 03:07 PM