This is in response to the reader from Shreveport, La., who was angry that he could not find a job (October 2000).

I do not know what the economic situation is in Shreveport, but here in Washington, D.C., we really need good IT people. I went to a nationally known computer training facility, paid the $12,000 tuition, passed all my MCSE exams and got halfway through CNE as well. I had absolutely no computer training before this and I landed a job making more than enough to live comfortably in D.C. I should add that I have been really challenged at this job and have learned something new every day, and my employer loves me.

However, there were at least two students in my class of 12 who, eight months later, still cannot find work. One is a full-on MCSE and the other probably never will be. Some people just don't get it. But the first person, on paper, knows his stuff. So why can't he get a job?

I think employers realize they are spending a lot of money on us IT people and are now expecting a higher grade of employee. The young man from my class is probably not being hired because he can't get through an interview. Between a slightly unkempt appearance (rule No. 1: Even if the person interviewing you is wearing flip-flops, you still gotta wear grown-up clothes) and a very passive personality, I think an employer would rather wait a week and find someone else. You've got to sell yourself, and you can't do that if you can't carry on a simple conversation.

I am not sure that this is your reader's problem but I know I see it all the time among my peers. It boils down to a personality contest, and the shiniest, happiest person wins. So get ready for the interview, find some things to talk about. Even if the conversation is not tech-related, it helps; I sat through one allegedly tech-interview that was more than 90 minutes long, never once talking IT stuff. It turned out that the engineering lead and I had both vacationed in the same place; when I saw the picture on his desk I steered the conversation toward that. We discussed different Caribbean islands and I walked away with a job offer. Put on a suit, comb your hair, and act like you really want the job!--Patti Rodgers e-mail withheld

I could not disagree more with the letter about the IT industry being rife with false promises and outright fraud and abuse (November 2000). I have been in the IT industry for nine years and all of my certifications have helped me obtain better and more financially rewarding jobs. I also get at least one call a week from head-hunters, as do most of the people I know. I do not understand why people who have no experience take out $8,000 loans to get an MCSE. If you have no experience in the computer industry, what makes you think you can get a senior-level position supporting a million-dollar system? I work in a senior-level server support group, and we do have trouble filling jobs. While we also do not hire people with no experience, we do want people with their MCSEs. I believe the answer to the reader's question about what jobs people are getting after attaining their certifications is this: entry-level jobs. If you start with your MCSE, you will rise higher and faster through the ranks. You will not instantly get a job paying $100,000 and up, but you should be able to find an entry- level position paying $30,000 a year.--Kim Buschlen,Unix System Administrator e-mail withheld

As for the person who wrote the November Feedback item on tech jobs being hard to find: Though I am not saying that jobs are knocking at your door, I found it very easy to find one. There are a lot of resource on the Web that can make locating a job easy (Monster.com, Dice.com etc.). A couple of things might hinder the person's ability in obtaining a good opportunity, however.

First, location. If you live in a suburb or a location were there are not a lot of large companies or business, then yes, it might be difficult.

Second, paper tigers. According to your own letter, you made a career change and just went out and got your MCSE. Even though you have this piece of paper that shows that your knowledge of MS stuff, it doesn't replace experience.--Luis Estrella, Senior Tech Support, Calvin Klein Inc. e-mail withheld

This is in response to the anonymous reader's letter on the policy of H-1B visa increase (November 2000). The reader's ideas and insecurities are shared by many Americans, especially those "who have been in the IT business for more than 20 years and find it hard to reinvent themselves." I am an IT professional and am the only Indian national working with more than 30 Americans from different age groups ranging from my peers in the 20s to colleagues who claim to have been in this profession before I got out of diapers.

My opinion is that Americans in their 20s and 30s are more receptive to different cultures as well as new technologies, as compared to their seniors.

The reader offers a case in point, claiming that an increase in H-1B visas has cut down his pay by 40 percent. All I have to say in response is, with all due respect, please revisit your résumé, and it won't take you long to realize that your pay cut is not due to us immigrants but solely because you have not kept up with times and the changes in technology.

The government is increasing the number of H-1B visas because the industry is not able to keep up with the demand for technical jobs, and that means there is enough work for you and me and several others who have come to this land of opportunity, as your forefathers did years ago. There is bound to be competition in this very competitive industry and the person with the best skills will win. Please don't fret if it is an immigrant; it is not he who should be blamed, but rather your lack of initiative for not learning the new technologies.

As far as your generalization regarding H-1B visa immigrants having poor language skills and very little education in business, finance and ethics, I disagree. There might be some among us with poor language and documentation skills, but is that not true of your group too? We come from a different country and have a different accent but the working language in our country is English and in all of the IT places in India, businesses use English to document user requirements and the like. We have good analytical skills and can read English quite well. To say that we do not understand the user requirements or the mission statements of the business is mere prejudice.--R. M. e-mail withheld

To start a discussion or ask a question, e-mail james@ computeruser.com. Letters may be edited for style, length, or content. No anonymous letters will be published.