If low-performing WITCH contractors are able to do most of the CS work, then the industry is doomed long term regardless of what happens with H1B /u/uselessloner123 CSCQ protests reddit

I’ve been lurking and reading all the posts on H1B the past few days. The point that repeatedly gets brought up that caught my eye is that most of the emotion is being directed at the by tnis sub’s term “low-performing WITCH contractors” whose work could be performed by any average CS grad from a random no-name school.

While I personally cannot comment on the validity of that statement as my experience in the industry is limited, if it is true then this industry and we are doomed long term regardless of what happens in the White House. Why?

Because all of the typical well paying professions have significant barriers to entry be it rigorous licensing and education (law, medicine) or a pedigree that rich parents can afford (such as finance at Wharton -> IB/MBB). CS had that when software was less stabilized and still evolving, however based on what people write here outside of AI those days are behind us.

If any mediocre grad can do the job, then the winner is the one who will work at the lowest pay and worst working conditions. Maybe those of you who grew up upper middle class wouldn’t work 80 hours a week for $60k, but those who work 2 jobs in retail and have rotating shifts would gladly do it, those who spend days if not weeks away from their family in the trades would be thrilled for an opportunity to see their family every day even if it meant long hours. Those who worked day and night in the heat and cold doing roofing or landscaping as a grunt worker would be glad to trade that for a climate controlled office.

There’s of course nothing wrong with the above workers and I would be happy to see them improve their situation. But from a selfish perspective if I want to pick a career track where I can make a lot of money and have good WLB it seems like the writing is on the wall for CS.

I’ve been lurking and reading all the posts on H1B the past few days. The point that repeatedly gets brought up that caught my eye is that most of the emotion is being directed at the by tnis sub’s term “low-performing WITCH contractors” whose work could be performed by any average CS grad from a random no-name school.

While I personally cannot comment on the validity of that statement as my experience in the industry is limited, if it is true then this industry and we are doomed long term regardless of what happens in the White House. Why?

Because all of the typical well paying professions have significant barriers to entry be it rigorous licensing and education (law, medicine) or a pedigree that rich parents can afford (such as finance at Wharton -> IB/MBB). CS had that when software was less stabilized and still evolving, however based on what people write here outside of AI those days are behind us.

If any mediocre grad can do the job, then the winner is the one who will work at the lowest pay and worst working conditions. Maybe those of you who grew up upper middle class wouldn’t work 80 hours a week for $60k, but those who work 2 jobs in retail and have rotating shifts would gladly do it, those who spend days if not weeks away from their family in the trades would be thrilled for an opportunity to see their family every day even if it meant long hours. Those who worked day and night in the heat and cold doing roofing or landscaping as a grunt worker would be glad to trade that for a climate controlled office.

There’s of course nothing wrong with the above workers and I would be happy to see them improve their situation. But from a selfish perspective if I want to pick a career track where I can make a lot of money and have good WLB it seems like the writing is on the wall for CS.