We’ve been hearing a lot on how there is a huge shortage of STEM workers and how the US needs to have more to stay on top. It looks like our concerns are well on our way to being fixed. The financial sector is apparently downsizing, so all those tech majors who originally planned to go into business and banking are thinking of a career in…you guessed it…engineering!
An article in Bloomberg BusinessWeek discusses the fact that the financial sector has been seriously cutting down on hiring. Many tech majors discussed in the article said that they majored in technical fields to get into finance, but now that jobs aren’t available, they’re looking for jobs doing the stuff they were actually trained to do. The article does mention that things are shaky in the tech sector, but says that, “few expect Silicon Valley to undergo the carnage suffered by Wall Street.”
I can’t help but laugh at that statement, especially when looking at the numbers FrauTech gave in STEM Recruitment Ponzi Scheme. Could it be no one is expecting that because it already has happened? Aren’t there already a lot of engineers out of work?
Interestingly enough, the article says that many finance-wannabe STEM students are more likely to join startups. I think that, if there are more startups, this could be a good trend. I’m not sure, however, if this is because more established corporations aren’t hiring or because these people genuinely do have innovative ideas. Given the supposed labor shortage in STEM has often been attributed to the loss of talent to Wall Street, I’m sure we can all sigh in relief that the crisis is being averted…unless you want to worry that you now have more competition.
(Thanks to JSquish for the Wall Street sign pic.)
I read of a study where piano students were divided into two groups: one which was paid for playing, and another that was not. After the payments to the first group stopped, they also stopped playing. The second group continued to play the piano.
I wonder how the returning financial engineers will fare when they enter jobs (and startups) where the salaries are much smaller?
Although I suspect you’re right, people are going to work if they have to make a living. However, if their heart isn’t in it, I can’t help wonder if they’d really be that good technically.
I wonder how the finance guys will like the bit about weeks or months with no pay at all in early stage startup land… or the fact that if a funding source hick ups or a critical piece of gear dies, they need to sacrifice their pay to keep from being shut down dead cold. My guess, is that just as the early stage startup world is often too intense for many 9-5 engineers, its likely to be beyond belief for those coming from the finance world.
Ironically, we’re starting a masters to train engineers to go into finance…
A little behind on that trend, I guess. But hey, markets will rebound.