Posted at 12:00 a.m. Pacific; Sunday, July 30, 2000

Joyce Lain Kennedy / Syndicated Columnist
Training courses can lead new techies to jobs

Q. I graduated in June with a computer-science degree from a college that's not world famous. A few substandard offers have come my way, but they aren't what I want. Why do employers seem to want applicants with a few years' experience over new graduates?
- J.J.

A. They want them for the same reason you may wait before buying a new software release: the desire to have the product debugged at someone else's expense.

Janet Ruhl's new "Computer Job Survival Guide" (Techinon, $24.95) is very specific about how to find your first computer job, even when you lack a four-year degree or have strong skills but weak credentials. The book isn't in stores yet, but you can order it on her Web site, Realrates: Resources for Computer Consultants ( http://www.realrates.com ). Her site lists up-to-date contract-consulting rates.

Ruhl makes a critical point about the contract-consulting business:

"The demand for contracting services is extremely cyclical. It rises to peaks as it did in the mid-1980s and late 1990s, but these peaks in demand are followed by collapse in the contracting market, as happened during the early 1990s and, it appears likely, the early 2000s." Be warned.

Ruhl also says that the shortening technology life cycle means that you - not your employer - are responsible for keeping your training updated. You may want to try http://www.techies.com , a reverse auction site for technology training.

Featuring instructor-led classroom technology, the site allows you to set the price you're willing to pay for Microsoft, Cisco, Novell and Lotus technology-training classes. When it receives your asking price, vendor-certified training centers in your area bid to win your business.

One possible silver lining for beginners who are having trouble busting through their first door: the shrinking pool of tech workers is springing a leak, creating a need for replacements.

Those leaving the technology field complain of long hours, high stress and isolation. Their departures are likely due to bad career matches, where they chose work they thought would allow them to pursue million-dollar dreams instead of figuring out what they really wanted to do in life.

Send your questions to Joyce Lain Kennedy, c/o The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.