One of the things that has encouraged me about the rapid change in technology are the new learning models online. I first found this when the university of Illinois in 1999 offered their regular Masters in Computer Science. They were the number #1 CS program in the country at that time. At first I just wanted to learn something new but the¥ didn’t offer all the options they do today. For example, it took 9 courses for the degree and it is 8 now. A course still costs $1,840 a course. Y ou can take 3 for $13,000 and get a certificate or $34,500 for an MS CS. I have 6. I like to blame the purchase of Ameritech by SBC. In the merger agreement which the State of Illinois had to approve it kept SBC from cutting benefits or other plans for just Ameritech. This is pretty common. To let things settle down before trying harmonize the companies’ plans. But before the waiting period was over SBC cut the tuition reimbursement plan significantly and I could not finish my degree. That probably cost me half a million in compensation over 13 years. And an SBC lawyer who argue with me for a while finally conceded they did cut a benefit early. Well, that would be an ERISA violation and they could revoke AT&T’ tax deduction for its plans costing them millions. Plus getting the public and regulators against their Time Warner purchase.
One thing that took me more than 40 years to learn was how to determine a companies culture. Some companies have famous cultures like IBM that insisted men where white shirts, no blue or pink. Another example would be the big 4? accounting firms. And law firms. They take a lot of people in but work them rediculous hours to see who drops out. The remaining are suppose to make partner after a certain amount of time and if you don’t you are not in good shape but good company. Another type is the primadonna firm which is also usually a small consulting firm. Everyone thinks they are the best and it is a competitive environment. You get what you produce and no free rides. They good incentives (stock and bonuses) to reward performance. Then there are the big slow old fashion companies that have long tenured employees, pays the same for hard working producers as it does average workers. Office Space is what I picture for this type of company… These are for people that follow directions, know their place in the hierarchy and don’t expect to be a star. It is like the government in that way. I did not think companies still operated under that organizational structure. It is very information hoarding. It also creates a slow moving, heavy process culture. Following the rules and knowing your rank is paramount.
Those Cheap Americans
I wanted to be a Forest ranger because I loved the outdoors. I finished by degree at NAU in Flagstaff.But I did some research on Forest Rangers and the promotion rate was almost 0. Because everybody stayed where they were till they retired. So I figured I would be a lawyer, make lots of money and have a cabin in the woods. I choose another way in consulting to make the money but a number of conditions came together to let me try making it on my own. Unfortunately, life dealt a killer blow after 7 years so I took this job at Ameritech. I knew if was not a good fit for me and I actually looked up before I walked in and said please don’t let me end up staying here. But, even if their pay was average, their beneifts were very good. In fact 3 months before I joined after consulting for a year, they change a great pension plan into a cash balance plan. And just like Americans, even any funding over the minimum benefit was kept by the company even though it would reduce pensions for everyone. I changed plans like this is 4 or 5 foreign countries that really did do this and they all made sure that the starting balance was equal to the current service times projected earnings. Its the only reason I don’t feel as bad because at the time I thought this was a win win.Company’s financial risk was fixed under a DC plan where as a DB plan could require contributions to go up and down. And DC plans were better for young people moving jobs./ Again American companies didn’t want to do that and so put in less based on age.
What do you get for $600 and 6 months? Wharton offers a Data Analytics Specialization. That is Wharton the MBA school. Programs on Udacity have been currated by Google, AT&T and other companies so you have a good change of landing a job immedidately.
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