Quite tired of hearing the line: "but computer-skilled people are the most sought after" when I'm here trying to find a job for ages.

It's mostly because in IT no job title is specific.

Most people see IT as one common job pool, though it has countless specifics and "edge cases".

The more specific you are the less are your chances, simple arithmetic.

@IntrusionCM I may be a developer, but I could make mad bank by automating 5 data entry jobs.

@sariel fiscal.

You will regret it unless you have in my opinion a very weird fetish, cause so far my experience with it is that _everything_ becomes a bureaucratic process... But they pay well. You most likely have to learn an ancient language like Cobol and try to digitalize processes in an industry that hates digitalization... But hey. It gives much money.

"Become the luxury prostitute of the rich ones" to put it in simple ways.

@IntrusionCM what is dead cannot die.

COBOL FOREVER!

On that note, I would never allow them to know I have automated it, just provide enough entry to make me a sightly above average contractor.

Good enough to not get fired, but slow enough that nobody goes asking questions.

Sit back and milk that sweet easy money from that cash cow.

Maybe even toss in some random data entry errors to make it seem legit. "If I had scripted my job, why would there be errors? Wouldn't it be more likely that it would always be perfect?"

@GeorgeBool specifically MySql? Or all SQL?

Who are the ones pushing this? HR, companies! Why? They want to lower the wages of developers, increase the talent pool. Economics 101

Bro.. Waited 7 damn years! And got an IT related job - managing material flow control services in a distribution center as a web developer and network engineer.

I agree, even though computer skills are in demand finding a job still take time. I been down this road a few times and my advice would be quantity, apply to a lot of openings even if you don't fit exactly the requirements. Try to apply to 5-10 jobs per day and write specific cover letters for each.

You sort of have to do it this way. Over time I've realized that many job postings out there are no longer relevant. Maybe the company decides not to hire a new dev after all, or they already hired someone but never took down the position. Sometimes the main contact person gets busy and your application gets lost.

Most importantly don't despair. You only need one company to hire you, if you persist long enough you'll find a decent job.

@jassole I've heard other programmers say this too.

Yeah, market is hot, companies are hiring like crazy. But then you can't solve leetcode hard question in 15 minutes and they refuse you.

@destroyerofcode most IT young people live in idealistic fantasy and not economic and political reality. Trying to educate them about the game, but some are either too ignorant or cry babies.