School Teachers vs Software Engineers

I was in my daughter's school last week on account of a sports day function in her school. I was suddenly  struck by this fact (all of us including me notice this every day,  but think is commonplace) that the entire event was organized by teachers. This got me thinking to what would be the skill set of a teacher if I were to articulate it in words and how it would compare wrt a software engineer. It may be something like this...

Skill Set

Have the right balance between people / process and technology

People

• People management Skills (students / fellow teachers / principal / parents)


• Excellent communication skills + English speaking skills (obvious)


• Customer Facing (face numerous parents!!)


• Stakeholder Management (negotiate between the principal / parent / student)

Process

• Highly process driven


• Adhere to all prescribed rules / standards / formats (remember School timings / test papers / marks / attendance etc.


• Innovate on processes every time (No matter what they do there will be suggestions from parents to improve processes)


• Documentation


• Planning : Home works / Tests / Assignments / School functions / Sprts Functions / Projects etc. etc..


• 
  

Technology

• Subject Matter Expert (eg: Science / Maths / English etc.)


• Computer Literate (all schools have some version of school management software)


• Art / Drawing


• Dancing and Choreography (Singing optional)


• Programming Skills (you dont know when a nerdy student may pop up)


• Current Affairs


• Knowledge of the local language / customs etc.


• In short be one up on the student  especially some over smart ones !! :)

Soft Skills

• Self Motivated : Definitely Yes!!


• Time Management Skills


• Logical thinking


• Innovation and Creativity / Think out of the box (remember they have to organize dances / drams / school projects every term)


• Patience / Conflict Resolution / Decision making / Humour (we dont want anyone yelling at us or our kids!!)


• Work weekends / overtime (remember all PTA meetings are on week ends / all projects / functions mean they have to stay at work till late night!!)

Job Responsibility

• Groom future citizens


• Help them choose the right career and excel in their life


• Inculcate values and culture without any bias


• etc. etc...

In contrast see the skill requirement of a software engineer

Technology : Programming Skills in any one language (in no way will a JAVA guy learn .Net and vice versa)

People

• Communication Skills : optional / not required at all :)


• Interpersonal skills : optional (nerds are not meant to be social beings !!)


• Logical thinking : Is it used anymore ??


• Time Management ( what does it mean ? you ask any developer he says that the PM gives him the schedule so his PM manages his or her time!!  . starts work only after 6:00 PM and declares that he/she is working hard.... )
  

Process

• Documentation : highly optional


• Innovation / Self Motivated / Creativity ???? knows JAVA or .Net isn't that enough :)
  


• Process Quality : every developer's hate topic..
  

Job Responsibility

• Produce software


• Software can be buggy


• Need not have documentation


• Need not meet stake holder expectations as long as it confirms to a signed off RA document created way back..

Now let us see the salary comparison

• Starting Salary of a developer : 3 lakh per year (fresh from campus)


• Salary of a senior teacher in one of the high -fi international schools - Rs. 3.5 lakhs per annum

Now let us see the percieved position in society.

• Software engineer : Highly sought after. Respected . Very good in the marriage market


• Teacher : Last option after all career choices are exhausted. Definitely no father would want his daughter married to a teacher ..
  

Isn't this food for thought .. :)