European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 9, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Computer studies not a video games major Wybar Ziegler associated Presse Grollment in College computer science programs is dropping across the Umed states University Lii vials say with students disillusioned both by he computer Industry slump and heir discovery lha the Field is More demanding than they had thought. Five years ago computers looked like they were the land of Good Moi by and easy  said Paul Kalaghan Dean of the College of computer science at northeastern University. I think today people understand it s a scientific discipline. Students found it was More difficult that the mathematical rigor was Large he said it s not an easy business really when you couple that to the negative press the computer Industry is  added John Rice chairman of Purdue University s department of computer science they found that they had to take calculus they had to take physics. It s not a video games  northeastern 5-year-old computer science program last fall saw a 40 percent decline in its freshman class to 120 students. Kalaghan said. When we started we had upwards of 300 freshmen come in he said. At Purdue officials in recent years had to limit freshmen computer science enrolment to 300, but Rice said thai this year the University is expecting about 20cj. A Survey of 552 colleges by the University of California at los Angeles found that about 1,6 percent of Tho i Eshmon who entered College last tall wanted to major in computer science. That compares with z.1 percent in 1985 and 4 percent in 1982. No figures on actual Onro Fernent were available according to the chronicle of higher education which supplied the Urcla figures. For a Long time in was a fairly specialized technical Field said Jay Nievergelt chairman of the department of computer science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill then five years ago personal computers hit the Home and everybody thought you had to be a student in computer science. It was a fad enrol men in unc s computer science program has dropped by half in the past few years from a High of about 100 students a year. Nievergelt said. But enrolment in graduate computer science courses at unc is climbing he said. He added hat Job prospects Are nol As aim As some might think despite the continuing computer Industry depression. People who graduate with Good grades in computer science still find a  he said. Kalaghan said some students  in fused computer set no with computer programming. 3 loss scientific Endeavor by Winch people Transl Alc the work of the computer scientist into instructions Lor the computer. Not Ait Unior sics Are experiencing declining computer science enrolments. At Massachusetts Institute of technology the number of majors in the Field has remained about constant Over the past decade said Joel Moses an Mit Pacully member. I think it s an excellent development said Nievergelt. There was an unreasonably High flooding of computer science curriculum and fortunately that is evening out  Purdue s Rice said the increasing enrolments if they had continued would have produced a surveil of computer science graduates even though the computer Era is still its Early stages we Don t need 10 percent of the educated people in computer science. It s a realistic reaction to people who Are seeing what computer science is  said. But Rev Glaser. College recruitment manager for digital equipment corp., said the computer Industry is concerned i sea it reducing the applicant Pool primarily. There certainly is going to be a need for Mere and better technical Talent in the High Lech  Job interviews eve yourself Tyjohn Cunniff associated press Here was a to me Long ago when Tho Job seeker prepared for an interview by getting a Good night s rest donning the snazzy est suit in the wardrobe rehearsing some lines and hoping for the Best. The interviewer aware that he occupied a commanding position scribbled a reminder to ask certain questions especially about experience and qualifications but also about age interests marital status and such. No More in you believe advisories issued daily by a consulting Industry that goes by Many names executive recruiting outplacement human resource advising career guidance. The interview has become professionalized. While there is a question about How much of this represents attempts by consultants to drum up publicity and business some developments in recent years suggest there May be some underpinnings As Well. Wholesale layoffs a consequence of Industry s attempt to become leaner and meaner is one reason. It has left Many Middle management executives competing Lor jobs requiring skills that cannot quickly or easily be measured anti discrimination Laws have produced profound change. So. It seems has the tendency toward a More litigious society in which suits Are pressed for what might have been considered minor matters 20 years ago still another Factor is the tendency of ambitious Young Middle managers to change companies More often rather Man to seek opportunities Tor working up through the ranks. They Are willing to pay Tor advice. Whatever the reasons what used to to the simple interview apparently has become a Complex and now vat Tunsoi Palo what used to be the simple lob interview apparently a become a Complex the Ruttle undertaking. Sensitive undertaking that should t be entered without great preparation and maybe professional help say the consultants. It is a mine Field in which one misstep can mean big Bucks not just for a Tost Job for lha would be employees but a suit against Tho company. I could As one consultant seems to suggest mean a lost Job for the interviewer rather than interviewee ii could happen simply because the questioner whose Job is to question asks the wrong question. Stephen Berger president of Howard Sloan incan executive search firm says interviewers must to on guard against asking How old Are you whal is your Dale of birth do you have children what Church do you attend Are you married divorced separated widowed or single what clubs or organizations do you belong of what does your spouse do and More. Do you rent or own your own Homo who lives at Home How old Are your children have you Ever been arrested have your wages Ever been saturday May 9, 1987 attached or garnished his advice to interviewers keep the list Thandy. One slip could mean a Pink slip and probably a suit As Well. James challenger president of challenger Gray & Christmas a Chicago based outplacement consulting form offers los advice for the Job seeker believe in yourself otherwise you can t sell a interviewer. While this might seem to underscore the obvious it apparently in t so. To says two thirds of his firm s counselling time with discharged workers seeking other employment is spent on the interview process. These Are his believe in yourself essentials the be lift that you will make a Good impression on the Job interviewer Confidence in your own abilities the belie that you can show the interviewer Why you arc Best qualified for the of the belief that you will win the of Over the Competition the belief that you will be Able to prove you were the right Choice Lor the Job those Are some of the new guidelines. Forget them say the consultants at your peril the stars and stripes Page 17