Need advice: How do I (really) fight H1-B hiring violations?!?!

self | 9-28-03 | Yossarian

[Yossarian]

OK Freepers, I need to both vent and to ask for realistic, constructive advice:

I've been out of work for over a year now. I'm an experienced electronics design engineer and software developer. If you have any question of this, check out my resume HERE.

I've been fighting hard to even hear of jobs - it is seemingly such an ugly market out here. Getting an interview is even harder - I get maybe one every other month. Getting an offer has been impossible.

But the funny thing is, whereever I go, I run into engineers who have just entered the valley, either from overseas or who just graduated from a U.S. college, who are happily at work. They can barely speak the language. I'm sitting in a Starbucks right now, and just got done talking to one young lady - or should I say tried to talk to this young lady (language problems) - who just stared working a chip-design job, and was doe-eyed incredulous that it's hard to find a job.

What I am seeing is that companies, especially smaller ones and start-ups, are getting headed by foriegn engineers who both don't know and don't care about U.S. employment law. They don't advertise their openings at all, but instead use e-mail lists - alumni associations, and ethnic associations - to find potential employees. Basically, they are looking after their own.

My Dad was an immigrant, as well as my great-grandparents on my Mom's side. I honestly wish that the U.S., and the Silicon Valley in particular, can remain an intense draw for the smartest, hardest working talent in the world. BUT I ALSO HAVE TO EAT AND PAY MY RENT!!!

Sometimes when I go to interviews, every last person is Chinese, and I can't even understand a single question they ask. I spend half the time politely asking them to repeat the question, or have to query them on individual words.

A few months ago, at and industry conference, I was told by a high-level executive at one firm that applying to the R&D group would be futile, as I'm not a Russian, and the R&D manager only trusts Russians.

So, what do I do? While I don't like being a whistle-blower, who do I blow the whistle to? Those that have been around for a while know me to be a fairly reasonable, constrcutive type of FReeper. I'm no rabble rouser, no brigader. I don't want to start down that road, I want to be constructive and professional

No crackpot "CLOSE THE BORDER NOW!" responses, please, I really need to find a job. My profession in America must really deal with this problem. Realistic replies are welcome.

[Yossarian]

Help!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I don't have any answers for you. I am just bumping this in the hopes that someone out there does. Good luck. If I hear of anything I will send it you way. I have a few friends who were/ are working out there. I hope this situation improves for your sake, and for the sake of the country.

[Notwithstanding]

Stop blaming others for your failure to find a job - it won't get you anywhere.

[jmc813]

Government employee?

[JRandomFreeper]

I changed careers (third time in my life). If you have a favorite avocation, try to find a way to make it pay.

/john

[lilylangtree]

Sorry about your situation. My son graduated from an excellent school in 2000 with a degree in Computer Science. The closest he could get was data processing at $10.25 an hour, but he wanted more than that. He's now driving a cab in Portland. However, I can feel your pain, frustration and impotence.

[Yossarian]

Go kiss my grits. I'm out there pouding the pavement, and keeping my skills current in the toughest game on earth.

Employment law exists to maintain a level playing field. I'm seeing law getting violated.

So, how long have you been in the habit of supporting law-breakers? Some conservative you are!

[StatesEnemy]

Suck it up.

I am (whoops... WAS) a software engineer who taught JAVA in a college part time while I wrote for a Fortune 500.

I'm currently managing a hardware store, while coding under the table.

Just waiting to join the revolution...

[StatesEnemy]

What an a$$hole you are... (unless of course you forgot the /sarc tag)

[Pukin Dog]

I think that without Java on your resume, it wont get past the first screening, which are sometimes done by computer. You listed C++, isnt that similar enough to Java for you to pick up that skill?

[Pukin Dog]

Your post may be correct, but you are truly an ass for the tone you took in sharing it.

[cyborg]

He's right. HB-1 visas are not the same as illegal alien lawbreaking. All I read from your thread is whining about not being able to find a job. Life isn't fair. Suck it up. My parents were immigrants too and didn't whine about life.

[anymouse]

Expand your job search range. Get out of Kalifornia if you can. Make sure you are in all of the temporary (contract/job shop) companies resume data bases.

[Yossarian]

I suppose I could pick up Java, but to be honest, in my (current) field of chip design, it just isn't used. If I want to stay a chip designer, I have to be on top of devices, physics, Perl and C/C++. Of course, changing specialties is something I'm prepared to do.

I have a Java book lying around, and am working on a C/C++ project that I could work a Java angle into. Once I get the underlying processing code going, I'm going to try making a Java web client to it.

Thanks for the advice

[StarFan]

ping.

[Yossarian]

He's right. HB-1 visas are not the same as illegal alien lawbreaking.

No, H1-B visas, if not done correctly, are against the law. There is supposed to be a posting of the job listing the salary level before the foriegn appicant can legally be considered fair game for the job. I'm not seeing any postings.

Learn your facts before you accuse me of whining.

[JohnSmithee]

"So, what do I do? While I don't like being a whistle-blower, who do I blow the whistle to?"

I think you are basically screwed and there's not much you can do about it. I was seeing this problem five years ago. Everytime I interviewed with an Indian I would never get called for further consideration, while interviews with Americans typically would go well and if I did make it to the personal interview stage I would usually get an offer.

The problem now is that there aren't many contracts floating around like there used to be so you are either in or out, with very little middle ground.

[GoGoMax]

OK.... here's an idea...

A pal of mine, software engineer, was out of work for 3 months.

One night, while surfing the web, he filled out an online resume (and nobody gets hired that way, at least it seems) for a very large, US based, internationally known company.

Beleiving, as I did, that nobody actually reads online applications anymore, my buddy was feeling playful ... and said that he was black on the application - he's white.

(And BTW, Why do they ask for race on every application???)

Anyway, you guessed it, he got an offer and took a very well paying job, while guys with even more qualifications are still out of work.

No eyebrows where raised when he showed up for the interview and was not black, since the person who screens the applications and the hiring manager who did the interview are in different geographic locations and are unknown to each other.

BTW, my pal was more 'accurate' when filling out his paperwork when he actually signed up for the job.

All this raises some interesting moral issues.

[apackof2]

bump for a job offer!

[Lunatic Fringe]

1. Suck it up.
2. Leave California
3. Expand your skillset.
4. Write your Congressman
5. Write a letter to the editor of your paper.