Comment by flooha | Hacker News Reader

Comment by flooha | Hacker News Reader

It's anecdotal, but my wife moved here 1.5 years ago and before she quit her job to move here with me, she was a Global Application Manager for DHL International (Deutsche Post). She was responsible for a team of software engineers and support technicians whose app was installed in 9 countries, at 20 locations all over the world. She has expertise in Oracle and is fluent in Spanish as well as English. The software controlls automotive sequencing (just in time part delivery) for Chrysler, Volkswagen, Seat, Ford, and GM where the supplier can be charged > $10,000 per minute of downtime. We met through work and she was always the person who could be counted on to troubleshoot any issue even outside her area of expertise.

In one and a half years, she has had two interviews and no offers.

It's pretty clear that her resume is almost immediately rejected because she isn't a U.S. citizen (she's a permanent resident) and because her experience is with "foreign" companies.

It's pretty clear that her resume is almost immediately rejected because she isn't a U.S. citizen (she's a permanent resident) and because her experience is with "foreign" companies.

That's not clear at all to me from the facts stated. There is a global recession going on right now, which began a while ago.

Best wishes to your wife in finding suitable career employment.

That's not clear at all to me from the facts stated. There is a global recession going on right now, which began a while ago.

I don't have any hard evidence on why her job search is not yielding results, that's true. However, I've seen people with similar skill sets (or less) with multiple opportunities. I recently put some feelers out for contract work, just to see what the environment was like and she was astonished when I had 3 full-time and 2 part-time offers in less than one week. I know it's cliche, but I don't think being a woman in IT is particularly helpful either.

Best wishes to your wife in finding suitable career employment.

Thank you very much!

Perhaps her resume isn't very good. Has she had it worked on by a professional recruiter? She's using a professional recruiter right?

It's odd that a permanent resident would get that, since they don't have any restrictions on being hired. Foreign students, however, are normally not permitted to work in the US except for 12 months (29 months if you're doing sci / tech / engineering / math). This is called Curricular Practical Training if you're still in uni doing a co-op or summer internship and Optional Practical Training if you're doing it after.

I'm a foreign student in the US, and what most of my fellow foreign students can do to work long-term in the US after graduation is to get an H-1B visa. This is basically a way for companies in the US to be able to hire foreign workers in specialized job areas.

The article says it "requires only a bachelor's degree". While this is true, the process is much more painful that you can imagine. Companies shy away from selecting foreign students, but not because they're bigoted or prejudiced: It's the amount of red tape involved. I've seen lots of companies explicitly say that they are not considering foreign students (I don't blame them).

When getting an H-1B, you can't just apply for one and then find a job. You need to find a company that wants to go through the H-1B process with you. And then your Visa is only valid while you work for that same company. If you quit, you'll need to go through the whole process again.

I can see why the US doesn't want to let in tons of people but then again, a good amount of these people are at the very least moderately skilled. Since the barrier for entry is already high, it would be cool if at least the H-1B wasn't so restrictive about what happens after you get it so H-1B workers wouldn't be stuck at jobs where they're unhappy or they could easily be entrepreneurs.

I'm a permanent resident as well, and its never stopped me from getting swamped with offers once I place my resume up online. (My resume states I am a Green Card Holder).

Perhaps its a geographic issue (I'm in the NY area), I'd also suggest getting someone professional to take a look at the resume, a lot of terms used might need changing for the US Market, for example "Global Application Manager" sounds like it should be a Director level role at least over here, so you might want to indicate this?

I did have one or two issues when I first had my EAD but not the green card (I moved here through marriage as well). But if she has a Green Card I don't see this being the problem.

I've been on both sides of the employment fence and one big mental block for employers is having to go through all the legal paperwork to hire someone on a visa. As far as employment is concerned there is zero difference between a US citizen and a permanent resident so I am not persuaded that is the reason (unless it's a defense company and security clearances are a hassle for non-citizens). I can't really speak to the 'foregin' company experience though - however that's orthogonal to visa status.

As far as employment is concerned there is zero difference between a US citizen and a permanent resident...

True...the difference is in the perception.

Has she considered using the phrase "Authorized To Work In The U.S." instead? Maybe I'm oversimplifying the issue, but that probably puts out a better perception than "permanent resident".

Not a bad idea, I'll suggest it to her, thanks.

I've had the opposite experience, actually. Being a permanent resident usually sparks a short conversation during the interview about the difference in educational systems and my life experience - usually I've felt that the conversation was a factor in a successful interview.

edit: but then again, I haven't had much work experience outside of the US, and due to very different management styles in the US and elsewhere, that may be a key difference in our situations.

Showing previous U.S. employment probably helps a great deal. Out of curiosity, where are you from?

South Africa

Where in the US are you?

Toledo, OH. The automotive industry is taking a hit around here, but she has applied all over the country.

Come on up to Ann Arbor-there's loads of oppertunities here. UofM is expanding and we've got a best of breed engineering school going on

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