Anti-immigration rules and employment
Actually, I am not sure if this is because of stupidly restrictive rules, incompetence in ICE, or simple nastiness. But the anti-immigration mood IS having an impact.
Earlier this week, Microsoft announced the opening of a software development centre in Vancouver after losing a fight to ease restrictions on the admission of foreign workers to the United States.
Well, there goes the computer industry.
Way to go, Canada.*
*The views of this song do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog nor its administrator.
Labels: Canada, computers, immigration
posted by Clemens @ 12:13 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
YES! if you're an actual, college-educated software developer in the United States looking for a job, you can apply to companies like Microsoft, and... wait... and... wait... and... wait. Whether you'll get hired is another story.
Tech companies don't appear to want Americans. The job outlook for software developers is abysmal, and people are being warned to stay away from that field. Why software companies can simultaneously tell Congress that they can't find qualified workers is anybody's guess. (Poor American work ethic? That's what one person told me. Poor American educational system? What, with college graduates? Have these companies never heard of on-the-job training? On the other hand, I've also been told by a former manager at one world-famous company that she didn't like to hire people with advanced degrees when she was there.)
...or so I'm told by software developers & computer science professors. It mirrors my experience applying to corporations that advertise for mathematicians: none replied to my inquiries. That was before I told them what field I had specialized in; all they had was a name and a request for instructions on how to apply. I can name these companies, if you like; at least one of them is world-famous. :-)
Of course, this is all anecdotal experience. If anyone has advice on how a mathematician with a doctoral degree from a respectable university and substantial experience in software development can get instructions on how to apply a job, let me know. I'm not looking now, but if I don't make tenure, I will be looking :-) And I'll be barely under 40, which might help me...
Jack -
I had heard it said that the American companies were simply gaming the system to get cheap, but highly trained, computer folks. Of course, as soon as Microsoft and its ilk denied this I realized that it was simply anti-business left wing talk.
And now you go and give me actual eyewitness facts to shatter my illusions about Microsoft. What is the world coming to?
Microsoft, btw, is responsible for VISTA, the worst piece of software I have ever had the misfortune to use (sorry for the personal rant).
On the bright side, though, once they start manufacturing in Canada, we can all BLAME CANADA!
(sorry Elliot, Anactoria, Ian, etc, etc)
My sympathies for Vista. One of the nicest aspects of my new job over my old job is that I can actually use Linux. I was sick of Windows and its issues by the end of last year.
Then again, you might not consider Linux an improvement. (But the version of Linux I get to use is developed in good ol' North Carolina, at a company founded by two former alums of NC State!)
Hey, I actually know a guy they hired. (He also got a PhD.) I should try them if tenure doesn't work out. Suddenly I feel a lot better! :-)
If you feel better I am glad the post inspired your train of thought. Good ol' NC.
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