Job thread

[Soln]

As a CDN, I believe we are an incredibly passive aggressive country.  It bugs me to no end. 

Greencards: you will need to qualify first either for a TN (NAFTA) visa, which is temporary and non-renewable (i.e. you have to get your company to re-apply you) or you have to win the H1B specialist visa lottery.  I know someone who had to leave the US last year because he didn't win the lottery, after several years in the US.  It sucks and it is random.  After the H1B and a few years, then you can apply for Permanent Residency (Greencard).  All in all, takes a few years to get that far to even apply. 

And IMO (which means nothing), most attractive States are WA, OR, and maybe VT, NH, CO or CT.  No disrespect to anyone's home State.

[Strazos]

Actually a TN is renewable. Also, the H1B lottery doesn't have so much to do with staying in the US or getting LPR status - the petitioning employer eventually needs to be willing to go through the DOL Permanent Labor Certification process, which leads to LPR status.

[schild]

most attractive States are WA, OR, and maybe VT, NH, CO or CT.  No disrespect to anyone's home State.

Knowing Bunk, of that list only WA, OR (both of which are basically a Canadian extension) and CO are sane options. New England is a total shithole.

[Paelos]

most attractive States are WA, OR, and maybe VT, NH, CO or CT.  No disrespect to anyone's home State.

Knowing Bunk, of that list only WA, OR (both of which are basically a Canadian extension) and CO are sane options. New England is a total shithole.

NE's only terrible if you hate the idea of a bunch of fat dudes whacking off to pictures of Tom Brady before going out to get wicked drunk and punch each other in the balls.

[Soln]

Actually a TN is renewable. Also, the H1B lottery doesn't have so much to do with staying in the US or getting LPR status - the petitioning employer eventually needs to be willing to go through the DOL Permanent Labor Certification process, which leads to LPR status.

Clarity: Yes.  The TN is renewable.  Meaning, it expires and is a temporary visa.  And it's not renew forever.  And yes, the H1B is what you say, but the slots are random per employer, correct?.  Meaning, H1B's are also not a sure thing, correct?  Not quibbling (since I know you from here and your profession).

[Strazos]

Actually a TN is renewable. Also, the H1B lottery doesn't have so much to do with staying in the US or getting LPR status - the petitioning employer eventually needs to be willing to go through the DOL Permanent Labor Certification process, which leads to LPR status.

And yes, the H1B is what you say, but the slots are random per employer, correct?.  Meaning, H1B's are also not a sure thing, correct?  Not quibbling (since I know you from here and your profession).

This is where my knowledge breaks down a bit, I will admit - H1Bs are largely irrelevant in Mexico, so I don't have a lot of experience with them. My understanding is that it's a lottery to get that initial H1B slot, but once in the US the status can be extended for a certain number of years. After either 5 or 7 (I forget which, cannot be bothered to look it up right at this moment) cumulative years, however, the subject has to the depart the country and remain outside for a certain length of time (1 year?); you can only be in on H1B status (and I want to say L status as well) for a certain length of maximum time. Once the employee is coming up on that max time is when they start looking for the employer to file for PERM status via DOL; this is far outside of my domain though.

TNs do not have the in-country time restrictions, but it also does not lead to LPR status. A person can theoretically be in the US indefinitely on successive TN visas. And I should be putting "visa" in quotes for a Canadian, because they generally don't need to apply for an actual visa; rather, they apply for status directly with CBP at selected port of entry. Family members, however, have to apply for TD (NAFTA Derivative) visas, which are normally valid for 36 months.

This is not me giving immigration advice, because I'm not a lawyer, so these are only observations using publicly-available information. In Bunk's situation, while a L visa may be more advantageous in the long run, a TN is a lot simpler for all involved. However, depending on Bunk's actual job, a TN may not technically be possible - straight programmers are not technically included under NAFTA, and the internet says CBP can be really picky about this with Canadians. Software Engineers, on the other hand, would appear to be OK as they fall under the "engineer" category...as long as they're not using the term as a fancy title for "code monkey."

[schild]

most attractive States are WA, OR, and maybe VT, NH, CO or CT.  No disrespect to anyone's home State.

Knowing Bunk, of that list only WA, OR (both of which are basically a Canadian extension) and CO are sane options. New England is a total shithole.

NE's only terrible if you hate the idea of a bunch of fat dudes whacking off to pictures of Tom Brady before going out to get wicked drunk and punch each other in the balls.

No. The NE is terrible for a litany of reasons:

1. All the industry is gone, the middle class never retrained.
2. It's an entire region of the US filled with under-skilled, under-educated, dumbass motherfuckers with no motivation.
3. It's a cultural fucking black hole. And I don't mean "white culture." I mean people just don't care about giving some life to these cities, whatever life that may be. Providence is Boston is Newport is New Haven. It's all the fucking same, just with a different Ivy League school full of people who are going to leave the moment they graduate.
4. On that note, no one sticks around, which is dooming these cities.
5. It's a terrible place to travel. Five miles takes 15 minutes with zero traffic. I understand the cities are old and so are the road systems, but fuck you, New England.
6. The mountains aren't as pretty as the Blue Ridge, the valleys aren't as pretty as the southwest, the cities aren't as pretty as - well, they're sorry excuses for cities. They all wish they were cities. But they aren't.
7. If Phoenix is a 10 for hot chicks, these places are a fucking 2. They'd be a 3 but they talk like fucking retards. Guys included.
8. The food, outside of fresh seafood, is a creative wasteland. The only good food comes from New York transplants that for whatever reason, opened a branch up here. The best meal I've eaten is at a Casino in Fucknowhere, CT. That should NOT be the case, and yet.
9. Most of these cities are fucking broke and can't even keep up normal infrastructure due to weather and laziness and ex-mafia rule.
10. Flying out of anywhere in the NE other than Boston is a disaster. Getting to Boston Logan is its own brand of "who the fuck builds an airport where tunnels are required for entry and exit."

I could go on. But fuck New England. Fuck its people. Fuck its chefs. Fuck its middle class, or lack thereof. Fuck its local governments. Fuck its state taxes that seem to do nothing. Fuck its lack of growth or desire to be better.

Fuckit. New England sucks and anyone who says otherwise hasn't spend enough time here.

[HaemishM]

You do realize there's only two types of people in Connecticut, right? Those who can't afford (or don't want to) live in New York but work there and those who can't afford to live in New York but would if they could? 

[schild]

You do realize there's only two types of people in Connecticut, right? Those who can't afford (or don't want to) live in New York but work there and those who can't afford to live in New York but would if they could? 

That would be Jersey. Connecticut is a completely different type of awful.

[HaemishM]

It's Connecticut too, at least the lower half.

[Sky]

No. The NE is terrible for a litany of reasons:

1. All the industry is gone, the middle class never retrained.
2. It's an entire region of the US filled with under-skilled, under-educated, dumbass motherfuckers with no motivation.
3. It's a cultural fucking black hole. And I don't mean "white culture." I mean people just don't care about giving some life to these cities, whatever life that may be. Providence is Boston is Newport is New Haven. It's all the fucking same, just with a different Ivy League school full of people who are going to leave the moment they graduate.
4. On that note, no one sticks around, which is dooming these cities.
5. It's a terrible place to travel. Five miles takes 15 minutes with zero traffic. I understand the cities are old and so are the road systems, but fuck you, New England.
6. The mountains aren't as pretty as the Blue Ridge, the valleys aren't as pretty as the southwest, the cities aren't as pretty as - well, they're sorry excuses for cities. They all wish they were cities. But they aren't.
7. If Phoenix is a 10 for hot chicks, these places are a fucking 2. They'd be a 3 but they talk like fucking retards. Guys included.
8. The food, outside of fresh seafood, is a creative wasteland. The only good food comes from New York transplants that for whatever reason, opened a branch up here. The best meal I've eaten is at a Casino in Fucknowhere, CT. That should NOT be the case, and yet.
9. Most of these cities are fucking broke and can't even keep up normal infrastructure due to weather and laziness and ex-mafia rule.
10. Flying out of anywhere in the NE other than Boston is a disaster. Getting to Boston Logan is its own brand of "who the fuck builds an airport where tunnels are required for entry and exit."

I could go on. But fuck New England. Fuck its people. Fuck its chefs. Fuck its middle class, or lack thereof. Fuck its local governments. Fuck its state taxes that seem to do nothing. Fuck its lack of growth or desire to be better.

Fuckit. New England sucks and anyone who says otherwise hasn't spend enough time here.

And this is exactly what we want people like you to think.

[schild]

I'm sorry Sky, I couldn't hear you through the societal glass ceiling that is Providence.

[Bunk]

most attractive States are WA, OR, and maybe VT, NH, CO or CT.  No disrespect to anyone's home State.

Knowing Bunk, of that list only WA, OR (both of which are basically a Canadian extension) and CO are sane options. New England is a total shithole.

I would also consider the Bay Area, but what's the point considering its just as damn expensive.

And yes to whoever asked earlier, real estate in Vancouver is insane right now. Two bedroom condos in the really shitty parts of the burbs start at about $180k. Townhouses in the burbs around $375k. 2 Bed/1 bath condo in Vancouver proper, $550 - $900k.  I won't even bother looking up detached homes.

[Shannow]

We love you too Schild. Can't speak for the rest of NE but Boston Metro is taking off.  I've actually had to tell people that think the US economy is doing really well that their view is biased by what they are seeing here.

Oh and our sports teams are better than yours.  

[schild]

I wish I cared about Sports or Boston enough to argue. But alas, I don't.

[Teleku]

most attractive States are WA, OR, and maybe VT, NH, CO or CT.  No disrespect to anyone's home State.

Knowing Bunk, of that list only WA, OR (both of which are basically a Canadian extension) and CO are sane options. New England is a total shithole.

I would also consider the Bay Area, but what's the point considering its just as damn expensive.

And yes to whoever asked earlier, real estate in Vancouver is insane right now. Two bedroom condos in the really shitty parts of the burbs start at about $180k. Townhouses in the burbs around $375k. 2 Bed/1 bath condo in Vancouver proper, $550 - $900k.  I won't even bother looking up detached homes.

Yeah, was going to say, you'd probably like the Santa Clara option for the Bay Area, but doesn't really change the same issues you currently have.  Alas, all the area's worth living in North America are really damn expensive for some reason.   

Schild, only area of NE I've been in is Boston, since my sister and a number of friends have gotten there Masters/Doctorates out there.  I thought the town was nice enough, with a lot of charm and nightlife/eating scene.  Weather is fairly shit and the people seem to hate their fellow human beings with a level of hatred normally reserved for supervillans, but didn't seem a bad place to live after multiple visits.  All of the people I know who lived there for a few years (coming from California, France, Texas, and Japan respectively) enjoyed it.

The road system is old, fucked up, and annoying though, I'll agree.  Growing up in California (and I'm sure it's the same coming from the southwest), didn't realize how for granted I took sane and efficient road systems till I went out there (as well as visiting most parts of the globe).  Yesh.

[Fabricated]

I'm burnt out and I'm taking a couple weeks off at the end of the month because I'm maxed out on time off (340-something hours). I'm not even married and I already have immediate and extended family interested in monopolizing it when I really just want to say, "I'm going to spend 2 weeks in a coma, go away."

[Soln]

That's wise.  Maybe try a spa or a trip?  I've fantasized sometimes about both, like an Alaskan cruise without kids or fatties.  

It's taken me too long to accept:
1) sleep deprivation is cumulative (serotonin is important for everything)
2) constant stress is not normal (being at work should not feel like being shelled)

[Viin]

Just got back from a cruise to Alaska (with the kids) it was awesome.

[Sky]

I'm normally not in need of getting out of state on holiday, but our trip to Ogunquit last year was perfect for resetting body and mind.

[Strazos]

Got six weeks of leave coming up soon. Mom wants to have a big BBQ with the extended family. There are two problems with this:

1) Mexico has spoiled me for BBQ gatherings - fuuuuck just having mediocre burgers and hotdogs. Guacamole and carne asada fo' lyfe, yo.
2) Most of my extended family is...pretty annoying, at best. I feel no obligation to entertain them or regale them with stories when I'm the one who is supposed to be on vacation, especially considering where I am going next.

Ok, maybe three problems:

3) At least half of them have somehow turned into gun-toting Trump supporters over the last few years due to...reasons? I have no fucking idea, but I can think of a lot of better things to do than listen to them drop N-bombs and bitch about issues they are incapable of talking about intelligently.

 

[Teleku]

Eh, its just one day out of your six weeks.  I've come to enjoy it.  I pop back into the US after being gone for a year or two, get to go out to the ranch to see what my crazy redneck family is up to.  Comparing stories on what we do/see on a daily basis is fun!   

[HaemishM]

Enjoy your racist ass extended family while you can, dude. Sooner or later, they start dropping the fuck off and you realize you miss them even at their worst. Well, maybe not their worst but at least at your family gatherings.

[schild]

I don't miss the intolerant dead, including family. Knowing Strazos, he probably won't much either.

[Soln]

My extended family should extend itself all the way back to the peat fields from whence they came.

Viin, what was the AK cruise?  Any recommendations?

[Viin]

Viin, what was the AK cruise?  Any recommendations?

It was a Disney cruise, so probably not the best option unless you really like Disney characters or you have younger kids. 7 days, which is a bit long but it takes awhile to get up north from BC.

We started in Vancouver (which seems like a nice city) and then made our way up to Tracy Arm where there's a couple of glaciers falling into the ocean. Very awesome. I recommend seeing a glacier (and the seals and whales on the way). Then we stopped at Skagway, tons of tourist stuff to do (glacier tours, dog sledding, etc). Then to Juneau which also had lots of tourist options (we panned for gold in a river), and finally to Ketchikan, which had the best shopping according to my wife, where we did a rain forest tour.

Honestly, this time of year doing anything in AK would be cool. The trip up from Vancouver to Skagway has some really awesome scenery which is comfortably viewed from your room or the deck or restaurant or where ever.

[Strazos]

I don't miss the intolerant dead, including family. Knowing Strazos, he probably won't much either.

 

[Cyrrex]

Intolerant Dead.  A new series from A&E about zombies who support open carry and hate Mexican people.

[Rasix]

Intolerant Dead.  A new series from A&E about zombies who support open carry and hate Mexican people.

So it's a story about Phoenix, Arizona.

[Soln]

split from Bob's Sub-Fora:

Well, the Boomers not retiring and moving out of the way are creating TONS of missed opportunities for employment. This generation isn't living in their parents houses because they WANT to. They're doing so because by and large their parents won't stop fucking them over.

The youngest boomers are 52 this year, but even the oldest at 70. There's a whole lost decade+ of people who can't work.

I don't fully agree (if we're generalizing things) about the living-at-home stuff, since it enables victimization/persecution-complexes.  But I do think that how hiring is done in IT is increasingly shitty.  And that can't be attributed to useless Boomers.  For example, this resonates:  F*** You, I Quit — Hiring Is Broken

[Ard]

Anyone on or know someone who's on Amazon's Lumberyard team(s)?  I've got a recruiter talking to me and I want to know how much of a train wreck they might be compared to the rest of Amazon and how seriously to take this.

[Rasix]

Someone post the Loki meme. Fucking hell man, Amazon. 

I don't fully agree (if we're generalizing things) about the living-at-home stuff, since it enables victimization/persecution-complexes.  But I do think that how hiring is done in IT is increasingly shitty.  And that can't be attributed to useless Boomers.  For example, this resonates:  F*** You, I Quit — Hiring Is Broken

I haven't done many tech interviews since landing my current job, but this matches my limited experience.  I'm just going to stop recruiters when they say it's a coding position from now on.  It's no use spending weeks studying garbage from classes I haven't taken in 13-16 years, just so I don't get stumped on whatever fucking tree algorithm they want me to implement over the phone. 

At least Google isn't asking you how many dildos would fit in the hull of the Titanic anymore.

[Samwise]

I'm going through my first job interview in something like 18 years and finding it pretty fun.  It's for an engineering position (C++ backend coding) so I was curious after hearing all the horror stories what it'd be like.  What I learned about myself after a 5 hour stretch of answering coding questions at a whiteboard is that I really missed that little rush of validation I used to get from acing tests in school.

 

[Soln]

Anyone on or know someone who's on Amazon's Lumberyard team(s)?  I've got a recruiter talking to me and I want to know how much of a train wreck they might be compared to the rest of Amazon and how seriously to take this.

PM me. 

[Khaldun]

I have to give Google credit for admitting a while back that when they took a look at their big high-stakes testing thing they realized that the people who performed most strongly on the tests turned out to be the least useful employees, on average.