MyUSGreenCard.com Blog

George Scalise, president of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA, San Jose), said the U.S. Congress has “truly failed” in dealing with the problem of getting H1-B visa and green card cap issues resolved. Speaking in a webcast aired live yesterday, Scalise said that the United States attracts the best and brightest to come and study, but problems with getting visas and green cards cause them to move and work elsewhere.

 
“We really need to modify the immigration policies as it relates to the H1-B visas and green cards so that it’s really fast, efficient and certain for these young students,” Scalise said.
 
The U.S. green card process can take anywhere from five to 10 years for an individual to gain permanent residency, and the 85,000 annual quota on H1-B visas for temporary foreign tech workers has been running out quickly for the last few years. This forces many prospective workers to take jobs elsewhere. “That process is badly broken, and we’re finding great difficulty in keeping those young people,” Scalise said. (more…)

In the spirit of blazing one’s own trail, we spoke with trend forecasters to determine which careers will be the most popular in the coming year. Gerald Celente, Publisher of the Trends Journal, along with the team at TrendsResearch.com provided us with details on which industries are growing the fastest.

Armed with statistics on industry competitiveness and job availability supplied by Monster.com, this year’s list has been compiled with the forward-thinking attitude of the Fast Company reader and the professions listed.

Each job listing contains and explanation of the position, why it’s hot for 2007, and suggestions for further topical reading from Fast Company articles from the past year. Some positions have a tech focus, some are design based, but they all share common ground: It takes a creative soul with an endless amount of determination and innovation to thrive in these fields. This year, Fast Company salutes its readers who brave the challenge of the “what if” with the list of top professions destined for success in 2007. Experience Designer: These talented individuals work in the retail industry, creating the essence and aura of a store. Experience designers go beyond the look of a place, creating a unique experience in which shoppers can immerse themselves. From cellular boutiques to the American Girl doll store on New York’s Fifth Avenue, the shops created by an experience designer are often considered works of art; mini universes unto themselves. Experience designers are involved in every aspect of creation — from choosing accent colors on walls to slanting the windows in the right direction. The next time you go into a boutique and you feel as if you’ve just had an “experience” — you have, and someone went to a lot of trouble to make you feel at home. Further reading: “American Girl,” Keith Hammonds, September 2006. < /br> Medical Researcher: It’s no news that what’s on the forefront of medicine is on the forefront of America’s collective mind. Researchers of cancer, Alzheimers, and the developers of prosthetics are the most coveted titles in the healthcare industry. With the aging baby boomer population, the need for cures and treatment plans is both paramount and profitable. Major developments aren’t only taking place in medicine, but also in the way doctors file medical records. Individuals with the know-how and creative juice to mix tech with medicine can expect seven figure salaries in the year ahead. Further Reading: “Top Scalpel,” Michael Prospero, April 2006 and “Record Time,” Charles Fishman, April 2006.z< /br> (more…)

Candidates’ experience and credentials, as detailed in the resume, are most often the frequently used criteria for determining which job applicants are deserving of a personal interview. Ultimately, though, the hiring decision is going to be heavily based upon the candidates’ performance in the interview and their value to the organization. To impress an interviewer, you have to be able to distinguish yourself from other candidates and be prepared to ’sell’ your qualifications to the interviewer. How can you do this?

Present a polished professional image

Remember that professional companies are looking to hire professional individuals, not the beach bum who just shook the loose sand from his hair. Dress conservatively in a well-fitting suit and keep jewelry, makeup, and fragrances to a minimum. It’s also important to always take a shower, brush your teeth, and comb your hair before an interview as well to present to clean, polished image.

Spend some time to research the organization prior to the interview

Doing outside research on your own time to prepare for the interview demonstrates your commitment to hard work and your sincere interest in the organization. Study up on the company’s products and services, industry, target market, annual sales, structure, and any other key information. Managers will be impressed by your research.

Prepare specific examples of how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for the organization’s needs

Practice answering tough, directed questions about your experience and be prepared to draw colorations between your experience and that needs of the organization. For example, if the position requires strong analytical skills, you should have example ready to demonstrate your strong analytical skills. Have you faced any challenges that forced you to think quickly on your feet? How do you go about evaluate alternatives when you have to justify a decision on a project?

Prepare and ask intelligent questions about the company and position

Your research on the organization will also come in handy when it comes time to formulate a series of intelligent questions you want answered. Since the interviewing process is an evaluation tool for both the individual and the organization, it is in your best interest to gather as much information about the potential opportunity as possible. Asking well thought-out questions shows that you are serious about the opportunity at hand and indicates the level of your knowledge about the company to the interviewer. (more…)