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Did you start your career after the set back of being on H4

Discussion in 'H4 Indian Ladies' started by lollywolly, Apr 30, 2015.

  1. VanithaSudhir

    VanithaSudhir Platinum IL'ite

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    I didn't quite get you. You said you couldn't work for 10 years since you were on H4. So how did you work as a BA 4 yrs back..on H4? All IT jobs will have implementations, post-implementation support, maintenance etc. Since you say you have already worked as a BA and do not want to pursue in that route, I guess you can drop that plan.



    QA job will also have the same norms as a BA job. There will be days when you have to slog to meet deadlines. There is no exception in this..
    I haven't heard of BA training in American college ? Does it even require training ? If you are a domain specialist, you get BA jobs.

    I am not aware of 'Returnship' programs.

    I am not sure of other areas which are non-IT. I am sorry, I can't comment whether the 1 yr experience you have in your resume will add weightage or not. But in IT, there are Background checks on the experience mentioned. And the gap in experience will definitely have an impact in the selection process
     
  2. butterflyice

    butterflyice Local Champion Staff Member Platinum IL'ite

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    @VanithaSudhir, I think the OP is not talking about the stress in performing BA role.
    Its the way in which many people get there without experience but you know what the resume says! She finds that stressful. Romba nyaamaana ponnu :)
     
  3. VanithaSudhir

    VanithaSudhir Platinum IL'ite

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    My bad.. For me all 'applications' are System 'Applications'.. ha ha ha
    Sorry Lolly.. I have nothing much to say..but if we want something, we have to undergo certain process. It will be tiring and sometimes frustrating. But there is no easy way out.
     
  4. butterflyice

    butterflyice Local Champion Staff Member Platinum IL'ite

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    OP, suggest you call up the place where you want to do MBA and speak to their admissions counsellor. Ask them about their placement record for previous years. I can suggest good business schools if I have an idea about where you live.

    These are the top business schools, not just stanford and harvard. If you live close to any of these colleges, you should consider applying there.

    Best Business School Rankings | MBA Program Rankings | US News

    The Best Business Schools List - Forbes

    Given the clarity with which you have expressed yourself in this thread, I think you should give it a try. Don't overthink about the viability of MBA! If you decide on Haas, Kellogg or Booth I can help you get information.

    Another idea is to google up students of universities that you consider. LinkedIn, Facebook should throw up many students. Get in touch with them. Atleast few will get back to you :) For eg If you consider Stern, don't feel shy of getting in touch with Ashwath Damodaran. Look up the list of professors in the Management department in the universities you want to apply, email them. Even if they do not give you the answers that you seek, they should be able to point the correct resource.
     
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  5. lollywolly

    lollywolly New IL'ite

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    @ VanithaSudhir
    I did mention in my previous post that I was placed as a BA by an Indian Consulting Company. Of course I was sponsored H1-B by them to work J. After I was done with my contract, there were no other contracts available at that time for me to take up another assignment in the area where I lived. And so I converted myself back to H4. I also did mention in my post that I did not talk about this in my original post since I am, at this point, not willing to go that path again.
    Like I mentioned before, I love working as a BA, suits my personality and my education background. But adding all sorts of things on the resume and trying to get a job in that fashion is something I do not wanna go through in this phase of my life. In the area where I live, its 90% Indian and 10% Americans. I did try to go the consulting path from last 4 months, the Americans Love me and say I am the right candidate but they intentionally put another interview with an Indian to check the validity of the resume. Even if I camouflage very well, Indians turn me down, sometimes coz they think I am extremely well in the area and might be a threat to their jobs or sometimes they know that my resume isn’t what it is J. And also, in the period you keep applying for such jobs, you have to constantly lie to people around you or your neighbors that you are currently working either remotely etc. Coz if people around know that you are not working and you show you are working on your resume, upon getting hired, god forbid if someone you know already works in that company then you will be out in no time. Or if all goes fine and I work on the contract for an year or so then after the completion, I will have to again keep looking to get into another contract. So basically until at least I have real solid 3 years of continual experience, I will not be able to apply for a Full Time BA position.
    I have nothing against that path. Infact, the consulting route has given so many people new lives here in the US.
    So, at this point, I do not want to take so much stress and walk that path again. SO I decided, whatever it is, I will walk the path in which I will not have to lie. And most importantly I can be free in telling the truth. I personally feel, when your mind is free of all clutter or fear then you can flourish and reach to great heights. Also, the area where we live, we have decided to stay here permanently, so I do not want my lies to affect my kids future. Coz every Indian will know when some one Fakes J.
    So for all the above reasons, I with a very heavy heart, I decided I will give up on my BA dream, although I love it so much. That being the reason I never mentioned about BA at all in my original 1[SUP]st[/SUP] post. And wanted to gain information on other areas how I could get back to the workforce.
    I agree no pain no gain, but I have decided I will take pains in the right path, so that I can be myself and flourish and shine with my talents.
    @jskls
    Thank you for responding and for all the input.
    @Butterflyice
    I appreciate all the information you have given in your post about colleges and to approach councellors. I tottaly find this appealing. Also the idea of getting in touch with people via linked in or facebook, love it. Thank you so much for providing the links to the list of colleges.
    Can you please clarify what is “Romba nyaamaana ponnu”. I did not understand what it means.
    Also, for MBA if you know how to get financial aids, outside of the college campus, then please let me know. I will certainly talk to the counselor about aids etc.
    All the information that you guys have provided here is so amazing. Feels like I had the most sensible conversation with the most sensible people.
    But, I would love for more information to keep coming and more people who have walked this path to share here in this thread. It will not only help me but also help so many others who might be in the same boat as I am. And to all the posters so far, please add to this thread whenever you have a new idea or suggestions.
    I appreciate all your time in replying. Appreciate it!
    Thank You.
     
  6. VanithaSudhir

    VanithaSudhir Platinum IL'ite

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    Hi Lolly,

    I am sorry. I misunderstood the 'application process' as 'system application' process until BF pointed out.
    And again I was not aware that the 'application process' you were mentioning was fudging resumes. I am again sorry for that. I have not had the experience of faking resumes and so was not aware about such consultancies.
    I am totally against fudging resumes and as you said it is added tension and why take a risk. But as you mentioned you already have a year experience as a BA, mention that and try to seek for employment.
    It is always the hiring manager or PM who interviews candidates. There can be no hidden agenda in this. Again I am not sure if anyone will reject a good candidate, irrespective of whether it is an Indian or not. Even if you feel insecure that way, imagine unless until you are going to replace that person who interviews, how is she/he going to feel you as a threat. How is that person going to run his project successfully, if he/she hires an incompetent person. :).
    You can face politics once you join a company, but not at the hiring time. However, I appreciate the fact that you don't want to build your career on lies. You can also try to get a placement, through any of your friends who are already working in some company.

    All the best for your job hunt.
     
  7. tashidelek2002

    tashidelek2002 IL Hall of Fame

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    Go to your local government jobs office and talk to a counselor. They can tell you options in my opinion better than a college counselor because colleges are into promoting their programs and not finding jobs. The hot thing right now is certificates.

    If you are lying on your resumes, remember it's a small world now. Also, once a liar how can an employer trust you won't do something else that is shady. I would suggest changing your methods.
     
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  8. lollywolly

    lollywolly New IL'ite

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    Please see post below. Thank You.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2015
  9. lollywolly

    lollywolly New IL'ite

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    @vanithasudhir
    Thank you for your response.

    @tashidelek2002

    Thank you for your post. Thanks for the advice on approaching counselors.
    I agree with you, it’s a Small World today unlike 10 years back. The last part of your post was a little too aggressive. I do not want to justify but I believe numerous people, not only who are on H4, even people who come to the US on L visa’s with intra company transfers, do take the Consulting path and eventually end up having a great career in the US. The path seems lucrative when you have no other path to take.
    The reason I tried that path was, even if I had done my Masters again after coming to the US, getting a H1-B sponsorship was so hard. Visa quota’s were getting filled up, there was a lottery system etc . So even with my investment of time and money in doing Masters here, there was no guarantee that I would get a job upon graduation due to work authorization sponsorship requirement. And since I already had good education qualifications, and looking into what was going on here when on H4, I took that path. If I were to be fortunate enough to have continual projects for atleast 2 or 3 years, by now I would have made a great career for myself by eventually getting into a Full Time position. Like so many hundreds of Indians have made going the consulting path.
    You are right when you say “I suggest you change your methods”. If you have read all of my posts correctly then you would know, that is what I am doing and trying to seek help from people like you and others who might have had great careers after getting their Green Cards and the liberty to work in the USA without restrictions.
    Your last few lines makes me really think. Your right, employers or Managers especially if they are Indians, would guess what the path would have been, for my experience as a BA consultant. They very well can think twice before offering me a job with them. I would want to know your opinion on the below options:
    If I told them, I got training from a company and then they placed me – Would it work?
    Or would it be best to just forget about the 1 year BA experience and not show anything at all on the resume and just keep my qualifications?
    If I went back to doing my Masters here, then would you advice I take that 1 year of experience away from my profile? So there can be no worries at all? And I can start everything fresh?
    Thanks for providing suggestions on the Certificates. After reading your post, I did a quick research and saw such certificate programs offered for few weeks to few months. Cost ranging from 2K to 5K.
    If I were to get into such certificate programs and upon completion, would you suggest I just keep my previous degrees and this certification on my resume ? And take away my 1 year BA experience ?
    Please do let me know your thoughts. Others please feel free to pitch in as well.
    Thank you.
     
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  10. butterflyice

    butterflyice Local Champion Staff Member Platinum IL'ite

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    @lollywolly, I totally agree with all that you have said in your posts. I too know of many guys who did their masters here, couldn't find a job and had to go the consulting route. Just bad luck I guess. It was not an option to go back to India after amassing loans here. Although I guess the market is doing much better now.

    I am going to tag @sokanasanah who might be able to give you information about seeking aid outside of university and the other questions that you have raised. If you think you received sensible responses here, wait until you read his response:)

    PS: romba nyayamana ponnu means very fair/just girl :) Sorry, I should have included the translation in my previous post.

    PSS: Its been long while since I saw someone not go defensive at "you did not do the right thing!". Very well played!
     

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