Gen Y Workers Reinventing IT for the Better 447
buzzardsbay writes "We all know the complaints about young employees. They depend too much on their parents' money, they need constant hand-holding, they have no job loyalty, they demand more than they're worth, they disrespect older employees, and they're naive about corporate culture. But despite this conventional wisdom, there's growing evidence that the different working styles of Gen Y workers might be causing fundamental — and beneficial — changes in the way enterprises run, especially when it comes to IT. For example, they may show better judgment when making tech purchases and are often better with green IT initiatives. This is a nice counterpoint to a previous story (and resulting incendiary comments) that dubbed young tech workers a risk to corporate networks."
Re:Applause is in order (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Mom's money, what's wrong with that? (Score:4, Informative)
It's not xenophobia. These are things discussed openly with HR departments. It's no secret that many companies use work visas to get cheaper labor.
Re:Applause is in order (Score:5, Informative)
Indeed, this is the third posting I've seen today (second from this poster) which looks like a yahoo.com and ends up being members.on.nimp.org (REALLY NSWF, don't go there) which will randomly show some of the nastier web imagery.
Nasty stuff.
Cheers
Re:Can i mod the description flamebait? (Score:3, Informative)
Currents rents in the NY Metro area are ~$2,000 a month for a one bedroom apartment.
The lowest listed rentals I saw in the city itself were ~$1,400, in "bad" areas there were some for ~1000$. Anything further away might not put you near a train line which would necessitate a car (and insurance, gas, tolls, etc.).
That alone just ate up your $12,000 (that was after taxes, right?). Add Telephone and/or cell phone, Gas & Electric, Internet (DSL or Cable), and your easily adding another $50 per item on the list, call it $200 and I think its a low estimate, but thats another $2,400 a year, not including transportation, clothing (everyone spends something, even if its just laundry/dry cleaning and a shirt or two here and there), not to mention FOOD which usually a large part of anyone budget, as well as any other expenses (books, CDs, movies, TV, Computer, etc.)
Re:Mom's money, what's wrong with that? (Score:4, Informative)
Except that's not how H1B works in practice. What happens is...companies bring in all the H1B's they can, feigning that they can't find US workers to fill the spots. There are plenty of US workers for the spots, but, just not at substandard wages. They bring in the H1B's at much lower salaries, and often with unwritten threats of termination or revocation of visa if they ask for more money. All this does is drive down wages and take jobs from US workers trying to live and raise families here. To a H1B, it is still a LOT of $$, but, often they just live here in poor conditions and send money back home. They accept wages that would be very hard for a US family to get by on with a decent house and kids.
Re:Job Loyalty? How about orker loyalty? (Score:3, Informative)
Well, I just did a LOT of research into it on the internet. I found USENET groups and asked about things. I found websites, etc. My Dad had done some of this, and I asked him about it (he had a CPA handle most all of his stuff so not a great source of info on the inner workings).
I incorporated while still a contract employee of a company. I was W2 to them with benefits...but, I got the inc. to try to work a deal with them to sub to them on future contracts. That didn't work out, but, when they ran outta funding for me...I was ready for the next job with my own company. You might look here [cehandbook.com] for some good info on contract employee-ship...it gave me some good ideas on starting things.
Look at the IRS site...some rather dull reading, but, good ideas there. Also, you might contact a CPA and talk to them. Do your research before doing this. I find many of them will try to point you towards a LLC rather than a "S" corp. I dunno why...I found the S was better due to the savings on SE (Self Employment) taxes...SS and medicare. See my other posts on this thread for explanation.
I got the name of a lawyer and paid him $300 and gave him a company name. In a couple-three weeks I got the forms and all for my corporation. I contacted the IRS and applied for a EIN (employer tax number)...and was good to go. Once I got my own gig as a sub...I found out about getting a little liability insurance, etc. A good CPA like mine turned me onto contacts for things like insurance, etc.
There is a bit of paperwork...and it can be confusing at first with payroll...and everywhere you have to send tax money. I paid my CPA to show me how to fill out what forms and when for state, fed taxes and unemployment payments. I set myself up on QuickBooks Pro (yes, I have ONE computer with windows I can boot into just for this)...and that's about it. Oh yes...I did open up a business account, to better keep separate personal and business finances.
Yes, there are hoops, but, there are benefits. It is a big step, but, not rocket science. It is worth it to be more independent, save your own money, and be in charge more so of your own destiny.
It also helps as you go along to make lots of contacts and friends before you take the 'big' indie leap. Make lots of friends along the way...have some people skills (these will often carry you a little further than pure tech skills do).
So, do some research....do your best to learn your worth and bill rates of skills and jobs. Headhunters will be of help too, look for a good one.
It is a little scary at first, but, hey, if "I" can do it....most anyone can. Good Luck
Re:Mom's money, what's wrong with that? (Score:3, Informative)
This last sentence contradicts the previous one!
So what you are saying is, the H1B worker can not only live with his salary, but has extra money to send back to his family, yet the American couldn't even get by with that very same salary?
Do you think it might just possibly be the fault of the American's lifestyle, and not the H1B system?
Re:Job Loyalty? How about orker loyalty? (Score:3, Informative)
The basic problem that *I* found was what is basically the elimination of entry-level tech jobs. No one wants to train you, and I've been passed over for many jobs because I don't have a degree (yet), and 3 years doing the exact same job is apparently less valuable than someone right out of college with a resume filled exclusively with classes they have taken. I'm now working as a temp in a pretty good position, but its because I am very good with people and am hard to turn down in a face to face interview. There is no real bridge from the "kid" job at best buy fixing PCs to the "professional" job fixing the same PCs at a corporation. Well, there IS one, but its very small and very few end up being able to cross it.
Also when I was unemployed, it always amazed me what companies considered "entry level". All these 1st tier help desk jobs at $12 an hour (in the bay area) requiring 4 year degrees. I could've done that job when I was 16! What I got out of seeing all those jobs was that there are very very few companies who are willing to pay for quality workers.
Re:Mom's money, what's wrong with that? (Score:3, Informative)
Maybe that's how the companies you're familiar with work, but don't pretend it's some universal rule.
The H1Bs I know all make pretty damn good salaries.
A basic problem seems to be that U.S. immigration laws are basically designed with low-wage low-skill workers in mind, and don't reflect the realities of skilled and professional workers (it's kind of understandable why they're this way, as low-skill workers have historically been the majority of voters). If "Joe Blow" graduated from Harvard and is clearly tops in his field, companies want to hire him, and don't care whether he's from Bangladesh or Chicago; immigration law, however, treats him as if he's just another warm body swarming across the border trying to undercut our factory workers.
[In my (somewhat limited) experience, other developed countries seem to handle things better: employers can almost always get visas for skilled foreign workers if they push hard enough; either they don't have the hard limits the U.S. has, or the limits are not reached as often.]