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Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

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Re: Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

#61

I happened to be in Russia when the Who's Hiring thread showed up. I have family there, so I was entertaining the thought of possibly moving there, or maybe staying for a year or two. However, I noticed most of the remote locations were "US-only", and even the ones in other countries were usually local to that country -- "germany only", etc. I was wondering how many of the "US-only" ones would accept me, since I am a…

I assume it's for legal reasons. It's very hard/expensive to deal with international legal issues. Much simpler to stay within your own country.

Re: Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, the tired old "Shortage of Engineers" meme is bound to come up in any discussion about tech hiring that ignores compensation. Saying there is a shortage of something in a market only makes sense given a price. Sure, there is probably a shortage of Bay Area engineers if you're paying $70K, but I bet there is no shortage if you're paying $400K.

Would you be the CEO that decides to pay your employees 2-3x market rate? I'd love to watch that experiment from the sidelines.

400k is market rate for top-quality bay area engineers, depending on specialty [0]. You don't see job ads for those folks, because hackers like that don't read them.

[0] And even for lower-paying specialties (like UI/UX), 400k isn't even 2x market rate.

Re: Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, the tired old "Shortage of Engineers" meme is bound to come up in any discussion about tech hiring that ignores compensation. Saying there is a shortage of something in a market only makes sense given a price. Sure, there is probably a shortage of Bay Area engineers if you're paying $70K, but I bet there is no shortage if you're paying $400K.

Would you be the CEO that decides to pay your employees 2-3x market rate? I'd love to watch that experiment from the sidelines.

Ring side seat for you:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12071667

Re: Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

#64

I happened to be in Russia when the Who's Hiring thread showed up. I have family there, so I was entertaining the thought of possibly moving there, or maybe staying for a year or two. However, I noticed most of the remote locations were "US-only", and even the ones in other countries were usually local to that country -- "germany only", etc. I was wondering how many of the "US-only" ones would accept me, since I am a…

I think a combination of simpler tax/administration and timezones.

Working with a distributed team across the world's time zones (f.ex. Bay Area and much of Europe are 9 hours apart) is an entirely different game from working with a distributed team in roughly the same time zone. The latter allows you to organise as a digital version of a colocated office, eg you can you standups, easily plan meetings without negotiating against half the team's evening plans.

The first makes most sense if you manage to be mostly meeting-less. That's more challenging in my book, but maybe also more rewarding - and not only for hiring reasons (after all, meetings easily become a waste of time).

Re: Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

#65
post #35
post #6

London is in Europe but Berlin in Germany? seems pretty ironic given recent news

London isn't technically in Europe anymore..

Geographically it always will be, administratively it is - for now - still part of the EU.

Europe is a continent, the EU an organization.

Re: Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

#67

I loved this line from the article "With unsolved US VISA problems for STEM workers, IT companies might have to get creative to hire potential employees." -- Yeah, creative...like paying a living wage for the location. Pay salaries that will allow someone to rent their own 1B (not bunking) and the "shortage" will magically disappear.

Even for companies that pay good salaries there is a shortage. If you look at the H1B filings, you'll see for example that the average Netflix H1B salary is just about $300K a year.

That being said, a lot of companies are abusing H1B and the system needs a huge overhaul so that the people who want to come work here can, the people who want to hire foreign works can, and we don't have a few companies using imported workers as indentured servants.

Re: Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

#68

I happened to be in Russia when the Who's Hiring thread showed up. I have family there, so I was entertaining the thought of possibly moving there, or maybe staying for a year or two. However, I noticed most of the remote locations were "US-only", and even the ones in other countries were usually local to that country -- "germany only", etc. I was wondering how many of the "US-only" ones would accept me, since I am a…

It's legal. It's a huge pain in the ass to hire someone whose physical address is outside the US if your company is based in the US. Heck, it's a huge pain in the ass just to hire someone outside of a state you aren't already operating in.

Re: Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

#69
post #67

I loved this line from the article "With unsolved US VISA problems for STEM workers, IT companies might have to get creative to hire potential employees." -- Yeah, creative...like paying a living wage for the location. Pay salaries that will allow someone to rent their own 1B (not bunking) and the "shortage" will magically disappear.

Even for companies that pay good salaries there is a shortage. If you look at the H1B filings, you'll see for example that the average Netflix H1B salary is just about $300K a year. That being said, a lot of companies are abusing H1B and the system needs a huge overhaul so that the people who want to come work here can, the people who want to hire foreign works can, and we don't have a few companies using imported wo…

I'm familiar with these opportunities. They are not entry-level positions, they are highly technical positions which require extensive architectural experience...the sort that individuals often have mid-career (often with children, braces, school tuition, medical co-pays, etc.)

So yes, $300k for a mid-career position is clearly not enough in the Bay Area. Could you raise a family in a 1BR, yes you can! But there is a "shortage" of people who want to raise a family in a 1BR. There is no magic here -- pay would need to be commensurate to experience + cost of living or people simply will not take the job.

Re: Hacker News' “Who is Hiring?” thread, part 2, remote and locations

#70

I happened to be in Russia when the Who's Hiring thread showed up. I have family there, so I was entertaining the thought of possibly moving there, or maybe staying for a year or two. However, I noticed most of the remote locations were "US-only", and even the ones in other countries were usually local to that country -- "germany only", etc. I was wondering how many of the "US-only" ones would accept me, since I am a…

I am from Brazil, since I graduated around 2009, I never got a 100% legal job, and never got a well paying job or contract.

I keep hearing that I should move, or should work remote, I always reply: "How?"

Because most countries only allow you to move into them if you get invited or is already wealthy.

Most remote jobs I see, no matter where I look (I don't look only on HN) are US-only, or local only.

Most jobs that accept foreigners, have written on them: "Must already have H1B or Greencard"

So what I am supposed to do?

People criticize me when I complain that my yearly income has been on average about 10.000 USD, and I have to expend 2000 USD to build an "average" computer (or 4000 USD if I do it with only 100% legal parts with all taxes paid), saying that I am "stupid" for not working remote or relocating. But I am yet to see someone offer me a solution.

Even people that could hire me directly, sometimes say to me: "Oh, I loved your work, I am sure you will find work! Of course, I can't hire you, because it is against my company policy."

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