The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
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The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
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Re: The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
#2Conclusion:
"There is plenty of international talent that can and should be leveraged in the appropriate places and the proper ways. There are many instances where you’re going to want to hire a leading expert in a technical field. But most jobs, the qualifications are a core technical and subject competency combined with diligence and a willingness to learn. [..]
We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believes in the importance of building up the American talent pool to tackle not only the challenge in front of them but the array of challenges that the future will bring."
Related earlier post by Mark Atwood: https://markatwood.substack.com/p/america-is-an-idea-not-an-...
Re: The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
#3Conclusion: "There is plenty of international talent that can and should be leveraged in the appropriate places and the proper ways. There are many instances where you’re going to want to hire a leading expert in a technical field. But most jobs, the qualifications are a core technical and subject competency combined with diligence and a willingness to learn. [..] We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believe…
> We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believes in the importance of building up the American talent pool to tackle not only the challenge in front of them but the array of challenges that the future will bring."
YC partner Ankit Gupta: hiring Americans first is DEI - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49467325 - August 2026 (2 comments)
H-1B Middlemen Bring Cheap Labor to Citi, Capital One - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44398978 - June 2025 (4 comments)
India's Tata Consultancy Was Gaming the US Visa System - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43088906 - February 2025 (59 comments)
How middlemen are gaming the H-1B program - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41123945 - July 2024 (57 comments) [https://github.com/BloombergGraphics/2024-h1b-immigration-da...]
The Secret Way Silicon Valley Uses the H-1B Program - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-06/silicon-v... | https://archive.today/qffNT - June 2017
Ergo, laws will be required to "encourage" the corporate paperclip maximizer apparatus. When did asking nicely ever work? "Do not fall into the trap of anthropomorphising the lawnmower."
Re: The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
#4Conclusion: "There is plenty of international talent that can and should be leveraged in the appropriate places and the proper ways. There are many instances where you’re going to want to hire a leading expert in a technical field. But most jobs, the qualifications are a core technical and subject competency combined with diligence and a willingness to learn. [..] We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believe…
> We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believes in the importance of building up the American talent pool to tackle not only the challenge in front of them but the array of challenges that the future will bring." YC partner Ankit Gupta: hiring Americans first is DEI - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49467325 - August 2026 (2 comments) H-1B Middlemen Bring Cheap Labor to Citi, Capital One - https://news.…
“If Something Cannot Go on Forever, It Will Stop.“ Stein's Law
Re: The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
#5Earlier quoted context omitted.
> We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believes in the importance of building up the American talent pool to tackle not only the challenge in front of them but the array of challenges that the future will bring." YC partner Ankit Gupta: hiring Americans first is DEI - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49467325 - August 2026 (2 comments) H-1B Middlemen Bring Cheap Labor to Citi, Capital One - https://news.…
“If Something Cannot Go on Forever, It Will Stop.“ Stein's Law
"The labor market can remain irrational, adverse, and potentially fraudulent longer than you can remain solvent." -- me
Re: The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
#6Conclusion: "There is plenty of international talent that can and should be leveraged in the appropriate places and the proper ways. There are many instances where you’re going to want to hire a leading expert in a technical field. But most jobs, the qualifications are a core technical and subject competency combined with diligence and a willingness to learn. [..] We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believe…
> But most jobs, the qualifications are a core technical and subject competency combined with diligence and a willingness to learn. [..]
> We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believes in the importance of building up the American talent pool to tackle not only the challenge in front of them but the array of challenges that the future will bring.
It's tough to square this noble thought with what's actually happening in corporate America. The culture of investing in training and mentoring to foster employee growth has been eroding for the past 40 years (if not more), to where it only seems to exist in limited capacity in legacy institutions and is completely absent in new (tech) firms. How does one convince business leaders to bring it back?
Re: The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
#7Why do you think GCCs are a thing and Google India wages [0] are now reaching Poland levels [1] for mid-career Googlers.
These are multinational companies - not American companies.
No one complained when Google and their like moved hiring from the Bay Area and New York to North Carolina despite both having diametrically opposing politics.
[0] - https://www.levels.fyi/companies/google/salaries/software-en...
[1] - https://www.levels.fyi/companies/google/salaries/software-en...
Re: The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
#8Conclusion: "There is plenty of international talent that can and should be leveraged in the appropriate places and the proper ways. There are many instances where you’re going to want to hire a leading expert in a technical field. But most jobs, the qualifications are a core technical and subject competency combined with diligence and a willingness to learn. [..] We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believe…
It’s going to need to be strong “encouragement”, either monetary or regulatory.
Because it is advantageous to be the only one who doesn’t invest in it while reaping the benefits from those who do. So very few do.
Re: The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
> We need to encourage a corporate mindset that believes in the importance of building up the American talent pool to tackle not only the challenge in front of them but the array of challenges that the future will bring." YC partner Ankit Gupta: hiring Americans first is DEI - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49467325 - August 2026 (2 comments) H-1B Middlemen Bring Cheap Labor to Citi, Capital One - https://news.…
“If Something Cannot Go on Forever, It Will Stop.“ Stein's Law
Of course, but there’s a wide gulf between slamming into a wall at 80mph and gently rolling to a stop. The latter requires foresight and action, however.
Re: The American Worker vs. the Most Qualified
#10The article doesn't address what I think are the main complaints about H-1B: that it is mostly used to cut costs and hire people who have very little freedom to switch jobs. That and all the trickery with ghost jobs meant to only give the appearance of hiring stateside. The example given is also not great. Von Braun was one remarkable foreign expert in a leadership position. On the other hand, in my experience, many H-1B hires tend to occupy low-level jobs; ironically the very ones that the author says will be filled by motivated Americans. I mean...just try working at any American FAANG. The evidence is totally in your face.