foreign national to stay or move on
I am a foreign national working in the U.S. I found my current job right after I received a Master's degree in Economics and It has been almost 10 years since then. It's a small privately owned consulting firm with 25 people and I am now Vice President overseeing entire operation of our firm. During the earlier stage of my career, I was too busy learning new things everyday. The work visa only allows you to work at a company who sponsors the visa for you, changing a job didn't even occur to me for the first few years. A few years after I joined the firm, the company offered me to sponsor a green card, which is a big deal to any foreign national working in the U.S. I was honored and took up on the offer. During the greencard processing time, I didn't think changing a job as it would meansgiving up on my greencard application. Here I am with my much anticipated greencard approved finally, now free to go. What I would like to get some advice about from you all is when changing a job, what kind of factors you should consider? I have a good boss, he offered me to become a partner of the firm a few years ago. Nothing has moved forward since then, but he suggested he is working on it, which i am not sure if I care much at all. Right now i don't know what that means if I become a partner, what exactly does that mean? Should I ask my boss? I am afraid in our korean culture, it might appear a little bit pushy to my boss. anyway, going back to my original point, I am happy with what I make, every year, i get relatively handsome amount of bonus. I have a great relationship with almost all of my clients. Dealing with co-workers can be difficult at times, but who doesn't have that? I enjoy what I do. The only thing is that if you are doing basically the same thing for ten years, it can get sort of monotonous easily, lost excitement. sometimes feel like there is no career advancement opportunity at the firm too. One of the downsides i see is it is privately owned firm, so detail financials are all in the dark to everyone other than the owners of the firm. I saw a sign of management taking company money for personal use many many times, CEO taking a family holiday with all of their 4 kids, everyone flying first class to korea. that kind of thing. but hey, he is the owner. why not? right? technically it's illegal but people say it's everyday thing especially for a small firm like ours. Currently, I had a series of interview with European based firm, who basically provides the same services as the current firm. The process has taken more than six months and I came in their office (in the U.S.) total of 5 times so far, meeting with CEO in a few weeks. So finally now another opportunity seems relatively realistic, I have realized that I should carefuly review what is the plus and minus of moving on to another firm. Part of me think that I have done enogh and learned everything I could at the current firm, it's time for change. On the other hand, the rest of me think that I probably won't have better boss than my boss today and also fear that everything I have at the current firm will be gone apparently if i move. For example, a boss who always listens to me, very sunny and nice office I don't have to share with anyone else, as VP i have a say in deciding day to day operation and management of the firm etc. etc some small things others large things. but probably work nature itself will be more exciting if i move. who knows the new environemnt is definitely better than where you are? So I know that i need to carefully review the options, but don't know where to start and how to approach.. Any tips/sharing your experience are all appreciated.. thank you! P.S. should i hire a career counselor? is that a good idea? My first question would be, does your green card status continue if you change positions. I worked with a woman, an attorney, who the firm sponsored with a Visa and a green card, but there was a condition with the green card that if she changed jobs, he new employer would need to take over green card sponsorship. Plus, the card was only temporary and needed to be renewed every two years. At which point, like a work visa, she could be denied and then deported. And, this is what happened. (It got so bad that a bunch of us even tried to introduce her to single male friends in hopes they would fall madly in love....Never happened, but at least we all had fun) Anyway, a career counselor probably couldn't hurt. Would the consulate be able to offer you any advice? So, the owners used funds to support a family vacation. Like you said, he is the owner so he can do what he wants with what is essentially his money. In the public sector, the employees don't have access to the financial status either. Generally speaking, the public doesn't know the status. There are year end reports and audits, etc but the reports are generated a couple of months after the year end deadline and by the time they are published, they are old news. The difference is, there is no "owner" in the public sector, so any use of monies in the public financial coffers for private use will result in criminal action. You really need to weigh your options, which it seems that you have been doing, and determine where you are going to be happiest. In America it is common now for people to move to a new job after 3, 5 or more years or at the point where they are no longer challenged. If the new company is going to pay you 15-20% more, give you new challenges and opportunities and will carry over your green card status, then you should seriously consider taking the offer. As to becoming a partner in the current company, that means that you become one of the owners. Probably only a small percentage of ownership, but part of the owners none the less. You may, however, have to invest a significant amount of money for the privilege and, as you say, if you're bored in the job, it may not make things any better. And a belated- Welcome to America! Tess Hi Kelly, Thank you for your comments. Not sure if any laws have changed since your friend's case, but my greencard will stay valid even if i change an employer. So that, i don't have to worry about. If I get the job I am currently interviewing for, it would be in UK and the new employer will sponsor me whatever UK visa I would need to live there. So if that happens, I have to consider applying for US citizenship so i can come back to the US sometime in my life and legally stay. Technically any greencard could expire when you are out of the country for more than six months. I see what you are saying about the public sector money, I guess the bottom line is that every place has the similar problem to some extent. So I should understand that can't be the only reason for me to consider a job change, just a desparate feeling to get away from undisciplined management. Money and benefit is certainly an important item to consider, but everyday when I am in my office, I am struck with a feeling how important all these intangible things can be to me. I don't want to realize how great it was only after I lose it. And then if you are thinking about defending your status quo, you cannot do anything, right? sometimes, you need to jump too... So my pondering about this issues will continue.... Thank you again for your suggestions! Hi Tess, Thank you for your comments. Yes that's what I was thinking too. Many of my american friends and coworkers move on after 3 to 5 years, sometimes even only after 1 to 2. Having a challenging work environment is important to me too. The current job is challenging in a way, looong hours, many projects with little money, trying to make ends meet. Difficult requests from clients, etc etc. but sometimes I feel like while I am running around all the time, long overtime and etc, ven to the extent where i somewhat sacrifice my personal life, sense of achievement is not really there. my work is not so high value, just too many collection of little things with little sense of achievement. I once thought I could change that for better, influence the company's operation with better training and etc. but after a few years of trying, don't know whether it's making any difference. So that's why i feel maybe I am ready for a change now. You mentioned an important issue. 15-20% raise plus exciting growth opportunity and etc. then it's too great an opportunity to pass up. what do you think about salary reduction? the position I am interviewing for, I believe it's going to be 15% less, instead. (final detail has to be negotiated) not challenging but very secure even for your life (korean company rarely fires employees) with great boss for more money? or could be challenging but you can get fired if you don't perform, give it a try in a totaly new country? with 15% less money? Better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion...? the more I think it over, the more confused. Thank you again for your tips!! -Katie Some people really love stablility, some can accept a bit of risk. If you try the new job and it doesn't work out, what's the worst that can happen? You find another job. You have a good education, great experience, you won't be unemployed long. And a drop in salary can be a good trade off for an improvement in your quality of life. It sounds like the current job is wearing on your soul. In my book, that's the time to make a change. Tess Thank you again, Tess, for the message. Getting comments from you and kelly helps me think logically, I see things a little bit clearer now. Yes stability is very important especially when you have family to support and/or debt to pay off, etc. but I am single (too bad that none will support me in case I get fired..), relatively flexible and mobile. So I started to think it's a good idea for my future growth to expose myself to a new challenge and environement, instead of choosing very very stable job and somewhat being bored at work or simply feel overworked with routine tasks. You are right, what's the worst thing that can happen? they won't kill me, just let me go, right? You've given me so much courage! Thank you!! Now I should focus on how to be my best at my next interview. btw, when you said "In my book, that's the time to make a change" that's an idiomatic expression, right? or did you write a book about this kind of issue? If so, I'd like to read it..! (or if you have any recommendation...) -katie Yes, that's an idiom. If I had a book, that's what I'd write down about this... is the way that we mean it. And I should have known better than to put it that way. Even my Australian husband doesn't always understand my Americanisms! Of course I don't always understand his Aussie sayings either! And theoretically, we both speak the same language! There are a couple of other sayings that apply to your case- "They can kill you, but they can't eat you". Meaning, really, what IS the worst that can happen? You won't be consumed, you'll be fine. This is sort of a country phrase, you'd expect Dr. Phil to say it. Another is "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger". Meaning, challenges and experiences, even negative ones, build you for the future. They make you who they are. You can learn from them whether they turn out well or not. So, since you're single and mobile and flexible, why not go after a change? If not this one that you have in mind, then another one. There is a whole world out there waiting for you. Grab it! Tess Tess, thank you for the information, I see, very interesting. I am very encouraged by your comments. Wishing you a long happy marriage life with your oz man! -katie | |
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Career Tips
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