Looking in Tech
A Guest Worker’s Perspective on H-1Bs
by Samwise With immigration reform being a central topic in Washington, there’s talk of reforming the H-1B program, possibly increasing the number of visas made available each year. Dice asked me to share some of my thoughts about the program, hence this article. I’m here in the U.S. on an H-1B, currently working as a senior database developer. Why come to the U.S.? Many people wonder what prompts individuals to apply for H-1Bs. For me, and most others in the… continue…
Yahoo Promises Not to Screw Tumblr Up
Yahoo Promises Not to Screw Tumblr Up (via slashdot) Yahoo has agreed to acquire Tumblr for $1.1 billion. Founded in February 2007, Tumblr hosts 108.6 million blogs, many of which emphasize images and .gifs over written content. While Tumblr does earn some money from advertising, its creators haven’t tried to plaster it with ads in the same manner… continue…
Economist: H-1Bs Are Important to the Economy
One phrase that’s almost always injected into discussions of H1-Bs is “supply and demand.” But how is that measured when it comes to tech workers? For some insight, I spoke with Ashok Bardhan, a senior economist at the University of California at Berkeley and author of Globalization and a High Tech Economy: California, the U.S. and Beyond. What impact do H-1B workers have on the American economy? Because of the fact that H-1B visas are by and large issued to… continue…
4 Ways to Stay Out of Trouble When You’re Multitasking
Ever face an obnoxious co-worker texting during your killer presentation on your latest deep-dive data analysis? You’re likely not alone. It turns out that 64 percent of CIOs are encountering breaches in workplace etiquette because of cellphones, tablets and other mobile multitasking-enabling devices, up from 51 percent three years ago. The numbers come from Robert Half Technology. Though they make use more productive, mobile devices can also be a “round-the-clock distraction,” observed John Reed, a senior executive director with Robert… continue…
The Opponent: H-1Bs Pressure U.S. Wages
The value of the H-1B program isn’t only being debated in the world of office parks and cubicles. It’s a topic being argued in academia, as well, with the focus on the needs and merits of increasing the visa cap and enticing both American and foreign students to pursue STEM degrees here, particularly master’s and doctorates. One of the most vocal opponents of the program is Computer Science Professor Norman Matloff of the University of California at Davis. He questions… continue…
6 Stories to Help You Find Better Pay
With tech salaries rising to their highest level in a decade last year, it’s a good time to size up your marketability and maybe push your boss for a bit more money. But how? For starters, think location, location, location. What works in real estate can also play out when it comes to salary, since jobs in some metro areas yield better compensation than similar jobs in other locales. Surprisingly, Pittsburgh tech professionals reaped the largest percentage increase in pay… continue…
Programming Languages That Aren’t Worth Your Time
As we all know, it seems like new programming languages are created every week. But which ones aren’t worth wasting your time on? I looked at actual listings on Dice to try to spot some trends. In late April, I searched both the entire set of job listings as well as specific job titles to see what skills companies were actually looking for. Here’s what I found. First, it’s safe to say that the Web is the primary focus of… continue…
The Corporate Perspective: Intel’s Approach to H-1Bs
Like other technology companies, Intel faces stiff competition for talent, especially when it comes to hiring computer, chemical, materials or mechanical engineers with advanced degrees. And while it would rather engage American workers, sometimes they just can’t be found. The issue, says Ardine Williams, vice president and director of the chipmaker’s Human Resource Enterprise Services, comes down to “supply and demand.” “When you get to the Ph.D. level, the number of people who specialize in engineering gets smaller and the universities don’t… continue…
IDC Lowers Tech Spending Estimates for 2013
IDC lowered its forecast for IT spending growth this year, signaling the possibility of job cuts for certain segments of the tech industry. Despite that, the tech job market overall continues to grow. IT spending growth is expected to increase 4.9 percent this year to $2.06 trillion – a lackluster performance compared to IDC’s previous forecast of 5.5 percent. Last year, IT spending grew 5.6 percent, according to IDC’s report. The effects of the federal government’s belt-tightening sequester, the European… continue…
SolarWinds Begins Hiring for New Salt Lake City Hub
IT management software company SolarWinds is hiring for its new technology hub in Salt Lake City, reporting that it has 10 to 15 positions open for software developers, product managers and sales and marketing staffers. The company has already hired nearly two dozen people that mostly serve in engineering roles or sales. As the company continues to build out its Utah hub, it will hire in software engineering, IT support, research and development and general operations. Given the facility’s eventual… continue…
Alice Hill
C.S. Magor
Cat Miller
David Brumbaugh
David Chie
Dawn Kawamoto
Don Willmott
Elisabeth Greenbaum Kasson
Gayle Laakmann McDowell
Lekan Oguntoyinbo
Leslie Stevens-Huffman
M Noivad
Mark Feffer
nick kolakowski
Stephen Lahanas
Susan Hall
Vincent Chow
