##9 Employment Discussions

[Ross McKenzie <rmck@pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu>]

[Summary - see YSN #1307 for the full post.]
  I performed an employment survey of my Princeton class, which started
in fall 1983.  Motivation and methodology are described in the original
post.  I hope other YSN'ers will survey their own classes and this will
provide data from a range of years and institutions.
SUMMARY
No. in class in fall 1983: 16      No. who graduated: 16
Average graduation date: Fall 1988
No. of U.S. citizens: 8   No. of class who now have jobs outside U.S.: 3
No. with "permanent" physics positions in 93-94: 11
     Research University: 8
     (3 Assoc. Prof., 3 Asst. Prof., 1 Asst. Astronomer, 1 Lecturer)
     4-year college: 1 ( 1 Asst. Prof)
     Industry: 2 (1 AT&T Bell labs, 1 Hughes Aircraft)
No. who were postdocs in 92-93: 8   No. who will be postdocs in 93-94: 4
No. who have non-physics positions: 1       

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From: dobak@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Donald Baker)

  What was that argument again?  We need foreign immigrants to do the
jobs that native-born Americans will not stoop to do?  Today I called a
company that had listed a position for an electronics technician with my
state employment agency.  When he found out that I have a degree and
experience as an engineer, Omar (with a middle-eastern accent) insisted
that he could not consider me for the job because I am "over-qualified." 
Why not?  Someone let him in and gave him a chance.  What he did is
equivalent to a Central American coming here to tell me that I can't
have stoop labor because I'm white and I've had too many social
advantages.  Mind you, stoop labor is out because of damage to my hip
and spine from a drinking driver.  This about does it for me.  If
somebody wants to send Omar back to his country to take advantage of its
opportunities, he's got my vote. Did you know that my state employment
agency has a code for positions that will not take native-born citizens? 
The employer has to inform the state, but no one has to inform the
applicant.  And it's supposed to be a secret from native-born
applicants.  Do we need employers like that in this country?  And the
engineers they hire?

From: KULP@BINAH.CC.BRANDEIS.EDU (Daniel T. Kulp)

  This is a quick response to Don Baker's posting in YSN #1307. I of
course do not know the details of the position for which he was
over-qualified, but I understand that it is possible that
over-qualification for a job can disqualify you for that position if the
place of employment is unionized.  In many cases, a union wage is
determined by the years of experience and the degree held. 
Unfortunately, for the degree holders looking to feed themselves and
their families, some companies cannot pay these higher wages for the
advertised position. In Don Baker's case, I hope that this is true,
because I would hate to think that a job in the U.S. is only open to
non-US citizens. These positions should be competitive.

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