The number of programmers, User Interface (UI) design experts, back end developers, etc .. is on the rise due to the boom or expansion of data and how people interact with it. Now this post is not going to speak about how much we need these kind of jobs and their specifics – which might need a couple of posts on their own for that matter.
I am going to cover here the entractions that happened between me and two prospective employers that are actively looking for fresh graduates. During the last few months I have posted my résumé to a bunch of places trying to scout the marketplace for jobs. It happened to be that these two companies, I may have applied to them, directly or through a medium In between for the programming job. Now they go and ask for the usual job experience, legal status, and willingness to relocate. Then they schedule an interview either on-site or via telephone and of course then offer you a job!. Now the catch is that they offer you a free 6-8 weeks of on site training, accommodations, weekly stipend, and might reimburse you for your relocation fees. Well that’s not bad but here it comes, you have to sign a contract saying that you will work for 2 years with them, otherwise you’re going to pay them back around $30,000 for the 6 weeks of training. And that’s not it you only get paid if you’re working with a contractor or have project to complete otherwise you get nil, nothing.
Now I do understand the pressure of someone just finishing his Bachelors degree and is looking to get a paid job as soon as possible to jump start his professional career and start paying the overwhelming debts that he has accumulated whilst studying. Though, I do think that these two companies may have a good intention of hiring people and getting them to work, I for a person would not get into a job that has me sign a “I owe you” promissory note at the beginning of my career.
I know for a fact that retail or online businesses offer their newly hired employees the option of buying stocks or RSU that vest over time. One of these companies in some cases go to the extreme of giving any employee leaving the company from day one a severance fee that doubles or increases each year. In my belief this is done to encourage employees or might I say family members to stay with them because they believe and trust the company to look after them. Now that I have made my mind and decided to kindly reject these offers for the reasons mentions above. My journey begins soon as fresh graduate looking for a job ..
Image credit: Ars Technica