Recruiting Realities..an article in SiliconIndia in 2004

This is an excerpt from an article I wrote in 2004.Some of the aspiring "returnees" expectations and experiences: "I would like to get an offer while still in the U.S." "Applying through corporate employment websites returns only a faceless automated response." "Going to job fairs involves standing in queues and handing over resume to the person behind the desk who doesn't respond with more than "we will get back to you later." "I am coming to India on a two-week trip and would be visiting 3 cities-am open to meeting some corporate members to explore job opportunities."On the other hand, speaking to returning Indians have fetched some unanimous responses about the HR machinations: "There are numerous jobs advertised on the jobsites and the newspapers, yet somehow the interviews don't indicate the same urgency." "Placement firms also do the same thing they project a requirement as if you are going to be called tomorrow, but for months you don't hear from them! This gives the impression that they only wanted to get your resume for future reference. Generally speaking, India needs to mature in many aspects relating to placement, interview process and giving the candidates their due." "There are multiple levels of interviews with the HR and technical teams in India, the U.S. technical team, and so on. The expectations of each of the panels are different are they serious of about hiring?" "During the interview, I was telling them about how I manage tasks and they were looking for more micro-management skills in my resume. They said that the developers in India are not as responsible with their assigned tasks!"Those who successfully get into jobs are eventually heading for a culture shock. "I end up working 10-12 hours a day for 6 days a week." "When you realize that you will not be able to make more than 35-40 percent of what you were making in the U.S., it may disappoint the candidate, but one has to face the reality that the cost of living in India is much cheaper than what it is in the U.S.