Developer in U.S or Project Manager in India?

[salman farsi]

Hi All,

I have a decision to make and as always I am sure folks in JavaRanch will help me in taking a decision.

I have a H1 from an U.S company. The company is small and i will working as a contractor/developer in U.S.

Currently I am a Project Lead(for past 2 years) in a major MNC in india, I have around total 8 years of experience but I managing my project independently covering most of the project managers responsibilities. Since my appraisal is due I expected to get Project Manager position, but when I spoke to my leader he said he won't be able to make me Project Manager this year.

I have take a decision between going to U.S (working as a developer) or staying in my current organization working as a Project lead for another year.

Please let me know which will be wise decision. I am eagerly awaiting your response.
[ March 23, 2007: Message edited by: salman farsi ]

[Mav Ricky]

hi

in US na ,you will not be able to be a PM even after 6-7 years after this date.you will remain a developer till 40+.if you have 8 years ex the i can assume you are on the fatter side of 30.if you like development better go for it else be in TL position.and also people told me if one has more than 10 lakhs p.a. here in india then there is no point going there .if you have other reasons ,better go for it.

regards

[Arjunkumar Shastry]

Though its popular to say "you should do what you like" I think you should go for developer position in US.These ceremonious titles of PM/TL will be good till economy is vibrant.Developer,consultant,architect are the roles where you have to really struggle and learning curve is steep compared to PM/TL.Not to say that there PM/TLs work is less important but finally what it counts is quality and longevity of your work.If PM/TL job involves lot of technical work then the choice is yours.

[salman farsi]

Hi Mav and ArunKumar,

Thanks very much for your valuable response. There is not much technical work here both for PL and PM, just keep developing new spreadsheet(team management plan, communication mgmt plan, schedules, estimates, client calls......)

Another issue is I am basically from Java background, but since i wanted to learn Project managements skills i am currently handling a VB project(for past 2 years), my designation is the same from past 3 years, even though i am doing lot of project management activities. They call me PM, but designation they don't to change.

All my friends are saying i am wasting my H1(i got it 6 months back). All say the market is booming in U.S and its high time i go there.

But if i go to U.S, i need to work as a developer and after 3 years lets say i come back to india, i need to start from maybe again a PL or who knows only a module lead.

[Jignesh Patel]

Thanks very much for your valuable response. There is not much technical work here both for PL and PM, just keep developing new spreadsheet(team management plan, communication mgmt plan, schedules, estimates, client calls......)

Thats what a typical project manager do, you might need to take decision when you have started moving in that direction, you would have avoided that. And most of PM in US also do same job.

Another issue is I am basically from Java background, but since i wanted to learn Project managements skills i am currently handling a VB project(for past 2 years),

Project managment, doesn't consider in which technology are you working, even same applies when you have grow more as a lead in technical side too.
You need to be technology indpendent.

my designation is the same from past 3 years, even though i am doing lot of project management activities. They call me PM, but designation they don't to change.

I agree that might be the problem, this is a valid point.

All my friends are saying i am wasting my H1(i got it 6 months back). All say the market is booming in U.S and its high time i go there.

Even indian market is booming and as Mav Rick told, when companies pays you 12-15 lakhs, you won't be able to save more then that when you come to USA.

But if i go to U.S, i need to work as a developer

Thats' not 100% true,just don't think flat, its all depened on your ability, though I agree to get immediately high post in US, bit difficult. So this is valid serious point, whether can you work as a developer. To work in a position which you will not like to work, will create lot more issues in your career and in turn it effects your family life too, regardless whatever money you are getting.

after 3 years lets say i come back to india, i need to start from maybe again a PL or who knows only a module lead.

This is also not true, again it depdends on your ability. In your current company if you have become PM because of your talent not because of luck then after 3 years also you will get higher position even you might get a post of Group Lead after having US experience.


So they are pros and cons just think both side and take the decision.
[ March 23, 2007: Message edited by: Jignesh Patel ]

[william gates]

I went to school with a guy named Jignesh Patel.. How funny.

[B Mitul]

The other important thing you need to consider is whether you want to stay back in your country or permanently move to US to get GC/citizenship, etc. If the latter is of high priority in your life then going for a small company in US who will sponsor your visa, GC etc is better. If only saving money is the priority then you may think of negotiating with your present management/HR or moving on to some other organization with a better offer.

[B Mitul]

Originally posted by Mav Rick:
and also people told me if one has more than 10 lakhs p.a. here in india then there is no point going there

I dont agree with this opinion, unless the discussion is solely about SAVING MONEY. On the other hand, if you consider the living standards, work environment, career growth, and other qualities like good governance, social security, etc then even if you are saving 100 times as much in India you can never match those in US (or any other first world country, for that matter). So, unless you have other pressing reasons (like an ailing family member or ties with relatives/friends, etc) you should seriously consider the offer from US.

[Jignesh Patel]

I went to school with a guy named Jignesh Patel..

I am sure I have never did my schooling with any gates. But that is true when Gate is creating his fairytale, I was in school.

[salman farsi]

Hi All,

Thanks a ton for your valuable response. I really appreciate the time you took to address my concern. After giving lot of thought i have comeup with my decision, please as always let me know if my decision is practical or correct.

I have two options.

1. I have a H1 from a different consultant in U.S. So i can go to U.S immediately and start working as a developer with the current consultant for maybe 6 months and get H1 transfer and move into a parmenent role in a indian company in U.S. The reason to move into indian company in U.S is that i was told you may get coordinator role if not a lead role easily in a indian company in U.S.

2. My current organization has promised to file my L1 in May and send me to onsite for a year starting OCT'07. This way i don't have to change my organization and i can have a better growth plan considering the fact that i have already spend 3 years in the current organization.

Out to the above 2 options, i have almost decided to consider option 2 that is staying in the same company and go to U.S on L1. But the issue i will lose my current H1. But what i think is after going on L1, since i am one of very senior resource in the organization i will ask them to process my H1 next year. Also since i am married and since we both in the same organization, i thought if i got on L1, i can take her on L2 and she can also work there.

Please let me know if my decision is correct. I would be really happy if as many people could respond so that it will help me take the decision soon.

Thanks again for your earlier response.

[Anoushka Sharma]

After having worked 6 years in US and 5 years in India, let me tell you from hardcore experience that if it is for the money, you can definitely make and save more in US; if you want a very comfortable and easy life, you can definitely get that in US; but if you are looking for career growth, India is the answer especially considering that you are working for a major MNC. It is easy to become a PM or a Director or a VP in a small start-up in US, but then you wouldn't be really performing the tasks of a PM or a Director or a VP. To have these designations in a major company in US, its a long way off and according to me higher education in US is a must.
Now that you have an L1 option, you will have the best of both worlds, so go for it.
And thou you may ask your company to file for your H1 next year, I dont think they would do so cuz they arent that crazy.

[salman farsi]

Hi Anouska,

Thanks very much for reply, I was also thinking on the same line as you said, but the problem with my L1 with my current organization is that i would have to work on VB when i go to U.S, but my area of expertise is on java. So if i go to U.S in H1 thro' a consultant i can work on Java.

But i would agree that if i go on L1 i would be enjoying the best of both world, but do you think i should compromise with the technology and let my H1 getting cancelled, because my thought is everybody likes to have H1 than L1, since it is company independent.

[Anoushka Sharma]

H1 is company dependent. If you have an H1, you can only work for the company that filed your H1.

In your particular case, I would suggest you rather compromise on technology for now and go with the L1. You can always get back to java later on in your organization.

Originally posted by salman farsi:
Hi Anouska,

Thanks very much for reply, I was also thinking on the same line as you said, but the problem with my L1 with my current organization is that i would have to work on VB when i go to U.S, but my area of expertise is on java. So if i go to U.S in H1 thro' a consultant i can work on Java.

But i would agree that if i go on L1 i would be enjoying the best of both world, but do you think i should compromise with the technology and let my H1 getting cancelled, because my thought is everybody likes to have H1 than L1, since it is company independent.

[Tim Holloway]

L1 is the worst of both worlds. Indian salary and American expenses.

However, it's probably not necessary to move to the US. IBM will be looking for more IT people in India shortly:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,261962,00.html

[Rohit Nath]

Originally posted by william gates:
I went to school with a guy named Jignesh Patel.. How funny.

Hey..! Just check if both of you are having any special mark or tatto on your hands???

What an emotional scene it would be! Two old friends meeting at JavaRanch..!

[Arjunkumar Shastry]

Originally posted by Tim Holloway:
L1 is the worst of both worlds. Indian salary and American expenses.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,261962,00.html

I think employers give:full Indian salary + some allowance +all expenses in US during that period.Its popular among employers for obvious reasons.
Companies prefer unmarried singles for h1 and married for L1.

[Anoushka Sharma]

L1 is the worst of both worlds. Indian salary and American expenses.
I am surprised. According to me, on L1 you get paid US salary and your Indian salary is stopped, except if the person is travelling on very short duration.

However, it's probably not necessary to move to the US. IBM will be looking for more IT people in India shortly
I didnt understand. He is not moving to US because of shortage of jobs in India.

[Amit Wadhwaa]

Generally, When you go to US from an Indian MNC , you get:
Indian Salary + Onsite allowance

Generally people are able to save the whole Indian salary plus part of the allowance, so their savings swell up a bit during an onsite visit, ofcourse the longer the duration the merrier the situation becomes

[salman farsi]

Hi All,

I have taken a decision and I have resigned from my current organization because they don't seem to be giving me Project Manger(PM) designation. So if my leader calls me to negotiate I will stand on giving me PM position. If they give PM designation then I will stay.

The reason for taking the decision was that if my company doesn't negotiate for PM post, then I will learn SAP netweaver portal and go to U.S through the consultant work for 6 months, come back to india and join a big MNC and get a good position (maybe a practice head in SAP netweaver, which is very hot in the market and not many are expert in it). This way i can use transfer my H1 to the indian company which i will join after coming back from U.S.

Please let me know if I am souning practical and resonable. As always your suggestions will be of great help to me as i still can negotiate with my current employer.

Thanks

[Suresh Thota]

Regarding H1 transfer, you cannot transfer it unless you are in US.

Cheers

[Rajan Chinna]

Arjun
Companies prefer unmarried singles for h1 and married for L1.

What is the logic behind this?

[Anoushka Sharma]

Originally posted by salman farsi:
then I will learn SAP netweaver portal and go to U.S through the consultant work for 6 months, come back to india and join a big MNC and get a good position (maybe a practice head in SAP netweaver, which is very hot in the market and not many are expert in it).
Who told you that if you work on sap netweaver for 6 months in US, you can become a practice head in India. And anyways has the consultant guaranteed you a job in the same because consultants only make false promises.

This way i can use transfer my H1 to the indian company which i will join after coming back from U.S.
Why do you need to transfer your H1 to join indian company.

Please let me know if I am souning practical and resonable. As always your suggestions will be of great help to me as i still can negotiate with my current employer.
I am totally