Deemed Exports in Universities, Government Laboratories and Industry

My supervisor has rejected my recommendation for an opening in the group. My friend has an impeccable academic record and excellent research credentials which are very much related to this technology sector.

He was frank with me.

"starting this year, the new policy is not to hire candidates from 'controlled countries...'

I assume that he's from China and on student visa? The key is China, there are many good candidates from china...But there are the US government regulations."

Imagine getting your resume trashed because of your nationality. Situations like this make you thankful (ironically, it applies only outside of the little red dot) for your pink IC, given the USSFTA and our close strategic relationship with Uncle Sam.

On my first day of work, I had to sign an "Export Compliance Agreement for Foreign Hires" to certify that an export license is not required based on my country of citizenship. That also explains why there aren't that many mainlanders here (and they are mostly green card holders).

Are we what we are?

Sorry for being M.I.A. I have been pretty busy at work, and I am trying to make the best out of my weekends.

Anway, this post is about what all fellow scholars (scholars who are receiving the same scholarship as me) have to go through after they return from their studies, before they start work. I was on an 'open' scholarship, so I don't think I can speak for those who are/were not.

For 'open' scholars like me, we can choose to work in any ministry we want (based on our qualifications), as long as those minisitries have vacancies and we perform well during the interviews. However, another key factor that determines where we go lies in the series of psychometric tests and interviews with psychologists. Therefore, even if candidate A indicates Ministry A as his first choice, and Ministry A finds candidate A suitable for the job, candidate A may not be able to go to Ministry A if the psychometric tests and psycholology interviews find candidate A more suitable for other jobs.

Frankly speaking, I don't see how these tests can tell which ministries we will be suitable for. Are these tests fair indicators of what we are able to do? Do they already pre-determine our career paths in the civil service, even before we start work? I shudder to think.