Amazing interview experience with Capital One 

It happened so quickly that I couldn’t believe my ear. Five minutes after the last test, I was offered a job from Capital One.  

They are bunch of energetic guys. They told all candidates that they would give us quick feedback, probably in the following week. It’s rocket speed compared with lot of other US companies.  

This is an easy-to-find place in Charlotte. Although facilities in this Embassy Suite were a little bit old-fashioned, the suite they ordered for me was big, even bigger than that lecture room, in which we had two DGS, one from Xerox and the other French journalist  (I recall that Kas and Kari were in some simulation talk show, with laughs and blushes.) 

I had two 45 minutes interview and two 45 minutes case analyses that morning. First financial test in the afternoon was so difficult that I felt hopeless. Second was a logic test, similar to that of GMAT. I was the last one to hand in the paper in that banquet room garnished with rolls of Cokes.  

I never think of working in financing, or at least as an operation analyst. I had been looking for something closely related to operation itself. I have to acknowledge that IMBA really gives much more than I expected before, making me benefiting in job search and interviews. However, it is also a matter of time and opportunities.  

After I walked out the test room or banquet room and handed in my “logic” paper, they immediately asked me to stay for a five-minute talk. We had to raise our voices, sitting in the lobby, beside an in-door fountain. Their offer was so slippery out of their mouths as they wantonly ignored my final test paper. 

I rushed out of the Suite and laughed in heavy rain. Columbia had a drought this summer. It drizzled the whole my way back to South Carolina.  

I had no idea about Richmond as I did about Columbia when I embarked a jet in Vienna International Airport. I am aware that it is closer to the Atlantic. When I stood at the high cliff of Lisbon, facing this continent at the other end of the Atlantic in 1996, I didn’t see my walking along Carolina beach. But this time, I see myself at the top of the cliff. It’s a montage of my universe.  

Today, covered by the sun of fall in Blythewood, it dawns on me that I will leave here so soon. It may be little cool in Virginia. I might miss the days here. But I will be closer to the ocean and DC.

  Why do some companies hesitate to sponsor H1 Visa 

From my experience, companies who don't want to sponsor the H1 visa have two considerations. First is the sponsor cost, which could be around $4000 -5000. This seems to be such a big issue that many companies wouldn't take any further step in hiring people. On the other hand, many companies consider this expense during salary discussion. I know cases that the sponsored pay the expense while the sponsors (companies) sign and file the H1-B visa applications.

Another concern is that companies worry that the sponsored will leave them soon after the H1 visas are issued. In fact, the sponsored will not likely leave the sponsors. If the sponsored will leave for another employer, they have to apply for a complete new H1 visa via new employer. They cannot take any advantage from their previous sponsors. Many H1 visa holders expect to apply for green card in the future. A stable job will make them more easily to acquire permanent residence status. Under such circumstance, the H1 visa holders are more willingly to stay in their present sponsoring companies.

If you are one of those companies, think from another angle. If you want to find good and professional people, they are normally not cheap.