From: tcheung@ramius.ocf.llnl.gov
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american
Subject: Re: Asking someone his "nationality" (Today's "Dear Abby")
Date: 24 Jul 92 17:06:36 GMT
Organization: University of California, Davis / LLNL

In article <1992Jul24.143709.9331@nynexst.com> clare@nynexst.com (Clare Chu) writes:
->In article <4465@dove.nist.gov> hira@cme.nist.gov writes:
->>My first post to this newsgroup, with encouragement from Clare.
->>
->>Well, some of you have made references to the experiences you've had
->>about being asked your nationality. So I'll add my $0.02 worth.
->>
->>I work at federal gov't research lab, and I'll relate to you what happened
->>at my interview for this position. I had just finished my Masters degree
->>and was looking for a job of course. My current boss called me in for an
->>interview and everything went well, we gabbed for 3 hrs. At the end of
->>the interview, he asked me if I was willing to give my Thesis presentation
->>to the whole division. Of course I replied affirmatively. At the second
->>interview, after my presentation, I was to meet with all of the managers
->>at my boss' level individually and their boss, the chief of the division.
->>
->>I had just finished my hour long presentation and answered questions, and 
->>the next thing to do was to meet with the chief. The first question that
->>came out of his mouth was, "Are you a US citizen?" I was pretty taken
->>aback, but didn't retort anything (something I regret). I'm an asian 
->>indian who was born and raised in the US, and shit like this pisses me
->>off, but white friends shrug it off like its his job to ask me that 
->>question. Who wants to bet that he *never* asks white applicants that 
->>question? 
->>

I think that's very foolish of him to ask that question since only US
citizens can work in government research labs.

Before you encountered that question do you feel anything different?
Well, I've never encountered any racial remarks at the current work
place, but I am still quite self-conscious working in a classified place.  
The first few days I was here I was wondering what would I encounter,
considering that I still speak English with an accent.  But some people
that I never met even came up to me to introduce themselves and they
already knew who I was working for (I am only a junior person here).  So
up to this day I am still wondering if my boss went out of his way to
make sure there is no misunderstanding.

->
->  That reminds me of some job advice I got from some older Asian
->  Americans.  First of all, if you have an English first name
->  and a Chinese middle name, don't put your Chinese middle name
->  in.
->
->  The reason is that if you put your full name, they might think you're
->  not "American" and throw out your resume without looking.
->
->  Secondly, if you don't have an English name.  Get one.  Adopt one
->  and use it on your resume.
->
->  George Shen or Bill Chen is perferable over Chen-Chung Shen or Wen-Toh Chen
->
->  Finally, if you marry a non-Asian change your name and use theirs.
->  (I didn't follow their advice here).  My mom's cousin says that having
->  an American last name is a great advantage (she traded in Lui for
->  Jasinski,  I guess she didn't know about the Pollack jokes :0 )
->  Her sister traded in Lui for Ott.  Notice that none of these names
->  are ye olde English.  But my aunts thought they were more American than Lui.
->
->  Ver important: put in bold text at the top of your resume.  U.S. Citizen
->  if you're so lucky to be one.  They said that this will help
->  separate your resume from all the Yen-Ping Wang and Shao-Ching Chu
->  that are applying for the job.  And also put your birthplace in
->  a prominant position so that they won't think you're naturalized.

I have to disagree with you on this.  I mean I agree about putting 
US citizen on your resume and getting an English name.  But changing
your last name and putting your birthplace is going a bit too far.
IMHO, if a place won't hire anyone with a "non-American" last name
then I wouldn't enjoy working there anyway.  I won't work for them
if I have another choice, even if it means lower pay, benefits, etc.
Working for a place with such racial discrimination is far from being
ideal.

BTW, are you suggesting that employers discriminate against naturalized
citizens more than native born citizens?  Don't you think if they
discriminate, they'll just discriminate all color people the same?

->
->  I must say that I followed their advice and was able to land two
->  jobs at defense contractors.  None of them asked me if I was a citizen
->  because they had already screened my resume.  Do people think I'm
->  selling out to get a job?

:-)

--
Terry Cheung
tcheung@ramius.ocf.llnl.gov
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american