De UN*X/Linux y algo más ...

Amigos, si alguien conoce a un trabajador o ex-trabajador de Xcel Solutions Corp que quiera comentarme como es trabajar alli, por favor me envia un mail a carrascojg@yahoo.com.ar para poder contactarlo y preguntarle como es trabajar en esa empresa.
Saludos.
Gustavo
 

Estimados Fabian, Gustavo y cualquier otra persona interesada:
¿Qué es lo que necesitan saber en específico acerca de Xcel Solutions Corp? Yo he estado con la empresa desde el último trimestre del 2005 y he estado directamente involucrado en la colocación, en proyectos en Estados Unidos, de 45 consultores a quienes Xcel patrocinó sus visas de trabajo. Tengo también noción de los problemas que hubo antes de que yo ingresara, porque me tocó resolver una parte de ellos. Durante este tiempo la empresa se convirtió en una de las 100 empresas que más visas patrocinan en el Estado de New Jersey (referencia: http://www.myvisajobs.com/Reports/Sponsor/Top_H1B_Visa_Sponsor_NJ2.html), por encima de firmas transnacionales como IBM, Novartis y HSBC. También hace poco, la empresa fue reconocida por ser uno de los mejores lugares para trabajar en el Estado de acuerdo a la publicacion NJBiz (referencia: http://www.njbiz.com/events.asp?nID=40&show=details). Hay mas reconocimientos en camino por parte de otras publicaciones de negocios a nivel nacional que daremos a conocer en su momento.

En lo personal mis responsabilidades y funciones han cambiado y últimamente estoy enfocado principalmente al desarrollo de clientes en otros paises. En el caso de Argentina, es probable que en un futuro muy próximo estemos necesitando recursos locales, pero por lo pronto serían solamente consultores de SAP. Si su experiencia se relaciona con ésta área y la oportunidad les interesa pueden enviarme su curriculum a jorgev@xcelcorp.com. Debo aclarar que en este momento no puedo comprometerme a nada, pues todo esta apenas en “pláticas”. En el caso de México, si su curriculum está en alguno de los portales de internet, es posible que en un futuro próximo alguno de nuestros reclutadores locales los contacte si es que tenemos algún requerimiento compatible con su experiencia.

Si su interés es venir a los Estados Unidos con una visa patrocinada por Xcel contacten a Sanee Monteiro a través de su e-mail sanee@xcelcorp.com para iniciar ese proceso. Debo aclararles que lo que Xcel ofrece es la OPORTUNIDAD de venir a COMPETIR por trabajo con una remuneracion justa y beneficios superiores a los de la industria. Sin embargo el éxito de éste esquema depende esencialmente de la habilidad del consultor. Estas oportunidades no son para todos; competir en este mercado solo es factible con un excelente inglés, buena experiencia técnica y una situación familiar o personal favorable para laborar como CONSULTOR en un país extranjero con todos los sacrificios que esto implica.

La empresa no pide dinero por adelantado y todos los gastos en los que los consultores incurren para tramitar sus visas y traer a sus dependientes son re-embolsados DESPUES de que se colocan en un proyecto. La empresa apoya a los consultores con algunas cuestiones personales como alojamiento temporal (en lo que se establecen en un proyecto), con el trámite de su número de seguro social, cuenta bancaria, tarjeta de crédito, teléfono celular, entre otras cosas.

Honestamente, creo que mi empresa es la mejor opción si están buscando una oportunidad en Estados Unidos. Los exorto a compararnos y de hecho les agradeceré toda la información que encuentren sobre otras empresas haciendo lo mismo. Esto me será sumamente útil para benchmarking.

Si su objetivo es venir a trabajar a los Estados Unidos, deben tener en cuenta varias cuestiones:
a) En este negocio, el colocar a un consultor deficiente que te ocasiona cualquier tipo de problema con un cliente significa perder al cliente definitivamente
b) Las cantidad de visas que el gobierno Estadounidense otorga cada vez es más limitada y el trámite para una visa tipo H-1 toma más de un año.
Por estas razones es muy poco probable que cuando los consultores llegan a Estados Unidos por primera vez exista un requerimiento de nuestros clientes directos esperándolos para que se incorporen a un proyecto de manera inmediata. Por lo general, una vez que el consultor haya aplicado para su seguro social y este listo para trabajar en Estado Unidos, un account manager de Xcel mandará su CV a distintas oportunidades en el mercado controladas en su mayoría por otras agencias y por las que el consultor tendrá que se entrevistado varias veces y competir para ser seleccionado de entre otros muchos aplicantes. El mercado de IT Staffing en USA para extranjeros esta controlado hasta en un 80% por empresas y consultores provenientes principalmente de la India. Ellos tienen la noción de que los Latinoamericanos no son buenos técnicamente, que no tienen experiencia con las versiones más actualizadas de software y que no hablan buen inglés. También las diferencias culturales entre Estado Unidos y los países indo-asíaticos han dado una mayor ponderación a contar con previa experiencia profesional dentro de los Estados Unidos. Todo esto complica las cosas para los consultores y esta modificando la estrategia de Xcel. Aún así, si eres un professional de las tecnologías de información de cualquier parte del planeta interesado en trabajar en los Estados Unidos. Xcel sigue siendo el mejor medio para eso; y aunque el panorama se vea complicado, siempre hay lugar para el mejor.

Estos son el tipo de consultores que Xcel está interesado en traer a Estados Unidos, enumerados de acuerdo a las prioridades de ésta empresa:

1. SAP
2. Otros ERPs (Siebel, Peoplesoft, Oracle, JD Edwards, etc.)
3. Data Warehousing / business intelligence (Business Objects, Microstrategy, Informatica, Hyperion, ETL, etc)
4. Java, dotnet, DBAs, mainframe, administradores de sistemas (Linux, Unix) y de storage (EMC, Sans), ERPs “no tan comerciales” (Baan, BPCS, Macola), etc.

También se da preferencia a ciudadanos de países que tienen tratados de libre comercio con Estados Unidos, como son Canadá, México, Chile y Australia; pues los trámites migratorios son mucho más sencillos y ágiles.

Estoy a sus órdenes para cualquier duda o comentario. Si encuentran comentarios negativos especificos sobre mi empresa con mucho gusto les ayudaré a poner las cosas en el contexto adecuado. Por último agradezco su tiempo y atención.
 

Hola, a mi me llego una oferta de esta empresa, investigue y si encontre algunas malas notas, pero me he mantenido en contacto con la empresa y pues todo va bien hasta ahora, el comentario de Jorge Vazquez es muy acertado y la verdad son oportunidades unicas, si pudieras poner tu experiencia en cuanto al tramite de visa, tiempos e instalacion en EU seria de mucha ayuda para mi, gracias, Topiltzin Dominguez (topiltzin.dominguez@gmail.com)
 

Hola a todos,

Yo tuve la oportunidad de trabajar con Xcel Solutions e ir a trabajar a EEUU con ellos, NO SE ARRIESGUEN ES UN ROBO.

elpadrote69@hotmail.com
 

Estimado "elpadrote69:"

Yo trabaje para Xcel Solutions Corp de finales del 05 a finales del 07. Si fuera una empresa sin defectos, pues seguiria trabajando ahi. Pero de eso a decir que "es un robo" hay muchisima diferencia. Si bien yo mismo tengo muchas cosas que ciriticar de Xcel y ya no tengo ninguna relacion con los empleados, ni ningun interes con las actividades de esa empresa, para mi fue una experiencia que sirvio como base para alcanzar otros objetivos personales aqui en Estados Unidos y no puedo permitir que se insinue que mi trabajo ahi estuvo relacionado con algun tipo de estafa. Asi que... Quien eres? Y porque dices eso?
Jorge V.
 

No en vano se dice que
"Si el rio suena, agua lleva"

No sabemos a si XCel es bueno o malo, tendriamos que estar ahi para comprobarlo.

Para jorge1_xcel, asi como cuestionas la seriedad de los comentarios, puedes demostrar que no son ciertos? Cual es tu rol en esa empresa? Reclutador, Socio? Que puede decir un incondicional en contra de su empresa?

Afortunada / Desafortunadamente este tipo de espacios es libre para colocar comentarios y es responsailidad de cada uno hacer caso o no de los que se mencione en la red.

Yo he recibido tambien un correo de esta empresa y me interesa saber si es cierta la propuesta, no conozco a ningun empleado de esa empresa y por supuesto no le voy a preguntar al reclutador como es la empresa por que ya se lo que me va a decir.

Les dejo este otro link que encontre, ahi hay comentarios de ex-empleados que fueron reclutadores y consultores.
http://www.acidlabs.org/2006/02/02/too-good-to-be-true/

Los comentarios son del 2006, a lo mejor las cosas ya cambiaron.

Y que cada quien saque sus conclusiones.
 

Para Anonymous:
Hace mas de un anio que yo no tengo NINGUNA relacion con Xcel Solutions Corp. Si aceptas o no la oferta de trabajo de ellos, a mi honestamente me viene wilson y solo puedo desearte que te vaya bien con cualquiera que sea tu desicion. Independientemente de como quedo mi relacion con esa empresa, lo que si no pienso permitirte, ni a ti ni a nadie, es que se insinue que durante los 2 anios que yo labore ahi mi trabajo sirvio para estafar, enganiar o robar a la gente.
Con respecto al blog de "acid labs" que mencionas: la traes nueva... Esos mismos comentarios fueron los que detonaron que el administrador de este blog comenzara esta discusion. Y efectivamente, son de Feb del 2006. Pero Ella Lorenz y su marido dejaron de trabajar en Xcel alrededor del 3er trimestre del 2005. Respondiendo a tu cuestionamiento, yo no pienso demostrar que sus comentarios no son ciertos; pues si ellos dicen que el haber trabajado para Xcel/Jit arruino sus vidas, yo no puedo juzgar eso. Lo que yo cuestiono es la falta de objetividad sobre su propia capacidad y el entorno en el que esas situaciones se dieron. En lo personal, puedo decir que de los casi 50 consultores que yo personalmente coloque en proyectos cuando trabaje con Xcel, si tengo conocimiento de varios casos en los que dejaron buenos empleos en sus paises de origen solo para que las cosas no les resultaran con Xcel. Pero tambien se de varios (incluyendome a mi mismo) a los que Xcel les resulto una buena oportunidad de transicion para accesar a mejores oportunidades en Estados Unidos. Si tienes el interes muy especifico de trabajar en Estados Unidos y tienes a empresas como Microsoft o IBM haciendote ofertas, pues no consideres a Xcel. Si ese no es el caso, Que otras opciones tienes? Desde mi punto de vista casi todo se debe a la capacidad de la persona. Este no es un buen entorno economico para andar cambiando de trabajo, pero si ese es tu plan te pregunto: para ti que tiene mas peso? Personas posteando desde el anonimato en blogs que nadie lee. O lo que empresas como Deloitte, NJBiz, myvisajobs.com o publicaciones como "Business Mirror" o "Infinit-o" de Filipinas tienen que decir sobre una compania. Solo menciono estos reconocimientos a Xcel porque fueron logros que se obtuvieron mientras yo trabaje ahi. Pero finalmente, lo que te puedo recomendar es que si estas en el DF busques una entrevista cara a cara. Xcel tiene sus oficinas en el German Center en Santa Fe. Yo te reitero, ya no tengo NINGUNA relacion con ellos. Exito...
 

Ya pasaron mas de 2 años desde que se abrio este foro. Alguien de los que se animaron entrar a la empresa podria compartir su experiencia hasta ahora?
 

Xcel tiene negocios tanto en Mexico como en USA.
Jit no es un hombre de paladra, miente, manipula, se guia por su humor.

Me sorprende que Julio lo defienda, porque Jit no te tiene en buen concepto.

Jit ha corrido a varias personas en mexico sin pagarles liquidacion. A una companiera la corrio porque se enfermo y iba a tardar varias semanas en regresar.

Xcel dice que tiene muchos clientes en Mexico pero practicamente solo tiene a Telcel. Los demas son super chiquitos. Telcel ya no esta contento con Xcel.

El nivel de rotacion es muy alto. La gente prefiere renunciar que tener contacto con Jit.

En el periodico Xcel publico que tenemos 3 anios en Mexico y no lleva 3 anios en Mexico.

Xcel ha perdido muchos negocios en mexico.
 

Fabián, hope this answers some of your questionings, and bring some light to the issue.

George, on following what Jit does, You did also trick people, You know what people is told, and what actually happens, ain't that a fraud? Why doesn't he, the one responsible, justify anything? because he doesn't care, he only lies and that's what he does. You do try to explain it because you feel remorse, the guy does not have any interest whatsoever on feeling bad for how he messes with people lives. I wouldn't recommend the company to a friend, not on the terms you put it. That's not honest.

Some points on your info:

No legal action because it would imply closing as they do "benching", which is ILLEGAL (http://layoffblog.com/2009/02/14/us-announces-arrests-in-several-states-alleging-visa-fraud/).
No more H1Bs allowed for Xcel. It Is being denied all petitions by USCIS (Nice People 4)
How many TN's still on Xcel, out of how many that applied? You bring a lot, maybe, but not many actually make it, who's fault is it then?
Again, a lot of sponsorship, how may are still with Xcel, how many went back with nothing, after up to 6 months?
Best places to work? How many of you on suite 3 filled the surveys? How many of the consultants filled it? Will Xcel publish them? Why don't we go today and run a survey?
How many of the people you mention are still at work? too many in and outs, within months people that contacted you is no longer at the company, on the management side. Why does that happen on best places to work, why people does not continue there?
Xcel does not offer any opportunity to compete, no direct clients in the US, it's only a body shop. Wages are on the lowers, refer to the same link you provide on the sponsorships. 60 something for h1b's. Is that fair? Benefits are just standard and according to law.
The success depends on the consultant? then why do we need xcel? why use the account managers and set up fake accounts on dice, monster, careerbuilder? why don't let the consultants place themselves? why don't tell them from the beginning what is it about? xcel only does this to make a profit. Why don't you pay expenses and pay consultants even if you place them on all-inclusive rates? how about relocating to every place for every new project? How can anybody make a living with that?
You ask consultants to pay for their TN visas and only reimburse them IF they get a project, and after 90 days of that happening. There's people who never got one and never got reimbursed, and in some cases not even the flight back. How is that fair? You only care on Xcel and not the people. How about not bringing people as soon as they get they visa? they have to wait 1 or 2 months and some are never given any info, even if they have left their jobs. You don't tell the truth. How about paying only 30 bucks a day while in bench? How about that period going for 6 months? You don't help on any of the paperwork, only on paying the taxi.
Honestly, I think the company is not the best option on going to the US.
Can You share your benchmarkings?
How bad of a company that cannot generate a placing for their employees, as said, only a body shop. You say the opportunities are controlled by other agencies, only confirming that. Account managers know little thing on technologies. You change them every 2 months, meanwhile losing any advance.
No need for the Social to get enrolled, just a trick not to enroll people in the payroll.
Can You name direct clients?

For the ones interested, pay a visit to the "State of the Art" facilities, get to know them, the place, the people, interview not only management but actual consultants, at random, don't let them give you somebody to talk with. After that, ask yourself it that's what you want. Better give up money for a round trip and verify things than losing time of your life or experience.

The real deal:

You are brought here, lose 2 weeks modifying your resume, usually exaggerating or lying, as per account managers request. They usually don't know about the technology you work with. You do the social paid by the company and everything else is on your own (bank, cell, driver's license). You are provided a desktop PC if you didn't bring your laptop as they won't provide any if not in a project. Then, they create accounts on job sites and wait for recruiters to call or send a mail, no real placing, only doing something you could do yourself. they manage the account, and you are not even sure of what they put on the sites. You then take calls and try to lie in order to advance in the process, at least one agency or even two to get to the client. This goes on until perhaps you get a face to face interview and then, maybe get accepted, meanwhile months go by, and you are only paid 30 dollars a day. Is not that after the month they tell you, you'll be in a project, thats false. As false as the state of the art facilities, just crowded offices.

If you get a project, be ready, as you'll be expelled of the guest house and have to find and apartment in 2 weeks, if the project is not local to new jersey, you have to relocate, no expenses whatsoever, even if they sell you all included, they keep that for themselves. If the project ends, get back to xcel office in nj, and you have to pay the penalties on finishing apartment leasing, what about any furniture? Then you get other project, and again relocating. what about your family? you never get to settle. consider that rents are usually around $1000.00 for a 1 bedroom apartment. Be ready also to pay a lot of deposits as you have no credit history whatsoever.

On the Mexican TN guys. They get the face to face interview with jit, then a proposal, and they ask for papers to send the docs for the visa, then you do the appointment with the embassy. You get the visa. And then, you'll have to pursue them to give you a ticket to be brought here, it can take months, meanwhile you waiting. they won't give any info, you without income. then they may bring you, and well, that time adds up to that without getting a project, so you end up wasting lot of time and money. As you should know, TN doesn't allow so easy for the green card application, so no real chance on getting anything good in the long run, ain't worth it. Besides, only 28 obtained according to the site Jorge mentioned during 9 years, 8 denied.

As a friend say, would be good if they told you the truth and you decide to go for it, in that case, see it as:

You are single, want to go to the US, practice english, be in a guest house, get 30 dollars a day, which pays for the food and even some traveling around, meanwhile, try to get a project, which is the last priority. If that works, good, if not, well, you had paid vacations in the us.

Don't try it if you are married.
 

In a couple of months it will be 2 YEARS since I don’t have anything to do with Xcel. But here you are anonymously and cowardly attacking me. During this very long period of time, why haven’t you been able to move on? How do you even find the time for this? Is it because you are un-employed? Is that really Xcel’s fault? The only remorse I could ever have from the time I worked there is not telling you from the beginning that YOU SUCK! And that it’s obvious that you lack the character, the experience, the skills and the brains to make it as a foreign IT consultant in the US.

The $30 USD per Diem while on bench was always CLEARLY stated on the initial contracts sent to candidates while they were still working in their own countries. Personally, I never asked anybody to leave their jobs for the POSSIBILITY of joining Xcel.

Now, let’s analyze your particular case:
1. If it took months (as you say) for Xcel to actually bring you to the US, this was due in part to other dumbass like you unable to get a project and occupying space in the same guest house where you had to be kicked out. But also, I’m sure it was mainly due to the fact that you weren’t a good candidate. Anyone in that situation, but with a steady career, other opportunities and a little more intelligence would have moved on. But that wasn’t your case, and Xcel was obligated to bring you due to the contract that you had already signed (yes, that same contract that you didn’t read and fully understand, where it was stipulated that you would get the $30/day while on bench).

2. If you had to modify and exaggerate your resume it’s because it was weak and not marketable. Still, after MONTHS of being on bench and not producing anything (and occupying space and becoming a bottle neck) somebody was able to get you in a project. Most likely with little or no profit for the company, but with the plan of not loosing anymore money and naively hoping that you could eventually turn some revenue.

3. Even if I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you weren’t fired from that project due to your own poor performance, I still don’t get your retarded reasoning where the “fair” thing to do was to pay for your furniture.

I have no interest on defending Xcel or its employees, but this was a very low and PERSONAL attack to me. So, in regards to some of your questions:
1. You have issues with the “best places to work” surveys? Go nag NJBiz, they conducted it.

2. “why people does not continue there?” We move on and continue with a successful career in another place.

3. “Benefits are just standard and according to law.” What’s wrong with that??

4. “then why do we need xcel? why use the account managers and set up fake accounts on dice, monster, careerbuilder? why don't let the consultants place themselves?” How is applying for those positions in the US without a sponsor working out for you? Any interviews yet?

5. “why don't tell them from the beginning what is it about?” I’m 100% certain that it was stated in writing on the contract, you just were too stupid to read it or ask questions during the interviews. However, I also believe there might have been some cultural issues, as it seems that the people from India or Philippines were better informed and more used to these kind of deals, than the people coming from Latin America.

6. “xcel only does this to make a profit.” Again, what’s wrong with that? Were you looking for a job or just plain charity? You expect a private company to completely take the responsibility of providing for your family?

7. “I think the company is not the best option on going to the US. Can You share your benchmarkings?” Even if I had any interest on giving you something for free (as it seems you expect everything to be), I’ve been out of that business for 2 years now. I still know people in Fast Dolphin and Sapphire. Go ahead and compare, but I have no interest on the outcome.

8. About Xcel’s stats and their visa sponsorship record, I actually don't get what did that had to do with anything, but here is some additional information for you on current US immigration issues: 13 recent immigrants killed in the Binghamton, N.Y. Shooting. The AFL-CIO is now lobbying to restrain even more all temporary worker programs. So, good luck coming into the US to work now, legally or illegally.

I could say that I probably agree with what is left of your posting, but the truth is that I don’t care at all. My conscience is clear because even if they are not the majority of the people there has also been a good amount of success stories from consultants that joined the company at that time. I still stay in contact with some of them. I see them buying houses and providing a good life for their families here in the US. Some are still good friends of mine that have stayed in my home when coming to New York. You won’t hear from them posting here as they’ve moved on and are busy professionals. While I was working for Xcel I performed my duties effectively and conducted my self ethically and professionally. It was not my job to fix or improve your life or complement your lack of character. It’s a shame that this didn’t work out for you and many others, but it’s time you grow up and face the consequences of your own decisions. Don’t blame me for your failure. And if you ever even think of accusing me irresponsibly of any kind of fraud, be sure to have the balls to put your name on the line and be able to sustain your arguments if we ever meet face to face.
Sincerely, Jorge Vazquez
 

From Mr. Steven Siegler's blog:
"I represent six former employees who have filed counterclaims against Xcel Solutions Corporation, a Matawan, New Jersey based consulting company, alleging that Xcel breached their employment contracts by failing to pay them wages, “bench pay,” bonuses, and other monies."