I Really feel Extra Job Safety Working at a Small VC Agency Than a Tech Big

This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with Tejas Vijh, an worker at a enterprise capital agency primarily based in Indianapolis, Indiana. It has been edited for size and readability. Enterprise Insider has verified his employment and visa historical past.

After I accomplished my bachelor’s in pc science in India, a collection of internships and connections led me to a task at a really early-stage enterprise capital agency. I beloved the job and the analysis it concerned.

Seven months into working on the agency, I needed the publicity of residing and dealing overseas. I bought right into a enterprise analytics grasp’s program at Columbia College and moved to New York Metropolis in 2022.

Proper off the bat, I found out that enterprise was not a typical profession path for worldwide college students, together with MBA and enterprise majors, for one predominant motive: visa sponsorship points. I interned at two locations in the summertime, and each mentioned they would not be capable to sponsor my long-term visa, although they preferred my efficiency.

Once I began researching the job market after commencement, I couldn’t discover a single particular person within the business who was an immigrant, which was actually demotivating. However I used to be satisfied that I needed to work in healthcare or local weather tech and determined to maintain going.

As a Science-Expertise-Engineering-Math graduate, I’m allowed a three-year work allow referred to as the Elective Sensible Coaching visa. It is seen as a pathway to securing an H-1B — a visa for extremely expert international staff.

500 chilly emails

Utilizing software program referred to as PitchBook, a enterprise capital database, I downloaded a listing of two,000 companies. I began emailing them personalised notes. I pitched myself however didn’t point out my visa scenario.

Many companies replied to me although they weren’t hiring, and I met folks for espresso and constructed connections.

I began getting some interviews by my 2 hundredth e-mail.

By my five hundredth e-mail, I had two affords — one from a bigger agency that advised me they might not sponsor my H-1B however that I might be a part of them for my three years of OPT, and one other from my present agency, the place our managing associate took time to know my visa necessities and the help I would want from them. I advised him how I am loyal and I’ll keep the place I’m going. My agency has three companions, and I am the one worker.

Some great benefits of a small firm

I didn’t get my H-1B visa final yr, however my visa was chosen as a part of this yr’s lottery final week. My agency has additionally been supportive and has helped me discover different routes just like the O-1 visa or the EV-1, that are visas for extraordinary abilities within the occasion my H-1B didn’t come by.

A few of the current modifications round H-1B additionally give me quite a lot of hope, since they’re targeted on making the method fairer. The US immigration authorities have reported fewer entries into the lottery this yr in comparison with 2024. Elon Musk, who’s working with President Donald Trump’s administration, has additionally publicly supported the H-1B program.

I am grateful I made a decision to hitch a small firm over a Massive Tech firm, the place quite a lot of my classmates from my grasp’s and relations work. Giant corporations are historically seen as extra steady and a safer guess for visa holders, however as layoffs sweep the tech business, this mindset is altering. I’ve relations who’re at all times on edge about when they could lose their jobs and be pressured to shortly pack up and depart the US as a result of their keep relies on their employment.

I imagine my companions will truthfully give me a heads-up if we have to minimize workers. The agency can be closely concerned in serving to me discover different visas, which is not at all times a service offered by giant companies. It provides to my peace of thoughts.