Not even employed. Just "10K H1b workers applied for the permit in 48 hours". No guarantee that they will follow through with the application or have jobs.
>Created a new CMS for the company in Python that resulted in an ~70% reduction in website update times, from 1 hour to 18 minutes
Personally, I don't put too much emphasis on these numbers because most of them are probably BS. Don't get me wrong, it's still probably in a candidate's best interest to quantify their accomplishments since it's recommended everywhere but don't over do it.
>taking responsibility does not necessarily imply consequences
I guess that's the problem? These days leaders have no problem "taking responsibility" to make themselves look good when there's no consequence("hey I did what all good leaders do").
>Many of these people have mediocre ability
Perhaps. University never intends to compete for top talent with their salary offerings. I recall during a salary discussion years ago, my manager at the time mentioned that the salary was indeed below market but offered up the point below as an advantage.
>don't really do much, but once a position is created it is hardly ever eliminated.
Yup. This was true and was a definitely a benefit.
Source: 6 years working as IT for a public university.
>almost all of the top academic students in my class were first or second generation immigrants (mostly Indian) that had no interest in extra-curricular activities like sports, band, choir, or really anything.
I suspect it's more like their parents prohibit them from having any interest in these extra-curricular activities. Academics > *.
>guess how much people make from social clues like what kind of car they drive, what brand clothes they wear, where they go on holiday, how new their phone is...
>I would have avoided if a class like this was around.
I doubt the 20yr old me would've listened anyway.
I, too, racked up some CC debt (nothing crazy) in my early 20s. I knew most concepts outlined above but it's really about dealing with temptations when you finally making real money with full-time work.