Every quest faces trials and tribulations, but good support can help overcome.
Dungeons and Dragons (or D&D as it is commonly referred to) is a popular role-playing game that has recently become more commonplace than subcultural since its inception in 1972, much to the delight of myself and millions of other nerds worldwide. The game relies on a small group of friends (typically 3-5) creating unique characters who will form a party and go on adventurous quests called campaigns. Campaigns are administered by a dungeon master—a creative individual who devises battles and schemes for the party to fall into. It requires some imagination, chemistry, and basic gameplay knowledge (and good snacks).
So what does D&D have to do with staffing—specifically hiring foreign national talent? A lot more than you might think. The world of D&D is constantly evolving, with ever-expanding worlds and creative players pushing the boundaries. The better you know the rules, the more you can do with what you’re given. Similarly, through the visa process in the United States, the better you understand immigration and the laws set forth by the various governmental agencies, the better you can navigate the realm of visas and green cards. At PG, our in-house immigration Team helps contractors start the visa process from day one, which saves a lot of time and hassle. Their role is to understand the rules and to ensure compliance and protection for our clients and our contractors.
And in 2024, companies can’t afford to close themselves off to this population. Foreign nationals make up 18.1% of the workforce (Bureau of Labor Statistics), but that number grows to 23.1% when we look at STEM fields (American Immigration Council), which means that workers with H-1B visas are filling a big gap for American science and tech companies.
But this is just one lesson from D&D—there are a few others I’d like to share!
It takes a certain amount of luck
A large component of D&D is its reliance on a set of dice that players use to determine their fate. A lot of what happens during gameplay is dictated by how the dice fall, which amounts to pure luck. Unfortunately, much of the employment visa process also relies on luck. Foreign nationals must have a work visa, and typically the H-1B visa is the one they go for. According to the U.S. Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the H-1B visa saw over 474,421 eligible applicants for a lottery system in FY 2023 with only 127,600 being selected. 
In 2024, over 750,000 registrants will put their names in for one of 188,400 slots. However, USCIS may only award 85,000 H-1B CAP Subject visas each year, and of those 85,000 visas, 20,000 are allocated to individuals who have a U.S. Master’s Degree or higher.
This means that each applicant of the H-1B process has less than a 10% chance of being selected—even less if they have a U.S. graduate degree. Luck is a big part of the equation.
Sometimes, homebrew is required
D&D is an interesting blend of mass-produced culture and folk practice. There is a multi-million dollar endeavor for Wizards of the Coast, which has owned the rights and distributed the game since 1997 (you might remember the film starring Chris Pine, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves). But by the same token, D&D has a culture of “homebrew” or content that is made by players who find ways to be flexible and get creative.
And when managing the visa process for our contractors we need to find a homebrew solution. Life happens, and that’s no reason for people to lose their visa sponsorship. People have individual needs, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Unlike most staffing firms that process thousands of visas but are not interested in long-term sponsorship, we offer a more transparent and compassionate approach.
Unity in diversity
Successful D&D campaigns have well-balanced parties with characters of all types. You want a mix of your front liners, your long-range attacks, healers, etc. A good blend of skills and perspectives makes your party strong. The same could be said for hiring foreign national talent. Having people on staff with various world perspectives fosters broader innovation and allows the best solutions to come to light.
By employing foreign nationals, companies are also opening themselves up to 100% of the labor market compared to companies that don’t. This means you can find the best possible talent for a given role without being limited to U.S. citizens, which we’ve already identified as an important gap in STEM fields.
You need a good guildmaster
In the staffing world, there are employment agencies like Populus Group, and in D&D, there are guilds representing a group of workers of a common trade or interest. It’s the guildmaster’s job to make sure each guild member is represented, has the qualifications and resources they need, and is looking for ways to ensure the success of their party’s quest.
When I think of PG as a staffing guild, I am proud that the folks managing the immigration process for our contractors take the people-first approach. They are focused on providing an exceptional experience and ensuring our foreign nationals aren’t alone in an often strenuous and time-consuming process. In 2023, PG filed 191 H-1B petitions. All cases that made it through the adjudication process were approved. Bringing our H-1B approval rating for 2023 to 100%. We’re so proud of our Immigration Team for their dedication, diligence, and, most of all, their care for our contractors!
If you’re ready to create more opportunities for your business by hiring foreign national talent, we can help!
Fill out the form here and let’s chat!
Cheryl Longo
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