Microsoft's recruiting practices

Interesting article on News.com today about Microsoft's recruiting practices. I wholly agree with some of the assertions made about the company, and it's probably the reason I've never bothered applying with Microsoft.

The whole "brain teaser" thing in particular is annoying. Yeah, ask me about the obvious stuff that shows I know what I'm doing, but don't play games with me. I'm a grown up. In fact, I would go as far as to say that even a less knowledgeable person with the right personality beats the heck out of a PhD with the personality of a complete jackass. I just hired a guy for my current project who has only nine months of working in .NET in earnest, but it was the little things, some technical, some not, that sold me.

A company selling itself really is important. This ain't 2001 anymore. The good people shouldn't be expected to feel lucky to have a job. I need to know up front why I should work somewhere, because life is too short to be wasting time in a place where I can't thrive and be happy. Frequently it's the intangibles that are more important than the money. Although money is still good. The more the better.

I'm sure that the article doesn't represent the way things go everywhere in Microsoft, but still, I've heard enough stories like those to know I'm not sure I'd want to go there. And that's coming from someone that loves the company's products.

2 Comments

  • Completely agree with this one. I hate to be tested with gimmicky crap only to end up doing data entry. I'm applying for a job and not joining a cult. Companies have the privilege to do what they want, but the whole brain teaser thing is just so 1998.

  • Yeah, I think that the recruiting practices at big companies are a pain. Though, the keep playing the games in the negotiation process.

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