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Microsoft's Personnel Puzzle
theodp writes "CNET reports on Microsoft's reputation for arrogance in its personnel practices, citing the experience of Arthur Sorkin, who responded to an unsolicited invitation to interview with MS back in 2000. But instead of trying to sell him on the company or the job, interviewers challenged him with a technical 'pop quiz.' Sorkin, who holds a PhD in CS, withdrew his application. During the past year, Microsoft called Sorkin to say it had scheduled a phone interview with him for another job, although Sorkin hadn't applied for it and no one had asked if he was interested."
Don't bother me, Microsoft. You are monopolistic predators. The only way I'll work for you is if I get root privileges, so I can run "fdisk" and "format" on your ass.
(like phd / mcse, mba, etc)
One of these things just doesn't belong.
(Hint: four letters, starts with 'm')
I want to drag this out as long as possible. Bring me my protractor.
As Dr. Phil would say, "Well Duh!".
You must be new here...online...in general (not necessarily Slashdot).
That's likely the oldest and easiest question|answer example which circulates whenever this topic pops up on practically every email list, newsgroup, or any other resource which has more than one programmer as a participant. Online or in "regular media". Particularly "regular media" because it's something non-technical people can deal with. Asking someone how many gas stations there are in the US would normally appear as the closer: and if you want a real toughie, try this one: "How many gas stations are there in the US? (and how did you arrive at your answer?)
No one said the answer wasn't real. Or perhaps you thought you were the only one here who knew it was true?
Stop by eBay and buy a clue.
(I'll pay for half of it.)
As I said elsewhere, why don't they ask questions to which they don't know the answers?
Q: When programming in C, how do you prevent buffer overruns?
(if they actually knew the answer to that they wouldn't have anywhere near the security issues they have.
How'd I handle past job situations?
Well, I quit one job in the middle of a project because it was fucking stupid, got fired from another stupid job when the boss decided he couldn't keep the company going long enough to do the job right (after having done it totally wrong), and I cussed out my supervisor on another job and got fired while they were laying off everybody because they fucked up their market with crap. That doesn't count a couple other layoffs because I was dumb enough to get hired by morons.
Does that answer your question, Mr. Recruiter?
Oh, did I mention I did eight years in prison for armed bank robbery? I'm kinda required by my supervised release terms to disclose that to potential employers.
I wouldn't work for an employer any more even if I could find one that would hire me. Fuck those morons. They don't know how to hire, they don't know how to manage, and they don't know pretty much anything else. So I find it hard to be interested in their questioning of MY capabilities.
I don't think begging for a job is the best position to be in when you're a primate - tends to bring out the worst in the people on the other side of the table - sort of like begging for a loan from a bank, or begging a prison guard for a shower today. Primates are simply incapable of handling differences in authority in a neutral manner. It's hardwired into their little brains to be assholes when confronted with someone lower on the primate hierarchy than themselves.
So it doesn't surprise me that Microsoft - run by the King of Primate Assholes Himself - behaves the way they do to job applicants.
And it doesn't surprise me that job applicants - and actual Microsoft employees - will debase themselves to any degree to be employed there and then will LIE LIKE RUGS on command about the reliability, security and other issues with the software and corporate business practices.
After all, dogs will eat their own shit. So will humans - which is why humans like dogs and dogs like humans. And why your average dog owner looks like his dog.
Richard Steven Hack - This sig is TOO GODDAMN SHORT TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL WITH! MORONS!