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Google and Yahoo Creating Brain Drain?
Searchbistro writes "Software-engineering talent is flocking to Google and Yahoo. Business Week explores the possibility that the big two search companies are creating a brain drain on the rest of the industry. Google snapped up about 230 engineers last quarter. Some stolen superstars are Louis Monier, director of eBay, advanced technology research, and Kai-Fu Lee, a top-flight researcher at Microsoft. Yahoo hired dozens of top engineers, including Larry Tesler, former vice-president at Amazon.com. 'While the Internet leaders snatch up top tech talent, that creates headaches elsewhere. Some startups, for instance, say the talent drain has made their own hiring more difficult.'"
Thanks for summarizing the article so well. It does basically come down to, "Oy weh! So much money for talent I must to pay. These geeks, they only want to work with other geeks."
Many smart workaholics want to work with other smart workaholics. Geeks with no social lives want to goof around with other geeks with no social lives. They don't like stupid frat boys. No shit?
Outsourcing to India is the dream of the MBAs: replace the arrogant, irritatingly smart and in-yo'-face engineers with a bunch of compliant, diaper wearing yes men. But then it turns out the Indians lie a lot and are unqualified, so its a big bust. Ha ha!
At my last job they hired a guy and thought they were finally free of their dependence on me. E.g a replacement for the asshole. Then they realised, "oh shit, that crabby mofo is really much better than everyone else. Crap. Not free of him yet. Still have to put up with his demands and KMA-attitude."
http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_
I'd rather see tech companies compete for quality engineers again and offer increasing salaries, perks and interesting work to those who know what the heck they're doing.
Departure of a high-quality engineer hurts an org that needs to get things done A LOT. This means employers will be willing to pay more, because quality engineering is not something you can trust to a bunch of Indian dudes in Bangalore.
My experiences with striving Indian liars were in Silicon Valley. They and their families were rich -- so it wasn't fear of becoming a guy who removes poo from your house (with his bare hands) that motivated them. There were some of the most blatant liars I ever dealt with.
Everyone else that I ever talked to about Indians in the Valley said the same thing: these people are compulsive liars.
One Indian stole diagrams from my friend (from his thesis), and gave a talk with them. When the guy said, "hey, those are my diagrams," the Indian lied and said, "no, they are mine..." This guy kept track: of 12 engineers that he dealt with, 11 lied to him (and stabbed him in the back). One of 12 was decent.
Again, these guys were not looking at becoming the types who scrounge through the garbage at the dump, looking for valuables to sell to scrap dealers. It was just how they were.
So based on my experience, that's why I say what I say. If you've had a different experience, that's great. If Indians are better people that Euro-Americans, great -- I suggest you go to India, and live your life among your chosen friends.
http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_
Apple has good pull to get people, but even better management.
Apple has good developers, excellent management, and excellent marketing, but they aren't innovators.
It's about a culture that permits creativity and innovation.
True, and there are few companies that still do. Google is one of the few.