Re: FW: Opportunities at msft

Ryan Shelswell (Ryan.Shelswell@nospam.uts.edu.au)
Fri, 28 Jun 1996 14:20:13 +1000 (EAST)

>No, what I'm saying is that companies with major projects need more than
>a bunch of clueless grunts to deliver a decent product. People get hired
>by normal firms to work on minor projects (limited scope, generous
>deadline, etc. to get the new staff up to standard); they don't throw you
>into Windows97 without some assurance of the quality of your work.

While I don't support Microsoft, I think the whole tirade has been a bit
overplayed and not particularly relevant to the ad:

* The ad was specifically for an SE to create software titles, not develop
next-generation OS system software. Anyone who thinks they'd be hired
to do this in Australia is even less with it than Billy-boy himself.

* The ad did not specify that responsibility level the position carried -
I can't imagine anyone almost fresh from Uni being put in charge of any
serious large scale development at Microsoft.

* The ad did not say "we want people with one year's experience" in the first
place. It specified "a minimum of one year's experience developing Windows
applications in C/C++" - which means firstly that more is desired, and
secondly that the applicant may have 10 years experience developing smalltalk
applications (say).

So can we stop beating on this particular ad? I actually appreciate
getting these ads even if I don't want the position, as it's useful to keep
in touch with the market. I saw no difference with this ad than normal
industry practice.

If we want to beat up on Microsoft, here's some ideas:

* They copied every good UI idea they ever had from Mac OS

* They strangle the OS market with their monopolistic marketing strategies

* They spend enormous amounts of money creating a false public image that
(astonishingly) actually seems to work - including convincing so-called
industry pundits and commentators to come out with the most ridiculous crap
imaginable (try reading the tuesday Australian)

>Who the hell wants to work in the computing industry anyway?

There is that. But I think you mean "the business computing industry". At
many Unis, there is a research computing culture flourishing like a field
of Monetic wildflowers in springtime. At UTS, there is a cactus with
spikes and a hard skin. It's ugly but it's the only thing that can survive
with so little water...

Ryan