Microsoft looks to nab Yahoo workers

Having failed to buy all of Yahoo, or even its search business, Microsoft is now looking to take an even more piecemeal approach--hire its workers.

Hmmm. Now who could Microsoft be targeting here?

(Credit: Microsoft)

The company took out an ad in the San Jose Mercury News touting the fact that it has search jobs available in Silicon Valley.

"There are now very few companies that remain truly committed to defining the future of search and online advertising," the ad reads. "Microsoft is one of them."

Microsoft's not-so-subtle dig at Yahoo is particularly well-timed amid rumors that Yahoo is in a hiring freeze, or at least a cold chill and amid a rash of high-level defections.

In the ad, Microsoft touts its partnerships with Facebook, Viacom, and Dow Jones and suggests the fun of chasing Google.

"We have a long way to go," the ad states. "It will be an exciting journey. Come join us. We have jobs in Mountain View, Redmond, and around the world."

I'll be curious to see how the hiring push pays off. On the one hand, it would seem like for a whole lot less than $40 billion, Microsoft should be able to go on a pretty significant hiring spree. At the same time, I've heard of a lot of people leaving Yahoo, but haven't heard of any big names joining Microsoft.

But, I'm open to hearing about them. Hint. Hint.

[satayboy]

It's hard to imagine MS having a lot of success with that.

[someguy999]

Is it really hard to imagine, when yahoo gives up on advertising developments internally and had decided to outsource to google?

MS may not be a powerhouse by ANY stretch of the imagination, though at least they haven't thrown in the towel like yahoo did.

[YankeePoodle]

Microsoft may not have success but surely it will send chills down Yahoo's spine. Poaching is cool, especially when Yahoo is planning lay-offs

[humanssssss]

I hate Microsoft. I cannot wait till the day I can get rid of everything Microsoft. I'm glad I'm Microsoft-free of any web service. No hotmail, no live.com, no microsoft.com, no msn.com, no xbox for me. I have better use of my money and time else where.

Doesn't matter how many good people Microsoft hire, the fact that this company is unethical, immoral, and downright criminal makes me ill just seeing them in the news. I'm using Firefox to visit news.com and I use OpenOffice to write my documents.

[titanium2005]

humanssssss... you should also add, not visiting any .net site.

[Seaspray0]

And that's why humansssss will never give you an honest opinion reguarding any microsoft product. If you hadn't noticed, he hates the company, period.

[RompStar_420]

Yep, I accomplished total disconnection from all Microsoft products going on year 5, their products suck!, that's why I left, if it was good quality software, I would still be using it.

Enough said...

[The_Decider]

Any Yahoo developer of consequence will not ever work for MS. That is one of the main reasons why Ballmer was idiotic to try and buy a company whose employees are very anti-MS.

[countdemonet]

Is there a developer of consequence still left at Yahoo?

[robvme]

Hard to imagine this would work given all of the anti compete agreements that must have been signed by Yahoo employees.

[Sumatra-Bosch]

Are they joking? They'll get some burnouts that want to collect a check while sleeping in another cubical. Everyone knows that no original research or development ever came out of MSFT. The Yahoo! people are BSD cultists and correctly regard MSFT as a hoard of twisted, face-biting psychopaths. You might as well go to work for the creature from the Alien movies.

[chand_shah121]

Yahoo Rocks!! I cant imagine why anyone would want to leave such a cool company!! And as for MS, I believe they should concentrate more on Innovating and Improving their own products.

[jodpur]

Errr, will someone tell Bill and Steve that Yahoo did not fire the janitor?

The "talent" coming out of Yahoo now is viewed simply as overhead. These are executive types that came in through acquisitions. Of course they were taken in the back room and told politely that it was time to leave. Don't worry, I'm sure most of them got a pretty nice Golden Parachute (on top of the millions they made during the acquisition).

By the way, it's really laughable thinking about Yahoo engineers going to work at Microsoft. They thrive in an environment where original thought is encouraged. Heck, I had more original thougts in my sleep last night than Bill and Steve ever have.