Check out this now-famous billboard that was on Highway 101 in the heart of Silicon Valley:
{First 10-digit prime found
in consecutive digits of e} .com
No company name, no logo, no stated purpose. Nothing but this mathematical puzzle in big bold type.
What curious, high-IQ math geek could resist this challenge? There was even a rear-end collision or two by this sign. Coincidence? You decide. (Maybe there is a small market for bumper stickers that say "Warning: I brake for number theory".)
If you figured out this equation-driven URL, it would lead you to yet another URL that had an even harder problem, still without any company identification or stated purpose.
Getting past this second challenge landed those with obviously big
brains at a special web page at Google Labs, the company's research and
development arm.
"What we're looking for are the best engineers in the world. And here you are.
As you can imagine, we get many, many resumes every day, so we developed
this little process to increase the signal-to-noise ratio."
Naturally, it went on to talk about the benefits of considering a career at Google and how to submit your resume at a special puzzle-solvers email address.
Like this concept but don't have Google's budget? Here is a small company story that pre-dates this billboard by over a decade.
Mike Scanlin, now a Venture Partner at Sierra Ventures, was a senior engineering manager at now-defunct T/Maker Company in the early '90s. He was looking for a few really smart engineers to optimize 68000 assembly language code for their WriteNow word processor running on early memory-starved Macintosh computers.
Mike's solution? He ran a small 1.5 x 3" (ain't no billboard!) display ad in the hard-core programming magazine MacTech that listed twelve lines of assembly language code with this challenge: "Remove at least 12 bytes and 38 cycles from this code and send your solution and resume to T/Maker."
The results? Out of 200 submissions only about 10% did it the most efficient way, but from that smaller pool of highly-qualified candidates with the right stuff, Scanlin filled the open engineering slots. One guy submitted two different correct answers -- and was, of course, hired! An East Coast math PhD was so excited to work with other efficient programmers that he changed careers and moved across the country to work at T/Maker.
Mike even got replies from several engineers with notes saying, "I am not looking to change jobs now, but I just wanted to know if I got the right answer!"
The total cost of his pre-application test? Just $200. And no rear-end collisions.
The big message: Get creative in your hiring process! It's easier to find what you're looking for if it comes looking for you.
P.S. The Google answer is 7427466391.com. The URL is no longer active. This classic billboard was up in July of 2004 for a very limited period of time, but that was long enough to be featured in several local newspaper articles and on Bay Area TV news.
Hey! What's with that billboard? No advertisements? They just wasted their money.
Posted by: air jordan shoes | January 06, 2012 at 12:43 AM
So fun article is! I know more from it.
Posted by: Belstaff Chaquetas De Cuero | December 27, 2011 at 05:06 PM
This can be a really good learning resource you're giving so you present the idea out for nothing. I really like witnessing web pages which know the worthiness regarding giving an excellent learning resource for nothing. It’s that outdated just what should go all-around occurs all-around regime.
Posted by: replica Uggs | October 29, 2011 at 02:29 AM
Gucci outlet store
Gucci Handbags
Gucci Totes
Posted by: Erin | October 11, 2011 at 12:02 AM
Thak you for sharing them with us , I think it's worth reading
Posted by: Evering2010 | October 10, 2011 at 03:24 AM
Thak you for sharing them with us , I think it's worth reading
Posted by: Evering2010 | October 10, 2011 at 02:36 AM
Thak you for sharing them with us , I think it's worth reading
Posted by: Evering2010 | October 08, 2011 at 12:09 AM
I think that this post is very good because has useful information.
Posted by: LouisVuitton | September 28, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Achievement presents the only genuine delight in life
Posted by: LouisVuitton | September 28, 2011 at 01:54 AM
An informative blog! Like this concept but don't have Google's budget? Here is a small company story that pre-dates this billboard by over a decade.
Posted by: Jake Gyllenhaal | September 26, 2011 at 03:16 AM
I wish I had been clever enough to answer that riddle. Of course this goes to show why Im not working at Google...one day. one day....
Posted by: replica rolex watches | September 22, 2011 at 01:45 AM
Google is amazing! what a great idea!
Posted by: juicy couture outlet | September 21, 2011 at 01:10 AM
Interest post ;) Don't know this for Google answer :)
Posted by: rencontre serieuse | September 21, 2011 at 12:57 AM
I am interested in it for a long time! The discussion an on going discussion and analysis of the moral the fact that this is so ought to be an embarrassment to white liberals who are die.
Posted by: Camarad | August 25, 2011 at 11:56 PM
The discussion an on going discussion and analysis of the moral the fact that this is so ought to be an embarrassment to white liberals who are die. Thanks for sharing informative post.
Posted by: UGGs On Sale | August 18, 2011 at 07:01 PM
"TheScotch priest shouted," This is homesick, or is he just old and tired? "When we dropped to music Kaer Strom said that in the
Posted by: discount uggs | August 11, 2011 at 06:48 PM
i looks like that fucking freak homeless thing behind the winkies in mulholland drive. or like that poster that says "this is what would happen if you outsides looked like your insides from smoking" ... dirty boho homo
Posted by: uggs.com | July 22, 2011 at 06:17 PM
Today the quality of our natural environment has become an important issue. The world population is rising so quickly that the world has become too crowded.
Posted by: Coach Factory Online | July 16, 2011 at 12:04 AM
Your work is really looking good,I suggest that you take the help of Software development India to develop a software, helping you with the designing work.
Posted by: Running Barefoot | July 01, 2011 at 06:01 PM
Your work is really looking good,I suggest that you take the help of Software development India to develop a software, helping you with the designing work.
Posted by: Running Barefoot | July 01, 2011 at 06:00 PM
thank you for sharing this interesting post :)
Posted by: Forex | June 30, 2011 at 05:21 AM
A great post, thanks for taking the time to share, continued success to your site in the future! GOOD Work!!!
Posted by: ebook library | April 16, 2011 at 08:54 AM
LOL, what's with that billboard. It sucks but somehow funny.
Posted by: usb air card | April 12, 2011 at 09:05 PM
that bill board is pretty funny and I just searched it too. Working at google would be awesome! Right now I am working at a company that does knife making still pretty cool. great blog and keep up the good work!
Posted by: pirates of Caribbean 4 | April 12, 2011 at 05:21 AM
that's a good news!
Posted by: casino gratuit | March 04, 2011 at 09:04 AM