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Microsoft + Yahoo: Still Not Sexy to Job Applicants?

Combo may not aid companies' recruiting image

By Laila Weir, Newser User

Posted Feb 4, 2008 2:52 PM CST

(Newser) – Among the many uncertainties about a Microsoft-Yahoo marriage is whether the combined company would gain any sex appeal in the Silicon Valley recruiting market, reports the New York Times. If both are washed up compared to job fair belles like Google and Facebook, would joining help them prevail in the more-competitive-than-ever race for talent?

Not according to one Stanford computer science student, who said a Microsoft-Yahoo coupling “definitely decreases my interest in either company.” As one tech exec put it, “Engineers here want to work on tomorrow’s technology, not yesterday’s.” Commentators also questioned both companies’ cool factor. But one Yahoo employee said the chance to beat Google was enough to keep him on board.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates smiles during his keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 6, 2008. Google Inc. says Microsoft Corp. could use its proposed $42 billion acquisition... (Associated Press)

A Yahoo worker walks into Yahoo headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008. Microsoft Corp. has pounced on the slumping Internet icon with an unsolicited takeover offer of $44.6 billion... (Associated Press)

The Yahoo Center office building is seen in Santa Monica, Calif. Friday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) (Associated Press)

This combination of two photos shows Microsoft founder Bill Gates, left, and Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang. Microsoft Corp. on Friday, Feb. 1, 2008 pounced on slumping Internet icon Yahoo Inc. with an unsolicited... (Associated Press)

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Microsoft + Yahoo: Still Not Sexy to Job Applicants?

Combo may not aid companies' recruiting image

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