3 ms·

Wooing the Geeks: Smart Hiring Strategies

4 points by jyothi 17y ago

synnik 17y ago
This is a story from 1998. Before the dotcom era (or at its start), before startups were common knowledge, etc. It shows the absurdity of those days... stupid spending, CEOs who talk well, but offer no value to the product development. Using used-car salesman type leading questions to "Sell" to potential hires. I hope it wasn't posted to imply that it has any bearing on today's reality. But it is a funny flashback to those days when words meant more than substance.
- jyothi 17y ago
  It is indeed light on read. But I do find their HR negotiations way too smart, may be it sounds funny on paper but ask a Trilogian who took that offer I bet he was under a total charm when he said yes. And not many repent that anyway.
nathanb 17y ago
If the alternative is fighting off the glitz and the high-pressure sell from companies like Trilogy, I can see why top students from top schools might find starting their own company an attractive alternative.
PaulMorgan 17y ago
Trilogy hasn't set the world on fire (insurance subsidiary?): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilogy_(company) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilogy_(company) Epiphany got acquired: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany,_Inc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany,_Inc. Byron Krug moved on: http://www.linkedin.com/ppl/webprofile?action=vmi&id=318559&pvs=pp&authToken=DbVT&authType=name&trk=ppro_viewmore&lnk=vw_pprofile http://www.linkedin.com/ppl/webprofile?action=vmi&id=318... Chris Ostroot appears to still be recruiting for Trilogy and 'successfully tapped 33 students from Carnegie Mellon's Class of 1998 -- more than any other technical employer recruited from that university this year. In August, at Trilogy's annual awards banquet (which Trilogians call "prom"), she was named the company's "Superstar" and was awarded a 1999 Saab convertible.' from http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/21/insanity.html?page=0%2C3 http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/21/insanity.html?page=0%...
- jyothi 17y ago
  Trilogy isn't an insurance subsidiary, but yes they did work with a lot of F500 companies in the finance and auto industry saving them millions. As a company it might not have succeeded big way (they are a services company - they won't be sold) though at some point it was worth more than a billion. The best achievement of Trilogy it created a cult and I bet most Trilogians value the Trilogy University experience for their life.

4 points by jyothi 17y ago

This is a story from 1998. Before the dotcom era (or at its start), before startups were common knowledge, etc. It shows the absurdity of those days... stupid spending, CEOs who talk well, but offer no value to the product development. Using used-car salesman type leading questions to "Sell" to potential hires. I hope it wasn't posted to imply that it has any bearing on today's reality. But it is a funny flashback to those days when words meant more than substance.

jyothi 17y ago
It is indeed light on read. But I do find their HR negotiations way too smart, may be it sounds funny on paper but ask a Trilogian who took that offer I bet he was under a total charm when he said yes. And not many repent that anyway.

nathanb 17y ago

If the alternative is fighting off the glitz and the high-pressure sell from companies like Trilogy, I can see why top students from top schools might find starting their own company an attractive alternative.

PaulMorgan 17y ago

Trilogy hasn't set the world on fire (insurance subsidiary?): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilogy_(company) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilogy_(company) Epiphany got acquired: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany,_Inc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany,_Inc. Byron Krug moved on: http://www.linkedin.com/ppl/webprofile?action=vmi&id=318559&pvs=pp&authToken=DbVT&authType=name&trk=ppro_viewmore&lnk=vw_pprofile http://www.linkedin.com/ppl/webprofile?action=vmi&id=318... Chris Ostroot appears to still be recruiting for Trilogy and 'successfully tapped 33 students from Carnegie Mellon's Class of 1998 -- more than any other technical employer recruited from that university this year. In August, at Trilogy's annual awards banquet (which Trilogians call "prom"), she was named the company's "Superstar" and was awarded a 1999 Saab convertible.' from http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/21/insanity.html?page=0%2C3 http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/21/insanity.html?page=0%...

jyothi 17y ago
Trilogy isn't an insurance subsidiary, but yes they did work with a lot of F500 companies in the finance and auto industry saving them millions. As a company it might not have succeeded big way (they are a services company - they won't be sold) though at some point it was worth more than a billion. The best achievement of Trilogy it created a cult and I bet most Trilogians value the Trilogy University experience for their life.