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| Angelika/Mike Schilli |
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I had already heard rumors about Yahoo!, but what I learned on the first day really blew me away. It felt like it was suddenly 1996 again, with the internet boom at its peak.
When signing the contract, I already noticed that the HR (Human Resources) people were all completely unconventional. Outwardly, they were the exact opposite of a typical German HR manager, almost hippie-like, but totally sharp and professional. In general, you see this type more often these days in top companies in the Valley: old hippies, people who probably weren't the best in school, but then turned things around and made it big.
In general, the level at Yahoo! is quite a bit higher than at AOL; there are high-caliber people around, it's hard to believe: At my first lunch in the cafeteria, I was introduced to a "Jeremy" along with a dozen other people, and I didn't think much of it until I found out the next day that it was the MySQL guru and author Jeremy Zawodny. Amazing! And also PHP creator Rasmus Lerdorf, a Dane with a Canadian passport, works in our group and regularly joins us for lunch! By the way, someone signals it's time to eat by playing a specific melody on an accordion.
In the introductory class, we were encouraged not to hold back and to assertively push through our ideas. And when, the first few times in the new group, I still asked, "Can we do it this way?" and the answer was always "Yes, of course!" I was truly overwhelmed. Those who know me are aware that sometimes rather unorthodox methods might be used.
Working for Yahoo! instead of AOL has the added advantage that I am no longer associated with questionable business practices, such as the mass distribution of CDs. Moreover, Yahoo! enjoys the complete trust of many people; in fact, people genuinely love Yahoo!
Once I missed the delivery driver at home, so I called the UPS parcel service to have the package delivered not in San Francisco, but at work in Sunnyvale, 50 kilometers away (yes, that's possible in America!). When I gave the new address and mentioned "Yahoo!", the lady on the phone exclaimed happily: "Yahoo! I love it! I'm using it all the time!". I was quite touched by that.
And the gatekeeper at the rocket company Lockheed Martin, through whose premises I am allowed to ride my bike with special permission (much safer than riding along the freeway exits in Silicon Valley), recently called out to me laughing, after I showed my badge: "Yahoooooo!".
The word, by the way, describes the sound that a yodeler makes. A few years ago at Yahoo!, the world record for mass yodeling (with a Guinness Book entry) was set when all the employees gathered in the cafeteria and made yodel-like sounds together.
The company's policy is aimed at providing employees with an environment where they can freely work on crazy ideas. The people are highly motivated, and there are intense discussions on email lists about how to improve the Yahoo! service. In cases of mental and physical exhaustion, there are quiet rooms where one can take a nap.
Additionally, a fitness center, basketball courts, and beach volleyball courts with sand are available. For coffee needs, there is a cafe where baristas (that's what the coffee makers at Starbucks are called) can whip up lattes, espressos, or hot or cold chai for you. And the best part is, it doesn't cost a cent; you just go there with your cup!
If you don't have time to do laundry at home, you can drop off your clothes, which will then be sent to a laundry service for a small fee. The clothes are promptly returned clean and nicely ironed. Once a week, a mobile hairdresser comes to the campus in a bus-like vehicle to cut hair. There's even a mobile dental service that comes once a week if you don't have time to visit a regular dentist. However, I've been skeptical about that so far and will probably continue to visit a conventional dentist.
Oh, and there's something funny to add to my "background check": The specialist actually called my previous employers and even the office at my old university! And even the police in Munich, who confirmed that I was a posterchild citizen. And also my credit report (Rundbrief 05/2004) was obtained to see if my finances are in order. I know all this because I (you can check this box if you agree to the background check) received a copy of the report. It detailed that they kept calling the office at TU Munich forever and no one picked up, hilarious!
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