Giant of the times

At about 9:25 a.m., Li Zetian and Bill Gates came to the Boston office of DEC to apply. Sure enough, DEC sent a plane to pick up the applicants and take them to the company headquarters. It can be seen from this that DEC attaches great importance to talents. No wonder it has become the number one challenger to the blue giant IBM. In this era, IBM is the undisputed king and overlord in the computer field! The combined share of all computer manufacturers in the world is less than a quarter of IBM's.

There were not many applicants in the Boston office, but when he arrived at the DEC headquarters, Li Zetian was surprised. There were at least more than two hundred applicants. Of course, these people applied for different positions. Those who applied for computer engineers were all brought into a hall. Li Zetian counted 37 people, and he and Bill Gates were the two youngest among them all.

Subsequently, the examiner issued a test paper to each person and conducted an on-site written test. Those with a score of 80 points can enter the interview stage.

The paper was handed in an hour later, and both Li Zetian and Bill Gates received full marks.

In addition, five people scored more than 80 points and also entered the interview.

Those who fail will wait outside, and after the recruitment is over, the company will arrange for them to leave.

At this time, whoever's name is called by the examiner will go to the office next door for an interview.

The first person was quickly called into the office.

The examiner pointed to the computer on the table and said: "There is a programming question on it. If you can complete it within 10 minutes, we can talk about the company's treatment!"

After 10 minutes, the person did not complete the procedural question and walked out of the office frustrated.

After the second person entered the office, it took him 9 minutes and 25 seconds to barely pass.

The examiner smiled and said, "Well done! You will be a member of DEC Company from now on, with an annual salary of US$13,000. What do you think?"

"No problem, no problem!" The man agreed happily.

In 1970, the average annual wage in the United States was only $9,400. An annual salary of $13,000 is a very good income. DEC has a lot of money and attaches great importance to talents. It is normal for the salary to be higher.

The third person then came to the office, but unfortunately, he failed to complete the task within the specified time.

The fourth person's time was 8 minutes and 07 seconds, and the examiner gave him an additional $1,000, giving him an annual salary of $15,000.

The fifth person was even more powerful, taking 7 minutes and 45 seconds, but the examiner also offered him an annual salary of US$15,000.

Then it was Bill Gates' turn. He only took 6 minutes and 05 seconds, which shocked the examiners.

"Are you Bill Gates? You are indeed a computer genius from Seattle. I heard that there was a problem with the software of the automated and computerized TRW project of the HSD state power grid, and it was you and Allen who solved it?!" The host sitting in the middle Examiner Jerry Philemon spoke.

"how do you know?"

"I have a friend who works there and recommended you two to me. Huh? It's written on your resume that you are now studying at Harvard University!"

"Yes, that's right. So I can't be a full-time employee of DEC, but I can do better than a full-time employee of DEC! The school has computers, and I can use the school's computer resources to complete projects assigned by the company! In addition, , I have a telephone installed in my dormitory, you can call me or send me an email!"

The examiner thought for a while and said: "Okay, but since you are working part-time, your annual salary will be a little less than that of a full-time employee..."

"Mr. Philemon, although I still have to study, I promise that I can do better than most full-time employees, so my salary should be higher than them!" Bill Gates interrupted

Jerry Philemon laughed and asked, "How do you guarantee that? Do you have enough working hours?"

"But I can program faster than them!"

"Okay, if you can complete our designated projects ahead of schedule, you can get the same salary as them!"

"Mr. Philemon, it's a higher salary than them!" Bill Gates corrected.

"Okay, no problem. As long as you have this ability, our DEC company can still afford the money!"

After Bill Gates signed a contract and left the office with a victorious smile, several examiners in the office were full of praise for him.

"Bill Gates is really a rare computer genius! And he is very stubborn and confident!"

"Yes, DEC company just lacks such talents. When he graduates, we must recruit him to our company!"

"Even an annual salary of 20,000 US dollars is no problem!"

"..."

Finally it was Li Zetian's turn.

After he walked into the office, the examiner also asked him to complete the program questions on the computer within 10 minutes.

Li Zetian did not solve the problem immediately, but asked: "How long did it take Bill Gates to solve this problem?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I want to know how long it took him, and it took me less time to solve this problem than he did!"

The examiner shook his head, feeling that Li Zetian was speaking too loudly, but he still answered the question: "6 minutes and 05 seconds!"

"Then I only need 5 minutes!"

"Okay, then you can start solving the problems, and we'll see what happens!" The examiner Jerry Philemon couldn't help but feel funny, and immediately ordered his assistant, "Charlie, pour me a cup of hot coffee. I'll drink the coffee while I wait. Stay!"

"Okay!" A young assistant quickly made Jerry Philemon a cup of hot coffee.

The coffee was too hot, and Jerry Philemon didn't drink it right away.

At this time, the sound of typing on the keyboard could be heard in the office. The sound was like percussion, crackling and continuous.

However, after a while, the sound stopped suddenly!

"I'm done!" Li Zetian turned his head and looked at the examiner Jerry Philemon and said. The examiner, Jerry Philemon, was holding a coffee cup, blowing on the hot air and taking a sip of coffee. Suddenly I heard Li Zetian say "It's done." I couldn't help but be stunned. I forgot to blow away the heat of the coffee before drinking it, and ended up getting burned.

Jerry Philemon felt his mouth hurt and immediately put the coffee cup on the table. At this time, he stepped forward and looked at the time for doing the questions.

4 minutes and 21 seconds! ! !

Jerry Philemon was immediately shocked!

Li Zetian saw that the other party was burned by the coffee, and couldn't help but smile to himself, "In ancient times, Guan Yu killed Hua Xiong with warm wine, but now I, Li Zetian, shock the examiner with my hot coffee!!!"

After Jerry Philemon came to his senses, he looked at Li Zetian and praised: "Not bad, not bad, you performed very well, you are the best among them all!" It says on your resume that you are also studying at Harvard University. You are Are you planning to work and study part-time?”

"Yes!"

"Well, no matter whether you are working part-time or not, as long as you can complete the project designated by the company ahead of schedule, I will give you an annual salary of US$24,000. But if the project is not completed in time, the company will deduct a portion of the money accordingly. Okay. Okay, do you still have any questions?"

"No problem, but I have a request!"

"Tell me what you want."

"Can I get one month's salary in advance? I'm so poor right now that I can't even afford food!"

"No problem!" Jerry Philemon nodded and agreed without hesitation. Talents must be recruited. Immediately, Jerry Philemon waved to his assistant and said, "Charlie, come here with two thousand dollars!"

"Okay, Director Philemon."

A few minutes later, Charlie came over with a wad of dollars. During this period, Li Zetian and Jerry Philemon signed a temporary labor contract with no personal restrictions or time limits. Li Zetian could resign whenever he wanted, but there was a confidentiality agreement and the company's projects were not allowed to be disclosed to the outside world.

"Two thousand dollars, count it!"

Li Zetian nodded and took the two thousand dollars handed over by the other party, but he didn't count it and put it directly into his pocket. There was no way the other party could deceive him about this small amount of money.

Jerry Philemon said at this time: "Do you live with Bill Gates?"

"Yes, we are roommates!" Li Zetian replied.

"From now on, you two will work together to complete the projects assigned to you by the company."

"OK, all right!"