A little known technology company called VMware just got a lot more famous in Silicon Valley and the financial world after its monstrously successful stock IPO - raising just over $1 billion.

And now, just as expected, the company is looking to grow... quickly, by expanding the talent in its employee pool. And with such a large infusion of cash on hand, the company is now able to go after the very talent that has been, for the most part, monopolized in the area by Google.

It is being reported that there are easily some 500+ jobs just waiting to be filled in the Palo Alto area at VMware. And as a throwback to the 90s, these jobs are rumored to be paying a starting salary of $130-160k with stock options at a current strike price of around $66.

VMware has always had "interesting" technology. And this has been one offering to help bring people onboard. However, now, with cash in hand, the company is able to rival Google on compensation packages like no other company in the area. Throw in the fact that this "interesting" technology has gone mainstream thanks to its financial success in the stock market, and you have quite a compelling argument to draw people in.

Interestingly enough, both Google and VMware have moved away from simply offering their "core" product. Google is no longer just a search engine. And VMware is no longer just a hypervisor or virtualization platform. Both companies are searching hard for talented programmers because they have each moved into the application space as well, adding to their initial product offerings and making both companies much more than that from which they started.

Watch out Google! Hiring and keeping talent just got a little more difficult.

Posted by David Marshall on August 22, 2007 04:40 AM