Jobs' Swift MIT Hire

A story about how Steve Jobs personally intervened in an interview with an MIT candidate who didn't want to work at Apple, and through his unique personality and decisive action, convinced the candidate to give Apple a chance.

"This guy was at MIT and getting recruited by Apple, but he didn't want to work there. During his interview, Steve Jobs walks in, dismisses the VP, and spends several minutes silently reading the interview questions, scoffing at them. Jobs mutters, 'How would we ever expect somebody interesting to work with us when we ask the most uninteresting questions?'

Jobs looks at the candidate and repeatedly asks 'Who are you?' When the candidate explains he's not interested in working at Apple, Jobs takes him on a walking tour of the campus. Everyone cleared a path around Steve - like he had a gravity field around him. He's giving his keynote-style buildup about great things happening at Apple, takes him to meet Johnny Ive, showing him cool stuff.

The candidate maintains he doesn't want to work there, but Jobs says 'Give me a month. It'll be the best month of your life. I'll pay you triple your normal rate, get you a car, an apartment - just say yes.' The candidate agrees.

Within an hour, everything was arranged through Jennifer - he was designated as a 'Steve hire,' reporting directly to Jobs. They arranged to move all his stuff from Pittsburgh, got him an apartment across the street, and a car. Steve had made his wish come true in just an hour."