As unemployment rises, and competition for jobs gets
increasingly stiffer, companies are often spoilt for choice with the
creme-de-la-creme of potential employees. With an average of over 30 applicants
for each position in London, many businesses are able to appoint higher caliber
candidates than ever before.
Many firms are employing individuals capable of innovation
and ‘thinking outside the box’ through purposefully hiring convicted criminals.
Whilst on first consideration this may appear an odd choice, it appears to be
producing the desired results. Some of the more high profile appointments are
rumoured to include George Hotz, a hacker hired (reportedly) by facebook.
Whilst not officially a convicted
criminal, the youngster has settled a previous case out of court.
Many of the biggest names in technology are reputed to have hired hackers in
the past too. Whilst few employers would openly admit to it, it is commonly
believed that Apple, Microsoft, and Google have done so. Security firms and
government agencies such as GCHQ in the UK even entice applicants by setting
challenges for wannabe applicants to solve.
Whilst hiring, or even associating with hired hackers and convicted criminals
is a risk for and company, it is a calculated risk considered by many to pay
off. Not only will it create a certain amount of ‘buzz’ online, if the incentives are deemed sufficient
by the individual, they may choose to invest in the company. Being able to
manipulate the latest technology to a firms advantage, as well as the ability
to see the bigger picture and truly improve and redesign the world in which we
live is a genuinely exciting prospect.
In truth, employment in any context becomes a question of
risk; how much a firm is content on risking, and how much an employee is
prepared to risk in favour of, or indeed against, that position of trust.
Tero Pollanen is a online security specialist with years of experience
on advising organisations on online fraud and security, he has experience from
both sides of the security world.
