Apple headhunters are actively seeking out former Google Maps employees to help grow the company’s own iOS 6 Maps app.
According to a source at TechCrunch Apple headhunters are specifically going after workers who were on contract with Google and not permanent employees. The insider also reveals that former Google workers have been overall excited to join the Apple team and work on a new mapping project that is in desperate need of help.
The source says they learned of the hiring practice when they were working as a Google Maps contractors. The source says many Google employees became bored as the company switched from an outdoor mapping platform to indoor mapping.
If the rumor is true Apple has offered some employees upwards of $85,000 per year to work for Apple along with covering all moving expenses to relocate from the east coast.
Apple looking for new maps employees is nothing new, the company has been actively placing job ads for months. According to the source the company is more desperate to find employees now that iOS 6 mapping software has witnessed a disastrous release.
The unnamed source tells TechCrunch:
“Apple has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to build a robust mapping platform to counter Google Maps, so it doesn’t surprise me that it’s going out of its way to lure former and current Google Maps employees. At Google Maps, we know what data’s important, rendering priorities, keyword searches, and how the user experience is suppose to be. However, Apple needs to find a way to get its own 5 million miles of street view data, partner with the right folks, and spend a fortune on licensed data -– which it can.”