Microsoft has posted 72 job openings in Washington since their initial layoffs (about 5.000 jobs in 18 months) were announced. They are looking to employ the cream of the crop to get an edge over Google. In particular in the 'Internet search' group and in the adCenter team.

Read more about it here:
MS job postings

I hope they succeed in getting some new tallent!

Seems a little wierd, firing 5.000 people and then immediately hiring 72 new, hopefully!! more tallented people....

Very.. unique approach..

I guess they want only the finest.

I bet they get paid nicely..

yea thats what I am guessing, probably fired a bunch of people in order to be able to afford these highly experienced 72 employees.

5,000 in 18 months? What was the cause of this? Was the failure of Vista the reason for such poor job retention?