Want to work for Google but don't know how to rise above the 1,500 resumés it receives each day? Warsaw University student Marek Cygan got noticed by entering the search-technology company's third annual computer-programming competition--the 2005 Google Code Jam--and scoring the $10,000 grand prize, beating 14,500 competitors from 32 countries.

Beyond celebrating geek prowess, the contest is both a clever recruiting event and a recruiting event for the clever. "We've hired some people through the Google Code Jam, and we're continually exploring opportunities to find more bright, talented engineers to join our team," a Google spokeswoman explains via E-mail.

For Cygan, the real test is still to come. "If he's interested in pursuing a job opportunity at Google, he will go through the same interview process as any other candidate," the spokeswoman says. At least he's sure to land the interview.