"I would probably still be [at Microsoft] if they didn't lay me off," during an interview at . "But two hours after I got laid off, Google called me and several other big companies called."

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Dodge became the developer advocate at Google, and now treks across the country looking for innovative startups that Google can partner with, sign business deals with, invest in, or even acquire. "We find companies that are building [on top of Google platforms] and we help them be successful."

It's roughly the same job Dodge performed at Microsoft, where he spent five years. But working for Google is quite a bit different than working for Microsoft.

"The job is the same," says Dodge, who's enjoyed a three-decade career in tech with such companies as Digital, Compaq, AltaVista and Napster. "I'm still working with developers and startups and venture capitalists and finding companies. The environment is what's different. Google is younger, and more eclectic and kind of fun and funky. Microsoft is older and has a more traditional structure, but that just comes with the territory. When Google is 35 years old we may be a different company too."