I wouldn't put much weight on what HR thinks. From my (limited) experience with big companies, they play a role not unlike robots - they're there to check if yo

I wouldn't put much weight on what HR thinks. From my (limited) experience with big companies, they play a role not unlike robots - they're there to check if you've met a certain set of criteria, without considering the broader context i.e. how good you actually are at doing your job. Your boss wanted to keep you. That says everything necessary about your suitability for the job. HR departments can sometimes cause companies to lose good people due to ineptness or mindless adherence to policies. It's Google's loss. You made a mistake with the form - but everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Don't be so hard on yourself. As many others have said here, you've got great skills and can now list Google on your resume (and can ask your boss for a reference); you'll be able to find a good job elsewhere soon enough.