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I'm not sure why you feel the need to apologize for and defend google's interviewing practices. they are entitled to interview in whatever way they choose, but

I'm not sure why you feel the need to apologize for and defend google's interviewing practices. they are entitled to interview in whatever way they choose, but you should recognize that it is a highly idiosyncratic process that has been widely criticized by many many many people.

notliketherest 11y ago
It's also helped them become the world's most valuable company and home to some of the world's most brilliant engineers. I'm skeptical of people who critize this process - it's not perfect, what is? But it's worked out well for them I'd say.
- metaphorm 11y ago
  and you're still doing it. do you work at google or something?
notliketherest 11y ago
I can't reply to your other comment but I worked there several years ago. Am I brilliant? No. Did I study my ass off and understand the company's hiring practice in and out BECAUSE I WANTED A JOB THERE? absolutely. I didn't go in with some attitude like this guy in the article and resign myself to failure because of preconceived notions.
- tehwebguy 11y ago
  You are explaining the problem exactly! Author spends their time building software; Hired Google employee spent their time studying to win the interview game.
  - notliketherest 11y ago
    You realize that "winning the interview game" consists of what's called "practicing"? Do you expect to succeed in life by winging it? I'm really taken aback by how many people think they're entitled to passing job interviews without preparing for them.
    - GFischer 11y ago
      The problem is when the interview has absolutely nothing to do with the day to day work the hired employee is expected to do. So someone who wants to be hired has to spend a lot of time and effort learning stuff that are only marginally useful - knowledge isn't bad per se, but it might be a bad allocation of resources. I'm not saying that it is so in Google's case, only that I've seen and participated in interviews where questions had no relevance to the job description.

notliketherest 11y ago

It's also helped them become the world's most valuable company and home to some of the world's most brilliant engineers. I'm skeptical of people who critize this process - it's not perfect, what is? But it's worked out well for them I'd say.

metaphorm 11y ago
and you're still doing it. do you work at google or something?

notliketherest 11y ago

I can't reply to your other comment but I worked there several years ago. Am I brilliant? No. Did I study my ass off and understand the company's hiring practice in and out BECAUSE I WANTED A JOB THERE? absolutely. I didn't go in with some attitude like this guy in the article and resign myself to failure because of preconceived notions.

tehwebguy 11y ago
You are explaining the problem exactly! Author spends their time building software; Hired Google employee spent their time studying to win the interview game.
- notliketherest 11y ago
  You realize that "winning the interview game" consists of what's called "practicing"? Do you expect to succeed in life by winging it? I'm really taken aback by how many people think they're entitled to passing job interviews without preparing for them.
  - GFischer 11y ago
    The problem is when the interview has absolutely nothing to do with the day to day work the hired employee is expected to do. So someone who wants to be hired has to spend a lot of time and effort learning stuff that are only marginally useful - knowledge isn't bad per se, but it might be a bad allocation of resources. I'm not saying that it is so in Google's case, only that I've seen and participated in interviews where questions had no relevance to the job description.