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I suspect it selects for a very particular type of person -- someone who values the opportunity to work for google more than their own time; and consequently re

by biofox 10y ago

I suspect it selects for a very particular type of person -- someone who values the opportunity to work for google more than their own time; and consequently results in employees who are eager and willing to put the company before themselves, work long hours, and not challenge the company's management or policies. It's like a gang initiation: put them through an ordeal to test and cement their loyalty.

cmrdporcupine 10y ago
Googler here, I don't find that long grueling hours is something they select for or that Google is particularily known for. But IMHO the interview process (which I dislike) definitely selects for new-grad types. From my perspective it's very heavily biased against industry-experience types and in favour of people who are comfortable in the "look I can excellently apply what I learned in my Algorithms/Data structure course on a whiteboard without sweating and getting nervous". I should also note that the interview process also puts a lot of burden on Googlers. People, especially senior people, spend a _lot_ of time interviewing.
- maaaats 10y ago
  Yeah, I had an interview where it was blatantly obvious the person doing it didn't want to spend the time. It was a remote interview, somewhat far along the process (e.g. after screening and some technical) via Skype, but sound only, no video. I found that a bit weird not seeing the person I was talking to. But realized during the screen-programming-session the interviewer was busy doing something else, so it was probably why.
notacoward 10y ago
I think it's true that they're filtering for people who value that opportunity, but I'll also note that those people fall into two important categories. First are those who want to work at Google itself. Second are those who want to have Google on their resume, and an extra bucket of money from being overpaid for a few years, as a way to jump-start whatever they do next (including startups). Google is glad to have these ambitious, slightly mercenary types pass through, making contributions while there and then seeding the rest of the industry with allies. If Google were just hiring the lifers their interview process would be even more rigorous but less burdensome and demeaning. They're deliberately selecting for ambition and determination as much as actual talent.

by biofox 10y ago

cmrdporcupine 10y ago

Googler here, I don't find that long grueling hours is something they select for or that Google is particularily known for. But IMHO the interview process (which I dislike) definitely selects for new-grad types. From my perspective it's very heavily biased against industry-experience types and in favour of people who are comfortable in the "look I can excellently apply what I learned in my Algorithms/Data structure course on a whiteboard without sweating and getting nervous". I should also note that the interview process also puts a lot of burden on Googlers. People, especially senior people, spend a _lot_ of time interviewing.

maaaats 10y ago
Yeah, I had an interview where it was blatantly obvious the person doing it didn't want to spend the time. It was a remote interview, somewhat far along the process (e.g. after screening and some technical) via Skype, but sound only, no video. I found that a bit weird not seeing the person I was talking to. But realized during the screen-programming-session the interviewer was busy doing something else, so it was probably why.

notacoward 10y ago

I think it's true that they're filtering for people who value that opportunity, but I'll also note that those people fall into two important categories. First are those who want to work at Google itself. Second are those who want to have Google on their resume, and an extra bucket of money from being overpaid for a few years, as a way to jump-start whatever they do next (including startups). Google is glad to have these ambitious, slightly mercenary types pass through, making contributions while there and then seeding the rest of the industry with allies. If Google were just hiring the lifers their interview process would be even more rigorous but less burdensome and demeaning. They're deliberately selecting for ambition and determination as much as actual talent.