3 ms·

Maybe there were additional reasons, but tbh the answer you gave was very bad and probably would have been grounds enough to not hire you. >"Sure, everyone thi

by gretch 8y ago

Maybe there were additional reasons, but tbh the answer you gave was very bad and probably would have been grounds enough to not hire you. >"Sure, everyone thinks you're a tech company or a search company or whatever - but Google is an advertising company, and thats it. All the other stuff distracts from the fact that youre just the most profitable ad company." When given the opportunity to demonstrate nuanced thinking, you've boiled down a really complex and large thing into a simple platitude. "Google is an advertising company, and thats it". Really, is that the full story? You truly think that? I mean if that were the case and you wanted to be genuine you could at least dive to another level and explain why or how. And for reference it probably would have been okay to say 'No, I'm not sure what kind of company Google is. I know that you guys do X and Y, but I know there's some other stuff too, but I don't have any insight because I don't work here'

samstave 8y ago
This was ten years ago, so I don't even care about it any longer..
smt88 8y ago
In terms of revenue and profit, Google was and is an ad company. A concise answer to the question couldn't really be much more accurate.
- gretch 8y ago
  I think you're making the point with your own answer. You say "in terms of revenue and profit...". Oh! Great point. I'd say you are right. What if you were to frame it in other terms? I mean if the entirety of Google can be summed up in 3 sentences, what topics in the world do you consider to have depth? Imo it's looking at a Shakespeare sonnet and saying 'yeah it's fucking poem'
  - smt88 8y ago
    They asked him what kind of company Google is. They weren't asking for an essay on a Shakespeare sonnet or anything close to that end of the spectrum.
    - gretch 8y ago
      You don't think the kind of reply he gave is pretty combative for the interviewing for a job at said company? You recommend that as a path forward for people who interview at your company or at Google in the future? Look I understand sometimes people don't want to work at a certain company. But typically it's better to decline the interview than to show up and be smug or righteous about it.
      - smt88 8y ago
        So his options are 1) be delusional about a company's product, or 2) work for another company? No one at Google has qualms about working at an ad company? No one at Facebook does? For some people, a job is a job. It doesn't have to be a calling or a mission. I personally wouldn't work in ad-tech for personal reasons, but clearly most of our industry would. Are 100% of those people fine with what their company does? Clearly at Facebook they aren't. Honesty isn't combative, and if the interviewers say that honest answer in that way, then it would reflect their own misgivings about Google's business model, wouldn't it?
        gretch 8y ago
        I understand your ideological stance, I really do But read his reply again: >"Sure, everyone thinks you're a tech company or a search company or whatever - but Google is an advertising company, and thats it. All the other stuff distracts from the fact that youre just the most profitable ad company." "an advertising company, _and thats it_" (emphasis mine) "your _just_ the most profitable ad company" (emphasis mine) Really? It's that far in 1 direction If you really think that, fine it's your opinion and you are entitled to that, but I encourage you to seek multiple perspectives in the future. I've already conceded that google is an ad company from a rev perspective since it's 87% ads. But you can't concede to me (the interviewer) that maybe there's something else going on and your legit view of the other people at the company is that they are just "distractions"? Like seriously, you don't have to put up these tough walls. I'm just an internet stranger. Just be real for a moment. Is that what you really think? It's the last time I'll ask.

by gretch 8y ago

samstave 8y ago

This was ten years ago, so I don't even care about it any longer..

smt88 8y ago

In terms of revenue and profit, Google was and is an ad company. A concise answer to the question couldn't really be much more accurate.

gretch 8y ago
I think you're making the point with your own answer. You say "in terms of revenue and profit...". Oh! Great point. I'd say you are right. What if you were to frame it in other terms? I mean if the entirety of Google can be summed up in 3 sentences, what topics in the world do you consider to have depth? Imo it's looking at a Shakespeare sonnet and saying 'yeah it's fucking poem'
- smt88 8y ago
  They asked him what kind of company Google is. They weren't asking for an essay on a Shakespeare sonnet or anything close to that end of the spectrum.
  - gretch 8y ago
    You don't think the kind of reply he gave is pretty combative for the interviewing for a job at said company? You recommend that as a path forward for people who interview at your company or at Google in the future? Look I understand sometimes people don't want to work at a certain company. But typically it's better to decline the interview than to show up and be smug or righteous about it.
    - smt88 8y ago
      So his options are 1) be delusional about a company's product, or 2) work for another company? No one at Google has qualms about working at an ad company? No one at Facebook does? For some people, a job is a job. It doesn't have to be a calling or a mission. I personally wouldn't work in ad-tech for personal reasons, but clearly most of our industry would. Are 100% of those people fine with what their company does? Clearly at Facebook they aren't. Honesty isn't combative, and if the interviewers say that honest answer in that way, then it would reflect their own misgivings about Google's business model, wouldn't it?
      - gretch 8y ago
        I understand your ideological stance, I really do But read his reply again: >"Sure, everyone thinks you're a tech company or a search company or whatever - but Google is an advertising company, and thats it. All the other stuff distracts from the fact that youre just the most profitable ad company." "an advertising company, _and thats it_" (emphasis mine) "your _just_ the most profitable ad company" (emphasis mine) Really? It's that far in 1 direction If you really think that, fine it's your opinion and you are entitled to that, but I encourage you to seek multiple perspectives in the future. I've already conceded that google is an ad company from a rev perspective since it's 87% ads. But you can't concede to me (the interviewer) that maybe there's something else going on and your legit view of the other people at the company is that they are just "distractions"? Like seriously, you don't have to put up these tough walls. I'm just an internet stranger. Just be real for a moment. Is that what you really think? It's the last time I'll ask.