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I am in contact with several googlers, and I’ve asked if they were aware of google’s reputation, and if it had impacted them directly. All said that they knew p

by jakear 7y ago

I am in contact with several googlers, and I’ve asked if they were aware of google’s reputation, and if it had impacted them directly. All said that they knew people perceived google as shutting down products often, but their own projects had never been shut down. They also said that google upper management was aware of it, and “was doing something about it”.

bscphil 7y ago
>but their own projects had never been shut down. Ironically this agrees pretty well with what your parent comment said: > the Google employees that read HN understand and even agree with this sentiment ... people are more likely to get promoted for shipping something new (rather than improving something that already exists) If the Google elite like your product, it gets integrated into everything and you get promoted. You probably stay at Google long term. If your products are the ones that get cut, are you likely to be a long term Googler? Google is an exercise in selection bias for a group of people who don't understand supporting a product long-term.
- lrem 7y ago
  I understand both supporting a product long-term and selection bias. I also intend to be a long-term Googler, despite having been struck twice by leadership deciding my team no longer fits their picture, no matter the technical merit. Also: you can get promoted for a cancelled project, unless you're at the level where keeping the VP from cancelling it is within your duties.
JeremyBanks 7y ago
Management has been "doing something about it" for almost ten years, and that "something" is "nothing" because they're utterly dysfunctional on almost every level, outside of pure technical skill in the few areas they lead. It's a depressing demoralizing disaster of a company to be inside, and they show no actual signs of changing course.
- woah 7y ago
  What area do they lead? Is it the same area (search) in which having massive stockpiles of data is a huge technical advantage?
  - selectodude 7y ago
    AdWords?
dredmorbius 7y ago
but their own projects had never been shut down Survivor bas.

by jakear 7y ago

bscphil 7y ago

>but their own projects had never been shut down. Ironically this agrees pretty well with what your parent comment said: > the Google employees that read HN understand and even agree with this sentiment ... people are more likely to get promoted for shipping something new (rather than improving something that already exists) If the Google elite like your product, it gets integrated into everything and you get promoted. You probably stay at Google long term. If your products are the ones that get cut, are you likely to be a long term Googler? Google is an exercise in selection bias for a group of people who don't understand supporting a product long-term.

lrem 7y ago
I understand both supporting a product long-term and selection bias. I also intend to be a long-term Googler, despite having been struck twice by leadership deciding my team no longer fits their picture, no matter the technical merit. Also: you can get promoted for a cancelled project, unless you're at the level where keeping the VP from cancelling it is within your duties.

JeremyBanks 7y ago

Management has been "doing something about it" for almost ten years, and that "something" is "nothing" because they're utterly dysfunctional on almost every level, outside of pure technical skill in the few areas they lead. It's a depressing demoralizing disaster of a company to be inside, and they show no actual signs of changing course.

woah 7y ago
What area do they lead? Is it the same area (search) in which having massive stockpiles of data is a huge technical advantage?
- selectodude 7y ago
  AdWords?

dredmorbius 7y ago

but their own projects had never been shut down Survivor bas.