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>The screening standards are so strict that a college degree in mechanical engineering wasn't enough for Google software engineer Ihab Awad. >He attended a loc

by phlux 15y ago

>The screening standards are so strict that a college degree in mechanical engineering wasn't enough for Google software engineer Ihab Awad. >He attended a local high school's wood shop class for a semester before earning Broome's clearance. Awad also won Broome's approval to use the welding equipment. --- I'm sorry - but the certificated elitism at Google is just out of hand, having to take a freaking HS woodshop class before using the shop, as opposed to simply having someone show one how to use equipment -- these stories, and the hiring process, they all just become tiresome. It's as if they take the meritocracy on acid... they get a warped sense of reality that only their academic affiliations serve as the measure of a person. Google is a great company, I know plenty of great people who work there -- I also know a good number of people that turned down working there or quit after some time. Not all can live the college social measurement lifestyle forever... (Yes I am jaded about my personal experience with them - but statements like the above are annoying coming from any company)

jnhnum1 15y ago
A few things: Machine shop safety is really important. People die. You need to know how to use the equipment. These "strict" screening standards that Google has are, well, standard for any machine shop. I think it's awesome that they have this stuff available to employees for free at all.
- phlux 15y ago
  Yeah - see my point about having someone on staff train them proper use of the equipment, even if its the guy from the high school. Having the employee take a semester of woodshop at the HS is not bizarre to you at all? Of course it is awesome - but you can also get a TechShop membership for 99 a month, and take bad ass classes as well. Though, I am sure the google classes will get even batter with time... However - I stand by my point.
  - jnhnum1 15y ago
    Yes, I agree that it would be ideal if Google had staff to train employees on the use of the machines. Hopefully they're moving in that direction. But, I get the sense that right now they just have one busy foreman who is doing all he can by restricting access to those who have demonstrated they know how to use the equipment. I'm sure the employee could have also taken his classes at the TechShop and then gotten certified at Google.
Groxx 15y ago
>Broome said there have been no injuries in the workshops so far. With 300+ people using them, that's a very very very good testament to their screening process.
MatthewB 15y ago
Agreed. Facebook is pretty much the same way. All of these companies are very incestual with hiring practices. If you went to Stanford or Berkley, you're pretty much guaranteed a job if you want it.

by phlux 15y ago

jnhnum1 15y ago

A few things: Machine shop safety is really important. People die. You need to know how to use the equipment. These "strict" screening standards that Google has are, well, standard for any machine shop. I think it's awesome that they have this stuff available to employees for free at all.

phlux 15y ago
Yeah - see my point about having someone on staff train them proper use of the equipment, even if its the guy from the high school. Having the employee take a semester of woodshop at the HS is not bizarre to you at all? Of course it is awesome - but you can also get a TechShop membership for 99 a month, and take bad ass classes as well. Though, I am sure the google classes will get even batter with time... However - I stand by my point.
- jnhnum1 15y ago
  Yes, I agree that it would be ideal if Google had staff to train employees on the use of the machines. Hopefully they're moving in that direction. But, I get the sense that right now they just have one busy foreman who is doing all he can by restricting access to those who have demonstrated they know how to use the equipment. I'm sure the employee could have also taken his classes at the TechShop and then gotten certified at Google.

Groxx 15y ago

>Broome said there have been no injuries in the workshops so far. With 300+ people using them, that's a very very very good testament to their screening process.

MatthewB 15y ago

Agreed. Facebook is pretty much the same way. All of these companies are very incestual with hiring practices. If you went to Stanford or Berkley, you're pretty much guaranteed a job if you want it.