Working in Google

eth0 · 25-06-2012 10:43PM

DB21 wrote: »

I bet you think iOS is the best thing since sliced bread.

No, far too locked down for my liking. So I put up with android instead

Magenta · 25-06-2012 10:44PM

EdenHazard wrote: »

I've heard a few people on here make fun of the types who work in Google, what's the culture like in that freak house?

Deleted User wrote: »

Why would someone make fun of anyone that works for Google? Surely they would be among the best companies to have on your CV!

Exactly. OP, what is it you're doing with your life that's so great?
PS, calling someone a freak just because they're probably smarter and more successful than you smacks of a Junior Cert student who is jealous that he'll never get the grades the "weirdos" do.

1ZRed · 25-06-2012 10:48PM

DB21 wrote: »

I bet you think iOS is the best thing since sliced bread.

I would have liked to compliment Google but my iPhone just won't let me!:(

Supermensch · 25-06-2012 10:54PM

Would rather work for Valve

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1074301/Valve_Handbook_LowRes.pdf

Duggys Housemate · 25-06-2012 10:56PM

Valve seems nuts

25-06-2012 10:59PM

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

It may look great on your cv, but I think the negative attitude to Google is based on the fact that you're supposed to make the job your absolute life. Hence all the benefits like the 'play' areas and the subsidised/free meals. The idea is that you stay there well past your normal working hours.

Google isn't the only job that is like that. Someone I know works for the BBC and they brought me on a tour of the Television Centre in London; there's a massive restaurant, bars, full gym, sleeping areas. They're the kind of jobs where you have to invest a lot of time there/work crazy hours, so I understand their wanting to make their staff comfortable as if it wasn't, they'd likely have a huge staff turnover.

mikemac1 · 25-06-2012 11:02PM

While people occasionally choose to push themselves to work some extra hours at times when something big is going out the door, for the most part working overtime for extended periods indicates a fundamental failure in plan- ning or communication.

If this happens at Valve, it’s a sign that something needs to be reevaluated and corrected. If you’re looking around wondering why people aren’t in “crunch mode,” the answer’s pretty simple.

The thing we work hardest at is hiring good people, so we want them to stick around and have a good balance between work and family and the rest of the important stuff in life.

Valve speak the truth

Some people hang around the office all the time thinking it makes them looks dedicated.
Not at all, make them look inefficent, it takes them 10 hours to do what everyone else can do in 8.

Do your job, work hard and then get out the door in the evening, you are no use to anyone if you are tired and not fresh

Duggys Housemate · 25-06-2012 11:03PM

mikemac1 wrote: »

Valve speak the truth

Some people hang around the office all the time thinking it makes them looks dedicated.
Not at all, make them look inefficent, it takes them 10 hours to do what everyone else can do in 8.

Do your job and then get out the door in the evening, you are no use to anyone if you are tired and not fresh

With some exceptions - end of projects - I agree.

EdenHazard · 25-06-2012 11:21PM

Magenta wrote: »

Exactly. OP, what is it you're doing with your life that's so great?
PS, calling someone a freak just because they're probably smarter and more successful than you smacks of a Junior Cert student who is jealous that he'll never get the grades the "weirdos" do.

I'm as weird as they come, so im not slagging off anyone

Mountainlad · 26-06-2012 12:00AM

They have hammocks for the employees. I want a hammock!

Eoin · 26-06-2012 12:03AM

Unique User Name wrote: »

2 of the people that I work with now came from Google. They said that the free food is great and everybody gains weight in the beginning. After a while they got sick of the pool tables and other gimmicks. They also mentioned that they had to work quite long hours and sometimes at weekends. Another thing they said was that it's quite a difficult place to progress in.

Yep, nearly all the perks I've heard of are just flimsy excuses to make it easier for people to stay in work longer. Free pizza and laundry facilities etc are all well and good, but I'm happier to go home on time.

It's probably a great place to work if you're young, into technology and don't have any family commitments.

It's impressive how they manage to get their staff to really buy into the brand.

Immaculate Pasta · 26-06-2012 12:07AM

I've heard a rumour that there's a door on the top floor of the Google office in Dublin which is named "I'm feeling lucky". And if anyone dares go through it they just walk into an empty elevator shaft :eek:. May or may not be true...

Naomi00 · 26-06-2012 12:32AM

Magenta wrote: »

Exactly. OP, what is it you're doing with your life that's so great?
PS, calling someone a freak just because they're probably smarter and more successful than you smacks of a Junior Cert student who is jealous that he'll never get the grades the "weirdos" do.

Working in IT doesn't mean you're smarter than anyone else.

If it did, there wouldn't be such a huge number of people who work in IT.

Duggys Housemate · 26-06-2012 12:34AM

Naomi00 wrote: »

Magenta wrote: »

Exactly. OP, what is it you're doing with your life that's so great?
PS, calling someone a freak just because they're probably smarter and more successful than you smacks of a Junior Cert student who is jealous that he'll never get the grades the "weirdos" do.

Working in IT doesn't mean you're smarter than anyone else.

If it did, there wouldn't be such a huge number of people who work in IT.

We were talking about high end IT - the people who write google maps and android and search etc. of course they are smarter than average.

padd b1975 · 26-06-2012 12:42AM

Duggys Housemate wrote: »

Hmm, google actually allows a day a week for your own stuff. QUOTE]
I have 2 days per week to do my own stuff.
Its called the weekend.

Duggys Housemate · 26-06-2012 12:44AM

padd b1975 wrote: »

Duggys Housemate wrote: »

Hmm, google actually allows a day a week for your own stuff. QUOTE]
I have 2 days per week to do my own stuff.
Its called the weekend.

And if you were smart enough to work for google you would have 3 days per week to do your own stuff, one paid.

Rezident · 26-06-2012 09:32PM

They used to sit on space hoppers in the board room up there. All the free food and perks are great but I prefer going home early.

For Forks Sake · 26-06-2012 10:33PM

Mountainlad wrote: »

They have hammocks for the employees. I want a hammock!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVoTzON8WMs

Toby Take a Bow · 27-06-2012 05:36PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Google isn't the only job that is like that. Someone I know works for the BBC and they brought me on a tour of the Television Centre in London; there's a massive restaurant, bars, full gym, sleeping areas. They're the kind of jobs where you have to invest a lot of time there/work crazy hours, so I understand their wanting to make their staff comfortable as if it wasn't, they'd likely have a huge staff turnover.

That's one way of looking at it. However, it's never stated by the companies that this is why they're doing it. They're considered 'perks' of working for the company when really what they're there for is to get the employees to consider that working according to normal hours is considered unacceptable.

c_man · 27-06-2012 10:41PM

As a developer I can think of places I'd prefer to work over them tbh. Their interview process just puts me off entirely. If you don't know whether to hire someone or not after 12 rounds over 5 months*, either your process is broken or all your interviewers are grossly incompetent.

*After this, friend was told "we're not saying no. But the job has been filled"

Madam_X · 27-06-2012 10:53PM

Seems a class place to work in some ways but yeah the "caring" work/life overlapping thing - no thanks. Very Hank Scorpio/Globex Corporation.
Working there doesn't make a person automatically a weirdo though.