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My Job Interview at Google (2008)

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Re: My Job Interview at Google (2008)

#11

Post by cheez »

Rockslide wrote: post #8

Reading that stuff always makes me feel incredibly stupid (or rather clueless). I wouldn't be able to answer most of those questions off the top of my head. Including this weird clock hand question (which is probably some trivial math that might or might not have been taught to me more than a decade ago and which I never ever actually applied since). Then I probably have to remind myself that I'm (halfway successfull…

The purpose of these interviews is to:

1. Find people who fit the current culture

2. For the interviewer to feel better about already having a job at Google. I remember one guy bragging about how much he made.

It's really not to find out if you're good at something. I have been offered jobs at some of the FAANMG companies so I'm not talking out of jealousy or whatever.

Re: My Job Interview at Google (2008)

#12

Post by praptak »

Rockslide wrote: post #8

Reading that stuff always makes me feel incredibly stupid (or rather clueless). I wouldn't be able to answer most of those questions off the top of my head. Including this weird clock hand question (which is probably some trivial math that might or might not have been taught to me more than a decade ago and which I never ever actually applied since). Then I probably have to remind myself that I'm (halfway successfull…

Many people who work at Google feel the same. The impostor syndrome is a recurring motive in in the internal communications.

Re: My Job Interview at Google (2008)

#13

Post by Traster »

>At first I thought I would be applying for a software developer position but after we went through my skillset, the recruiter concluded that I would better fit as an SRE.

I've got to say, I've been contacted by recruiters for Google a few times, and it has always been for SRE roles. I got the distinct impression that it's less about whether my skillset fitted being an SRE, but more that they need lots of SREs and have trouble pursuading people to take that job. I'm sure some people want to be SREs, but Google seems to want Software Engineers to become SREs.

Re: My Job Interview at Google (2008)

#15

Post by fiblye »

Rockslide wrote: post #8

Reading that stuff always makes me feel incredibly stupid (or rather clueless). I wouldn't be able to answer most of those questions off the top of my head. Including this weird clock hand question (which is probably some trivial math that might or might not have been taught to me more than a decade ago and which I never ever actually applied since). Then I probably have to remind myself that I'm (halfway successfull…

Using google products has made me certain that being able to solve math/algorithmic problems and being able to make good software really aren't connected in most cases.

Re: My Job Interview at Google (2008)

#19

Post by funny948 »

Rockslide wrote: post #8

Reading that stuff always makes me feel incredibly stupid (or rather clueless). I wouldn't be able to answer most of those questions off the top of my head. Including this weird clock hand question (which is probably some trivial math that might or might not have been taught to me more than a decade ago and which I never ever actually applied since). Then I probably have to remind myself that I'm (halfway successfull…

I was good before but i did excersize for google interview for 2-3 month.

I actually overdid the learning as i assumed that the coding questions can't be that easy.

But at the end of the day, i'm still not working for google because yes the coding questions are not that hard but you have to convince 5 different people that you are a good fit.

Suddenly you excersize for learning how to know what the interviewer wants from you.

Is that wasted time? Definitly not. Loved the more focus learning approach.

Also, i'm now 10 years working in that industry, you don't stop looking for a new job. That interviewing skill is critical.

Re: My Job Interview at Google (2008)

#20

Post by apta »

Rockslide wrote: post #8

Reading that stuff always makes me feel incredibly stupid (or rather clueless). I wouldn't be able to answer most of those questions off the top of my head. Including this weird clock hand question (which is probably some trivial math that might or might not have been taught to me more than a decade ago and which I never ever actually applied since). Then I probably have to remind myself that I'm (halfway successfull…

It's established that the Google-style interview questions bear no semblance to real world performance or software engineering skills. All they test is the ability to memorize leetcode style questions and regurgitate them during interviews.
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