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Google Internal Comics

goomics.net

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Re: Google Internal Comics

#141

Post by darkwater »

bscphil wrote: post #13

I'm not saying this with the intent of harshly criticizing the author, but I admit it's surprising to me that someone (who had other options) would work for 14 years at a company they clearly came to believe was making the world a worse place.

From another HN linked article [1]:

> Since starting at Google in 2007, Cornet's use of art to critique the company has become prolific, with ex-Google manager Claire Stapleton describing him to The Information as the tech firm's "moral bellweather." Cornet published a collection of his work, "Goomics", in 2018.

Having someone with first hand experience and knowledge about your organization and making "fun" of some of the sore points it can actually be good for the Org itself, because you have one more data point about how employees are feeling.

[1] https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/google-carto...

Re: Google Internal Comics

#142

Post by klipt »

ganafagol wrote: post #139
lrem wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work with many brilliant engineers who have been in Google for 5-10 years and are at L4. The pay is good enough if you don't have a large family to support and they simply can't be arsed to play that game.

Complaining at a high level. People with 3 kids make do with jobs at Walmart and McD. "Pay is good enough" yeah sure.

> People with 3 kids make do with jobs at Walmart and McD.

Very difficult in the Bay Area given the housing costs. I guess it's possible if you lucked into a below market rate apartment and qualify for government assistance like Medicaid and food stamps.

Re: Google Internal Comics

#143

Post by manigandham »

lrem wrote: post #123
gonehome wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IIRC (don't work at Google myself, but friends do) - you start out of college as an L3 and are expected to make promo twice to L4 and then L5. Once at L5 it's okay to just stay there and do good work, the pay is still really good and you're not expected to go beyond that unless you want to (and you're capable of it). The main issue I've heard is that to go from L3 -> L5 there are incentives around 'impact' and launch…

I work with many brilliant engineers who have been in Google for 5-10 years and are at L4. The pay is good enough if you don't have a large family to support and they simply can't be arsed to play that game.

How much more is “good enough” when you’re already in the top 1% of the world?

Re: Google Internal Comics

#146

Post by klipt »

bscphil wrote: post #13

I'm not saying this with the intent of harshly criticizing the author, but I admit it's surprising to me that someone (who had other options) would work for 14 years at a company they clearly came to believe was making the world a worse place.

The comics suffer selection bias because "this thing is great" doesn't have as much humor potential as "this thing is broken".

Talking about how awesome Google's main search page is? Not very funny. Making fun of Google's endless list of failed chat apps? Much funnier.

Re: Google Internal Comics

#147

Post by eitland »

darkwater wrote: post #141
bscphil wrote: post #13

I'm not saying this with the intent of harshly criticizing the author, but I admit it's surprising to me that someone (who had other options) would work for 14 years at a company they clearly came to believe was making the world a worse place.

From another HN linked article [1]: > Since starting at Google in 2007, Cornet's use of art to critique the company has become prolific, with ex-Google manager Claire Stapleton describing him to The Information as the tech firm's "moral bellweather." Cornet published a collection of his work, "Goomics", in 2018. Having someone with first hand experience and knowledge about your organization and making "fun" of some o…

> bellweather

For anyone wondering, that words makes a whole lot more sense when written correctly(?) as: bellwether (the sheep carrying the bell).

Re: Google Internal Comics

#148

Post by gcatalfamo »

Is it me or the site navigation makes it really annoying to go through the comics?

Comic sites (e.g. xkcd) usually allow users to navigate sequentially without having to go back a page after each comic.

Re: Google Internal Comics

#149

Post by raxxorrax »

deanCommie wrote: post #108
gravypod wrote: post #14

"Don't focus too much on promotion" - A Billionaire Google Exec https://goomics.net/228/

Counterpoint: At a top company like Google, full of some of the most talented people in the world, there simply won't be enough promotions to go around. And yet, an "average" performer who is happy to build, scale, maintain, and not re-launch a new chat product every 5 years should be rewarded and encouraged to stay and not leave to a competitor. How do you do it? You have to create intrinsic motivation. Twist: You c…

A promotion isn't always good. It comes with responsibilities and you might suddenly spend a lot more time at the company. And not all work is high reaching technical work, much of it is pure interpersonal shit, adhering to formal processes that drive you crazy and justifying yourself against your superiors.

If you like to face hard technical problems, don't rise too high...

Re: Google Internal Comics

#150

Post by lrem »

manigandham wrote: post #143
lrem wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work with many brilliant engineers who have been in Google for 5-10 years and are at L4. The pay is good enough if you don't have a large family to support and they simply can't be arsed to play that game.

How much more is “good enough” when you’re already in the top 1% of the world?

You're top 1% in the world working in a SF McDonald. You're in the top 1% in the US when you're about L7-8 in Google, according to https://www.investopedia.com/personal-finance/how-much-incom... and levels.fyi.
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