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1 Year, 11 Months at Google University

jmilinovich.com

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Re: 1 Year, 11 Months at Google University

#21

Post by ikailan »

qasar wrote: post #12

What's fascinating for a company like Google in SV is no matter how good things are, you have to constantly fight to keep folks like John from trying their hand at early stage life. Overall I think it's great for the ecosystem. This type of non-traditional churn (where employers not only have to be the best of the "Big Co.s" but better than doing something completely on your) own pushes everyone to create environment…

Worked with John briefly when he was with analytics. Great energy and I wish him the best (bummed he is leaving, though)! He's dead on about how much Google invests in their employees. The value of the things I have learned and am still continuing to learn here have been nearly unmatched. The best reason to join Google is that there's always something to learn, and some of the best mentors in the world to help you learn those things.

Re: 1 Year, 11 Months at Google University

#22

Post by weareconvo »

jmilinovich wrote: post #18
weareconvo wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also he got stuck on the Internal Tools team, which is basically the gulag as far as getting noticed by the higher-ups and promoted.

not true- I was on the Google Analytics team and the Google Offers team before that.

You mentioned "internal programs", I just assumed.

By the way, I worked at Google for 5+ years, then quit to do a startup. It's hard, but you're in good company. Word of advice: come up with a clever/funny answer ahead of time, because you're going to get a lot of "Wait, why would you quit Google?!?"

Re: 1 Year, 11 Months at Google University

#23

Post by jmilinovich »

weareconvo wrote: post #22
jmilinovich wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

not true- I was on the Google Analytics team and the Google Offers team before that.

You mentioned "internal programs", I just assumed. By the way, I worked at Google for 5+ years, then quit to do a startup. It's hard, but you're in good company. Word of advice: come up with a clever/funny answer ahead of time, because you're going to get a lot of "Wait, why would you quit Google?!?"

That's great advice - the confluence of the opportunity, the team, and personal circumstance made this the perfect time for me to go after my dreams.

Cheers, John

Re: 1 Year, 11 Months at Google University

#25

Post by malandrew »

saraid216 wrote: post #15
ecspike wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

2 years isn't such a short time in the Valley. At some places, those are the old-timers.

I know it's not what you mean, but that implies there's not much to learn in the Valley.

Not really. You learn most of what you're going to learn on a job in the first two years. There was some research into this specifically done for software engineers, but for the life of me I can't recall where I saw this research. The amount you learn declines rapidly after 2 years and bottoms out around 4 years. IMHO, most companies should be actively looking to place very autodidactic employees in a novel role every two years or so to keep them stimulated.
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