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How I (almost) got an internship at Google

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Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#41

Post by waqf »

wahnfrieden wrote: post #35
jbk wrote: post #33

I went through the Google process too and it didn't come out nicely. First, I have had almost no actual CS lessons in my university, because it was more focused on general engineering and IT management than on code writing. However, I've done quite a bit of code in various open source projects and I've touched quite many technologies... I went through the sets of interviews, and I really seemed to work quite well, ev…

Some companies refuse to discuss that on principle as a way to protect themselves from lawsuits. So you shouldn't take that too personally.

Since they doubtless treat everyone that way, I guess you're technically correct that it shouldn't be taken personally.

But the fact that it's only "[s]ome companies" that do that still suggests that it's rude and unprofessional behavior.

Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#42

Post by andrewmunn »

renaudb wrote: post #36
elbenshira wrote: post #3

My story: After my technical phone interviews, I got "accepted" as an intern, meaning I was in the Intern Pool of Rot, where I waded and waited for a team to fish me out. I waded and waded for a couple of months, hoping for a kind suitor. The HR woman always told me that she was "optimistic" about my prospects, so I rejected offers from other companies. Then a really cool opportunity came, and I accepted that offer b…

Same here. Twice in a row. First time, I was told a manager would call me to explain me which team I was being matched with. I received the call to tell me I had an offer... two days after the deadline set by the University. And it is not like this deadline is unknown to employers. Second time, again, I received an offer. This time, I had to call, one week before the deadline, after two weeks of hearing nothing from…

Yeah I agree about Google making you feel like crap. Another thing, they don't pay for the relocation flight or provide corporate housing, so before my first internship with Google I was pretty bummed out by the whole process, but after actually working there I can't wait to get back.

Renaud, I think you should give them another shot if you're still up for it.

Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#43

Post by davidw »

jbk wrote: post #33

I went through the Google process too and it didn't come out nicely. First, I have had almost no actual CS lessons in my university, because it was more focused on general engineering and IT management than on code writing. However, I've done quite a bit of code in various open source projects and I've touched quite many technologies... I went through the sets of interviews, and I really seemed to work quite well, ev…

I went through a phone screening with them recently, and they had a first phone interview set up. But the more I thought about how the screening went, the more it irritated me. I would not have sat through that were it not for the "Google" label. I decided that label or no, I have better things to do with my time than play "20 questions" where you're not allowed to use reference materials. That's not how I work at all. So I politely let them know that at the present time, their firm had been declined an opportunity to work with me, or something to that effect.

Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#44

Post by jbk »

wahnfrieden wrote: post #35
jbk wrote: post #33

I went through the Google process too and it didn't come out nicely. First, I have had almost no actual CS lessons in my university, because it was more focused on general engineering and IT management than on code writing. However, I've done quite a bit of code in various open source projects and I've touched quite many technologies... I went through the sets of interviews, and I really seemed to work quite well, ev…

Some companies refuse to discuss that on principle as a way to protect themselves from lawsuits. So you shouldn't take that too personally.

Sure, some of them don't, but then I don't want to work with such kind of companies...

And, sure, I don't take it personally :D I just don't like this behavior.

I didn't ask for details, just a general idea.

I've done a fair deal of job interviews, in order to get this kind of feedback and improve my skills; and Google was the only one that was that little polite on the feedback (even MS was nicer)

They didn't even say: "we can't tell you because of general policy or because of fear of lawsuit"...

Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#45

Post by michaelpinto »

saturdayplace wrote: post #26
michaelpinto wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Somewhere in that pool of rejected interns is the next Bill Gates...

I doubt it. The next Bill Gates isn't hoping to get noticed by some company. He's out making something and/or hustling for deals like the actual Bill Gates did. The next Bill Gates is most definitely NOT languishing unnoticed in some intern pool waiting to be discovered like some Hollywood wannabe starlet.

The Woz worked at HP where he was well liked but hardly seen at CTO material...

Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#46

Post by Daniel14 »

bengl3rt wrote: post #8

Mirrors my internship experience almost exactly. Three rapid-fire technical interviews that I thought went quite well, then a "sorry, no dice" email. Someone else I know just went through the same thing, also for an internship. Google sure makes a lot of noise about how they are hiring and competing for talent, but continue to turn away good people for unknown reasons.

I think Google receives around 20000 resumes per day. If you've got that kind of interest (and what I've heard, justified interest) you'll have to turn most people down (ie. >99%). I don't have inside knowledge about the Google hiring process, but with that many people applying, you're bound to have some false negatives.

Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#47

Post by mdwrigh2 »

andrewmunn wrote: post #42
renaudb wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same here. Twice in a row. First time, I was told a manager would call me to explain me which team I was being matched with. I received the call to tell me I had an offer... two days after the deadline set by the University. And it is not like this deadline is unknown to employers. Second time, again, I received an offer. This time, I had to call, one week before the deadline, after two weeks of hearing nothing from…

Yeah I agree about Google making you feel like crap. Another thing, they don't pay for the relocation flight or provide corporate housing, so before my first internship with Google I was pretty bummed out by the whole process, but after actually working there I can't wait to get back. Renaud, I think you should give them another shot if you're still up for it.

At least this summer, that's not true. They pay a relocation bonus that's more than enough to fly you out and back for the summer, as well as ship whatever you need out with you.

The lack of corporate housing is kind of unfortunate, but the internship pay is enough that it isn't something I'm terribly concerned about.

Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#48

Post by tedunangst »

waqf wrote: post #41
wahnfrieden wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some companies refuse to discuss that on principle as a way to protect themselves from lawsuits. So you shouldn't take that too personally.

Since they doubtless treat everyone that way, I guess you're technically correct that it shouldn't be taken personally. But the fact that it's only "[s]ome companies" that do that still suggests that it's rude and unprofessional behavior.

In my experience, it's not some. It's all.

Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#49

Post by wahnfrieden »

waqf wrote: post #41
wahnfrieden wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some companies refuse to discuss that on principle as a way to protect themselves from lawsuits. So you shouldn't take that too personally.

Since they doubtless treat everyone that way, I guess you're technically correct that it shouldn't be taken personally. But the fact that it's only "[s]ome companies" that do that still suggests that it's rude and unprofessional behavior.

I only said "some" because I can't speak authoritatively on that, but I suspect it's the overwhelming majority.

Re: How I (almost) got an internship at Google

#50

Post by burgerbrain »

michaelpinto wrote: post #45
saturdayplace wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt it. The next Bill Gates isn't hoping to get noticed by some company. He's out making something and/or hustling for deals like the actual Bill Gates did. The next Bill Gates is most definitely NOT languishing unnoticed in some intern pool waiting to be discovered like some Hollywood wannabe starlet.

The Woz worked at HP where he was well liked but hardly seen at CTO material...

And the statement "Somewhere in that pool of rejected interns is the next Woz..." would be far more realistic than "Somewhere in that pool of rejected interns is the next Bill Gates..."

The Woz type and the Bill Gates type are different by miles.

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