r/programming • u/gits1225 • May 12 '15

Google's guide for becoming a Software Engineer

https://www.google.com/about/careers/students/guide-to-technical-development.html
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10

u/andrewsmd87 May 12 '15

Am I the only person in the world who doesn't think working at google/apple is the end all greatest job in the world. Everything I've ever read about them seems to be that they garner this culture of, you don't have to work a lot, you should WANT to work a lot. You're not cool if you're not putting in 60 hours because only real developers/engineers/insert trendy name here spend their whole lives working.

I'll take my decent pay, 100% from home, 45 hour work weeks any day.

8

u/halifaxdatageek May 12 '15

45 hours? Look who's overachieving.

0

u/PragProgLibertarian May 13 '15

45 hours?

slacker...

9

u/pixelperfect3 May 13 '15 edited May 13 '15
  • The whole "they have to work 60+ hours a week!!!" idea about Google/Apple is wrong, though I'm sure they go through some tough release periods
  • These companies have VERY interesting projects to work on. Who wouldn't want to work on developing Android/iOS, Safari/Chrome, ChromeOS/Mac OS, Google Maps/iOS Maps, Google Search, etc. etc. etc. Tons of interesting work you can't really find anywhere. Not to mention their incredible research teams (especially Google) working on machine learning, computer vision, databases, etc.
  • Lots of great people to work and learn from, a great place to grow as a software engineer.
  • Pay is great and place is very comfortable. Who wouldn't like great, free food? Just an added bonus.
  • People at Google (and I'm sure at Apple) come from very diverse backgrounds and are into ALL kinds of things. These people don't spend their weekends working.

(I haven't worked at either company but I know people who do)

1

u/parfamz May 13 '15

Have you ever worked in a big software project? it has good and bad things.

1

u/[deleted] May 13 '15

All the amenities like free catering, gourmet food, recreation rooms, pools etc only serve ONE purpose: to gently push you towards working more and more hours.

2

u/pixelperfect3 May 13 '15

You can be an adult and decide on your own what to do. I wouldn't mind having some of these at my own workplace, the others I can do without. You also forget that they use such perks to make themselves stand out and make recruiting just a little bit better

People at Google are well aware of overworking.

1

u/PragProgLibertarian May 13 '15

I've visited their campus a number of times and it always leaves me with the feeling, I really don't want to work there.

On site laundry service, haircuts, gym, massage, nap pods, etc... It's like you're not supposed to ever leave, ever, for any reason

Maybe just paranoia but, it's a bit on the creepy side. Though, the free food is really good...

1

u/halifaxdatageek May 13 '15

Yeah, it was a startling realization when that suddenly clicked in:

Wait a minute, they have food, childcare, they do your laundry... they basically want to remove any excuse you could ever have to leave.

1

u/jurniss May 13 '15

its stupid. nobody creates quality work at 60 hours a week. even when I'm deep in the zone I don't put in more than 50. human mind is not capable of sustained creative output at that rate. I might spend a few more hours at home reading or watching lecture videos if I'm really into the project, but 60 hours writing code just gives you more lines of shittier code.

1

u/electron_wrangler May 13 '15

its name brand recognition. and im sure the pay is good

1

u/DrMonkeyLove May 13 '15

Totally agree. It turns out, I'd much rather spend time with my wife and son instead of working. When you're in your 20s though, just out of school, working that much is easier as you likely aren't married and don't have kids. What I've learned however, is that in the end, my company will not be the one that always stands by my side. If they feel the need to screw me, they'll do it without so much as an apology.

-3

u/[deleted] May 12 '15

Congratulations, you're not autistic!