tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post436394001835394980..comments2024-01-10T11:38:15.547-08:00Comments on Random Observations: Things I've learned at Google so farBen Tillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335648152419715383noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-81256387399523290332010-02-14T10:06:28.846-08:002010-02-14T10:06:28.846-08:00That in Mountain View is better than anywhere else...<i>That in Mountain View is better than anywhere else (the larger clientele base lets them have a much more varied selection).</i><br /><br />I should point out that "the food is better here than in any other Google office" is also something we tell ourselves here in NYC. Yes, Mtn View has more different cafeterias and so if your main measure is "I want this kind of food today", and be guaranteed to find it, I could see that. And certainly Mtn View breakfast has us beat.<br /><br />However, for lunch, and judged on food quality not merely the appearance of variety? Not so much. NYC gets to hire from the gigantic amount of restaurant talent that's already there in Manhattan, and we'll occasionally have celebrity guest chefs who can do the morning shows promoting their new cookbook elsewhere in Manhattan, and then come and make their specialty for lunch at Google. If you're a serious foodie, NYC is the Google office to work at.<br /><br />Another thing we tell ourselves in NYC is that the Noogler 15 is closer to the Noogler 5 or 10 in New York simply because New Yorkers walk so much more than most of the rest of the country.<br /><br />I must admit that I don't know if either of these things are actually objectively true, but they're things we tell ourselves.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496672682897819186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-28308717925909900732010-02-03T01:58:50.325-08:002010-02-03T01:58:50.325-08:00@Ruchira Datta: My next blog is up exploring the n...@Ruchira Datta: My next <a href="http://bentilly.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-is-intelligence.html" rel="nofollow">blog</a> is up exploring the nature of intelligence and IQ tests in more depth. Hopefully you find it interesting. I think you'll find some support for what your psychologist said about many false negatives and few false positives, but you'll also find reason to believe that people probably aren't as smart as the impressive IQ test says they are.<br /><br />@Aileen Apolo: I hope not. I'm tracking my weight pretty closely right now, and if I do gain I intend to take action before I put on more than a pound or two.<br /><br />@Goang-Tay: I'm sorry your experience wasn't good. I asked people around me what their experience of the 20% rule is, and the answer I got boiled down to, "The 20% time is yours if you take it. But nobody is going to give it to you." That said most of the people in my immediate environment are actually taking and using their 20% time. I'm sure some teams are different, but I think I've accurately described the experience in my corner of the company.<br /><br />Oh, and as to the question of whether this blog should be seen as corporate propaganda. Read my <a href="http://bentilly.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-jokes.html" rel="nofollow">previous post</a>. Some of it is definitely NSFW. Hopefully NSFW in a very funny way, but I assure you that the resulting images are not something that Google would wish to see strongly associated with their corporate culture.Ben Tillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335648152419715383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-3656319095014416892010-02-02T21:13:37.261-08:002010-02-02T21:13:37.261-08:00I'm pretty sure you'll gain the Google10 i...I'm pretty sure you'll gain the Google10 in just a few months. I did, took me a long time to lose it :)Aileen Apolo-de Jesushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16655981649479872467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-17011772937177591092010-02-02T19:15:54.068-08:002010-02-02T19:15:54.068-08:00Thanks for the links, Ben. As expected, the numbe...Thanks for the links, Ben. As expected, the numbers I know for myself don't jive with each other on either page. In any case the tests clearly cannot correspond perfectly, as some of those tests have a built-in upper bound and others don't.<br /><br />A psychologist specializing in intelligence assessment once explained to me (pretty convincingly at the time) that the extraneous factors influencing test performance, such as luck, test-taking ability, cultural bias, state of health, etc. would result in many false *negatives*, but few false *positives*. The same was supposed to be true of the Google interview process. I'd be interested in your thoughts on this in your future blogpost.Ruchira Dattahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11225230326635564528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-85875903185691122202010-02-02T17:23:49.320-08:002010-02-02T17:23:49.320-08:00I don't know whether I should say it's ano...I don't know whether I should say it's another propaganda-type of blog or a naive person's view of the company. The benefit is not as good as you think. Google is smart in enhancing those marketable benefit. Even the heavily advertised 20% work is just a fantasy for most of the employees. Having been there for two and half years and I finally gave up last year. It may be a heaven for the newly gradaduated, but most likely a graveyard for those experienced folks.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09185114862298177492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-44205396722749888362010-02-02T12:39:56.729-08:002010-02-02T12:39:56.729-08:00Given the environment that you have described it m...Given the environment that you have described it makes sense why Google decided to implement Google Wave. However, that sort of environment isn't really present in most of the work world (from what I have seen). Still a great post into the world that is Google.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11898003166552339124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-77397517100664041692010-02-02T11:48:52.602-08:002010-02-02T11:48:52.602-08:00@Ruchira Datta: You can find some comparison infor...@Ruchira Datta: You can find some comparison information <a href="http://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/GREIQ.aspx" rel="nofollow">here</a> or a calculator <a href="http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/psychology/iq-conversion.html" rel="nofollow">there</a>. You are right that these things are not well-normalized at the high end so I theoretically could be higher still. However the tests are not perfectly testing IQ either, so the odds are strong that a score like mine reflects a combination of luck, good test-taking skills that are non intelligence related, and intelligence. Therefore the intelligence only component (to the extent that such a thing makes sense) is probably much lower than the test says.<br /><br />But that is a complex topic that I'll discuss in a future blog.<br /><br />@yd: I can't discuss the interview process other than to say that it is difficult, and I was glad I have a very good grasp on algorithmic complexity.<br /><br />@xp: The significant detail to consider is that I referred to said GRE score, but I don't <i>believe</i> that it is an accurate measure. As I said to Ruchira, that will be the topic of a future blog post, whenever that happens.Ben Tillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335648152419715383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-50805793645775450562010-02-02T10:42:17.422-08:002010-02-02T10:42:17.422-08:00LOL it's so funny to see a Google engineer in ...LOL it's so funny to see a Google engineer in his 40's use a 20yr-old GRE score to benchmark his own intelligence. Although I've heard many stories, this is the first time I truly realize what Google's like now...xphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00849950007728912837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-87570944102118437212010-02-02T08:45:45.597-08:002010-02-02T08:45:45.597-08:00I happened upon your blog while setting up my goog...I happened upon your blog while setting up my google reader account. In an attempt to stay on the up-and-up for my students, I was drawn to your blog. I am inspired. After reading of your experiences thus far, I am reassured that I am on the right teaching path. My students HAVE to be resourceful, self-starters, with a habit of keeping up with their a-ha moments and epiphanies. Thank you for your insight. Very informative and super exhilirating to know that people are actually taken care of elsewhere. I wish I could say that about education (teachers).Brooklynintexashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03630896910176927145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-89313335195793732562010-02-02T05:21:16.288-08:002010-02-02T05:21:16.288-08:00Welcome to Google. :)
@sleeprunning "Nobody,...Welcome to Google. :)<br /><br />@sleeprunning "Nobody, or collection of bodies, is smarter than the markets. Remember the best/brightest/billions on Wall St."<br /><br />You mean, the markets and people that spent billions of dollars on subprime mortgages without ever checking to see if they were legitimate? Intelligence there may be, but I'd far rather see it applied to productive pursuits than greedy self-interest.<br /><br />@Joe: I had a 20% project since I started. Now it's my 80% project.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657901505827400722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-52258309608574862202010-02-02T04:46:28.858-08:002010-02-02T04:46:28.858-08:00Google is inspiring to professionals working in In...Google is inspiring to professionals working in India. Here most of the organizations are too corporate and rigid. Following processes and rules is the norm of the day.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03246725717404711241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-32954590552779700382010-02-02T03:22:10.501-08:002010-02-02T03:22:10.501-08:00great post. thanks for sharing.great post. thanks for sharing.Shaunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657065411776199963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-9203151875651843752010-02-02T00:03:36.570-08:002010-02-02T00:03:36.570-08:00@joe When did you left Google, BTW?@joe When did you left Google, BTW?Yuhong Baohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14519473280837410246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-80664509085385421112010-02-01T23:07:05.031-08:002010-02-01T23:07:05.031-08:00Interesting article. Can you mention a bit about t...Interesting article. Can you mention a bit about their interview process? I hear that they test your problem-solving ability. Was that what happened to you?ydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04540248538689942367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-10525743151999947592010-02-01T21:59:06.432-08:002010-02-01T21:59:06.432-08:00@Vitaliy No, Orkut was not an acquisition. It'...@Vitaliy No, Orkut was not an acquisition. It's even named after a Google employee (its creator). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orkututilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18102691601059192577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-72329996940106950612010-02-01T20:57:38.611-08:002010-02-01T20:57:38.611-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ruchira Dattahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11225230326635564528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-84400090422653487772010-02-01T20:56:28.236-08:002010-02-01T20:56:28.236-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ruchira Dattahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11225230326635564528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-68391789823774343142010-02-01T20:55:26.530-08:002010-02-01T20:55:26.530-08:00I'm curious where these conversions you've...I'm curious where these conversions you've seen are? Standardized tests are often not normed for the extremes, especially at the high end, so I find it a bit dubious that they could be rigorously interconverted with IQ. (Even some recent IQ tests aren't either, see http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/What_is_Gifted/sblm.htm) That is to say, you could be even smarter than the conversion suggests, because the GRE was not designed to discriminate at the high end.Ruchira Dattahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11225230326635564528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-25225227342829162772010-02-01T16:57:34.576-08:002010-02-01T16:57:34.576-08:00Wow! You really made me want to work @ Google.Wow! You really made me want to work @ Google.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490728425711043647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-4238969921376450712010-02-01T16:36:08.514-08:002010-02-01T16:36:08.514-08:00@RNiK: Thanks for the pointer. I've recommend...@RNiK: Thanks for the pointer. I've recommended it to a co-worker.<br /><br />@joe: Don't know how it varies through the company, but my immediate co-workers have 20% projects and let people know which days they are less available because they are using 20% time.<br /><br />@Alexis: The ads were an experiment to see what it is like. I haven't minded having them so I've left it on. However truth be told, I could work for 20 minutes on a contract and make more than I've made, total, from having the ads on.<br /><br />@various: I'm glad you liked my summary or you're welcome to your opinions as appropriate.Ben Tillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335648152419715383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-61435877828275583602010-02-01T14:57:11.876-08:002010-02-01T14:57:11.876-08:00orkut is an acquisition too.orkut is an acquisition too.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493424142141627235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-7462565226586656262010-02-01T14:23:41.245-08:002010-02-01T14:23:41.245-08:00You obviously haven't worked there long enough...You obviously haven't worked there long enough. 20% was the norm in the good 'ol days when the company was small. How many people actually work on a 20% today? It is true that Search, Gmail, Orkut, and other great projects came from a 20%, but how many projects today are from 20% vs. ones from acquisitions? How about g Earth, g Maps, Writely/Docs, Presently, Spreadsheet, YouTube, AdSense, Voice, Sites, BLOGGER, Picasa, yadda yadda yadda. Guess what, all of these came from acquisitions!<br /><br />Google is currently suffering from brain drain. The best and brightest engineers no longer want to go there anymore. They want to start their next Google. I hope I'm at one right now. Good luck, dude.<br /><br />x-GooglerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-27365000948094864672010-02-01T13:08:13.279-08:002010-02-01T13:08:13.279-08:00Your labels are basically what you'd call fold...<i>Your labels are basically what you'd call folders in another email client. (Unfortunately they are not hierarchical, but they do work.)</i><br /><br />Well, that's not completely true: <b><a href="http://arendvr.com/folders4gmail/" rel="nofollow">Folders4Gmail</a></b>.RNiKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04648780505987558905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-82335432059945643762010-02-01T12:28:00.397-08:002010-02-01T12:28:00.397-08:00What a self promotion by yourself...Grow up dude, ...What a self promotion by yourself...Grow up dude, silicon valley is filled with tonnes of smart people and every good company has got lot of geniuses. <br /><br />Google has got 20K people and so it is no longer the most sought company.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18200373154218293426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316765421340036602.post-88950335330494620652010-02-01T12:14:02.455-08:002010-02-01T12:14:02.455-08:00The e-mail thing sounds like how they run the busi...The e-mail thing sounds like how they run the business at Microsoft. And that is probably where the similarities end. Interesting post.Maintenance Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11251164494419993264noreply@blogger.com