… and the Google hiring committee has decided that (I quote) “[I am] not a strong match for [the] position [they are offering]”
Chronologically, this is what happened.
28 March 2007: First contact
Google sent me a mail asking me if I would be interested in exploring opportunities in their Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) team. They had found my CV online and were keen to talk to me (I guess they used Google to find me :-) )
The SRE team members run the Google.com website as well as a number of other websites and they only employ people with very extensive knowledge of networking, Linux and programming.
I was extremely flattered to be contacted by Google. I knew, nevertheless, that the Google interview process was tough. And I couldn’t help thinking that (i) I am not an expert in networking and (ii) even though I know Linux and programming pretty well, I am neither a Linux administrator nor a software developer…
But I was ready to give the interview process a try and I replied affirmatively.
6 April 2007: First phone call
I got a first phone call from Mountain View, California, at 11pm(!) and, during our 45-minute conversation, I was asked a number of non-technical questions as well as three relatively straightforward technical questions on networking and Linux.
It was a positive experience for me and a few days later I got an email telling me that I did well enough.
26 April 2007: Second phone call
I was called by an engineer of the SRE team from Dublin, Ireland. We had a 1-hour conversation and I was asked a number of questions on networking (lots), Linux (some) and programming (two small programs to write).
Personally, I thought I replied well enough (as far as I know).
28 April 2007: Last email
I got an email from Google yesterday basically telling me that “[I am] not a strong match for [the] position [they are offering]” that is, as an engineer in the Site Reliability Engineering team.
This is how I feel about the whole experience.
Negatives
- I was not offered a job at Google.
- It was a stressful experience.
Positives
- I was contacted by Google! It’s tough to explain how dreamy this feels…
- I’ve been through the Google interview process. In a few months, I’ll apply for a more adequate job at Google (more in line with what I am really good in) and I’ll be better prepared.
- I’ve realised that I need to do more real (as opposed to academic) programming and I need to administer more Linux servers and face more complex issues. Consequently I’ve decided to start working on a secret software development project (watch this space…)
Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me (family, colleagues, students and friends).
And thanks Google (specifically Cecilia, Erika, Andrew and Nikesh) for the experience :-)
too bad..
its still a great thing..wonder if google would even bother to contact us..
anyways better luck next time..
for the moment
UoM student can rejoice having a lecturer such as u..for at least some more time..
Congratulations! You would have to relocate to Dublin or Mountain View. :) Incidentally, yesterday, I was in the valley going to a hike and passed through Mountain View, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Sunnyvale… You’d need a H1B or green card (you can apply for the green card lottery).
Does not matter Sir.
Its a matter of pride for me to know that my lecturer is so good that he has had an interview with Google! In fact from time to time you are the subject of our discussion, we wonder why you are still working at UOM
You will get other opportunities.
Try to imagine: you were APPROACHED by Google, among possibly several hundred thousand persons related to the Computing world.
Hope you share your experience with us, before leaving for Google or any other major Company on earth!
I think the whole experience is great, Avinash!
Now you know exactly what to expect to happen in your future interviews and most important, now you have a very good idea on which directions to focus more in your professional development.
By the way, 11 pm Mauritius time it is Ok for California time, meaning noon (usually here everybody disappears at lunch around that time).
Congratulations for getting the interview!!!
Here just getting an interview it is not at all easy. For example, I look at those who apply for residency in my department. Many apply, but a small percentage of them are selected for the actual interview.
WOW! I can imagine how stressful and amazing the whole experience was!
Never though headhunters actually used LinkedIn to locate candidates worldwide…
I wonder, did you during the first few minutes of the call suspect it could be some kind of prankster? ;-) Given the fact that it was 11pm (local time), and around noon in the States…
Anyway, I really hope you get the chance for more interviews from high profile companies such as Google in the future! Keep pushing harder mate!
Good luck in your mega secret project! :-)
Count me on your list of beta testers…hehehe… ;-)
I am so pleased to learn that you went through this experience.Google scouts the world for skills, this part of their strategy and power! Well done, let us hope there is another opportunity!
what can i add..
Well it was Fantastic that you got the interview (am remembering how your eyes your to brighten everytime you used to pronounce the word google in class)
Its a bit of a bad luck that you didn’t get the job.. but i suppsoe since you things to be tougher.. i suppose you needed that so as you can apply even more.
And final note.. i know its a bit selfish.. heureusement ki google pann accept ou aster la.. i need to finish my bsc before you are gone.. ena pou fer parallel processing lot l’annE.. so you are going no where before i complete that :p
in 2009 you can join google .. since you are a geek full of passion.. i suppose that you will finally make your way in google one way or the other.
good luck for the secret software.
now am curios as to what it is.
+$3|
Don’t know which of congratulations or sympathies are more appropriate here, so I’ll just say, “Better luck next time!”
Hi all,
Thank you for your very nice words.
As David implied, when I told Christina about the first email, she immediately told me to check whether it was authentic or not. I used Google to verify :-)
I hope all my students and friends will have the opportunity to go through such an “ordeal” :-)
i think you should be proud because google called you , and i think that’s enough .
No one can expect that . so go on
Are you signing autographs yet?? I’m first on the list.
im sure si liverpool ti gagner that nite u’d have made it trhu the interview!! lol! cheerz avinash!
btw..any chance we get involved with ur “secret software development project” ???
rien a dire, to be noticed by Google among all web users, its quite an achievement by itself… but nevertheless maybe you placed the goal a bit too high for a first time… as you said yourself, maybe applying for something more in your line might yield better results.
but for me personally, making it to the second interview is quite good, Google is one of the dream place to work these days in the IT world, well the world actually. who knows maybe i’ll get my chance someday.
en attendant, good luck with your secret project avinash, i’d like to know more about that…
cheers, and once more congrats for at least climbing the first step to googledom! :)
A secret project is supposed to be secret :-)
And thanks again for your kind words!
Google is immense.. i fink we shud thank u Sir.. N im not surprised they called u for an interview koz they need people like you to operate..I mean u have such a powerful knowledge in computer science dat any big company wud welcome u Sir.. Really sometimes we wonder wat is Mr Meetoo doing at UOM. But it’s gr8 2 have u as our lecturer..
Better luck next time n am sure it’s just the start, many interviews will follow..
(Sorry Harry – I’ve deleted one sentence and I guess you know why :-)
well, when you do your coming out for your secret project, i’d like to book first row tickets :P
Where do we sign for the NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement)?!? ;-)
FYI, YouTube (now owned by Google) is also hiring. I see there are a lot of open positions for Senior-*insert-title-here*.
Have you started your project yet, Avinash? I have a few things brewing and am looking for a partner. As a screening, I’ll reveal that two of them are in Java and .NET, so these might be no-nos for you already :-) Drop me a mail if you are interested.
–Eddy
So finally you are in Google?
Nah. I work in a better company now: my own! See http://WWW.knowledge7.com/ :-)