Linux

… 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

1. I was not offered a job at Google.
2. It was a stressful experience.

Positives

1. I was contacted by Google! It’s tough to explain how dreamy this feels…
2. 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.
3. 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 :-)