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Last night, out of the blue, I got an email from Google saying that they have received my resume, but due to the incredibly high caliber of individuals Google aim to bring on board at Google, a few questions were to be answered in order to help them to determine if a phone interview shall be granted.

First of all, I thought Google only consider internal referrals only; like Genetech, the other place I had two interviews with already. So it was a pleasant surprise to get an email from Google.

Then I saw the three questions:

• Why are you interested in working at Google?
• Do you know anybody who works at Google?
• What was your college GPA?

I can totally understand the first question; but the second and third?  By knowing someone in Google would help me to get an interview? or the other way?  And what`s up with the GPA?  Why not SAT scores, too?

Then I read an article on CNN, which Google, of course, was mentioned as it won the title of  Forbes #1 best company to work for in 2007. In the article it actually stated that Google would not consider anyone below 3.7 GPA.  And it also said that "if you had a few "B"s, you should better have a good explaination for it during your interview."

Well, I went to college in England so there was no GPA to begin with.  So I gave them what we had there.  At the same time I was thinking about this interesting conversation I had with one of the managers at Genentech the other day about how people nowaday prefer to be street smart over book smart.  He mentioned about this show on TV where they paired up a geek (as the term he used) and a beauty pageant (something like that) to get some tasks done.  He really expressed his disappointment how the `geeks` handle most of the tasks.

(Interesting interview, I must say!)

I`d really like to push for an interview at Google - at least to visit one of their famous gourmet restaurants they`ve been braggin` about. And for that, I held back on saying that I know a lot of great entreprenuers out there with below 3.7 GPA.

What`s your opinion on this GPA thing?

If you were going to hire employees, what kind of questions would you ask?

 

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Life isn`t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

To be honest, I put very little weight in holding a degree... Of course that`s because I am not looking for someone to occupy a brain surgeon position. At the level of business I am now, I am far more motivated by the potential hiree`s enthusiasm and ability to communicate clearly with me. I also place a lot of work on the ability to work with others.

I have a college background. I think I was a 3.0 graduate. At the same time, I think I have learned much more through life than my college years. What college did for me was to create contacts. As people go through the system a, "good old boys" club is inherently established.

Maybe I have this viewpoint because college is so expensive that I know of many people unwilling to take on the debt. I know the saying is, "it takes money to make money." At the same time, not all graduate can or do make money due to their diploma.

Can you see it now? A family man (one child and wife) decides to become a doctor at the age of 25. At the age of 29 they realize their skill is not good enough to compete effectively with all the other "would be" doctors. Do you continue to get the degree you will likely not be satisfied with, or do you drop out half way through the process to pursue something you might be more talented in. Let`s remember, to drop the college studies, means you still owe THOUSANDS of DOLLARS. What do you think the child and wife will be doing for the next 10 years? Probably paying off a 4 year college loan and working as a nurse. Being a nurse might not be bad for some. But many "wanna be doctors" might choose to be something like a real estate broker instead. After all, the family still needs fed and the loan still needs paid.

Expensive education means the elite become educated. Student loans are great, but they certainly cost. I know that from experience.

By the way, I am not working in the field I graduated. I felt I was not good enough (with a 3.0 GPA) to compete with the 4.0`s. A new career path was taken. Knowledge is power and the Internet is full of it.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Well said, Vincent!!

I totally agree to the fact that we learn so much more in life and most of the lessons are priceless as well. 

If I were to hire employees, I`d much prefer to hire someone with a positive can-do spirit over someone who talks about nothing but his/her grad school.  Oh yeah, I have ran into people as such!  Not that there is anything wrong with Grad school, grad schools are good, expensive but good.

 

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Life isn`t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

Maybe we are the only people left thinking like that. Are we a dieing breed, or do we know something other`s don`t? hmmmm

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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

The old adage ` Knowledge is power ` may have been true at a time in the past.

In order for it to be complete now, I`d suggest it needs to be amended.

` Knowledge is powerful, but only to the extent of its application`

So, what does all that mean in relation to this thread. An education and the knowledge gained from same is invaluable. The use or application of same is where the rubber hits the road. To that end, in general I would prefer to hire an entreprenurially motivated person opposed to a solely knowledge based person.

Therefore, ` the entreprenurial spirit coupled with knowledge (education) IS power ` So Meitzi, to respond to your questions

• Why are you interested in working at Google? - As you mentioned, this one makes sense.
• Do you know anybody who works at Google? - Not a standard question perhaps, but also not surprising. They want to know if there is someone within the organization that may (un-officially) reference you. Companies will look for referrals (new employee) from there current employees. A person will tend to not `recommend` someone they know isn`t a fit with the company or who they otherwise would not want to see working for the company.  
• What was your college GPA? - There are any number of character traits that can be deduced (or assumed) from a GPA. More and more, companies are looking at this for insight into the potential employee. i.e. trainability, work ethic, leadership, self - starter, ability to follow through on tasks etc etc.

If nothing else enjoy the process and let us know how you make out with Google. If the opportunity arises, ask Google why they asked the question, I for one would be interested to hear there response - if only to see how close or far off I may actually be.

 

4incomefreedom... nice post.

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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

well said!!!

I`ll be sure to let you guys know if they grant me the phone interview as I put down "I do not know anyone who works at Google, yet. But I do know lot of people would like to work for Google."

I probably ought to write, "Sure, I know Larry Page. When would you like to talk?"

 

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Life isn`t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

Meitzi,

So, 2 yrs + later, how did the `interview` process go with Google ?

I have always been faithful to Google however these days too many of their links seem to be erroneous :(

Google is the problem and they're created by the NSA.

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