Pros and Cons Working at Google
A few weeks ago, the bot in my team's chat group aka "Space," sent a message to congratulate me on my seven-year journey at Google. Seven years! When I first joined back in 2016, I didn't plan to stay this long. Time truly flies when you're having fun, and I've certainly had a lot of fun working at Google.
Lately, I've been compiling a list of the top pros and cons of working at Google, and here at the top three:
Work with great people: Google offers an opportunity to collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the tech industry. The experience creates a rich learning environment, where I've had the privilege of learning countless things from my peers, honing my skills, and expanding my knowledge significantly.
Work on planet-scale problems: Google's impact spans across billions of people worldwide through its products and services. This means that as employees, we get to tackle some of the most significant and challenging issues facing our world today. The scale of impact and the potential to make a real difference are incredibly motivating.
Great culture: Google is renowned for its inclusive and innovative culture, fostering creativity, diversity, and a strong sense of community among its employees. Personally, I've experienced the benefits of open and transparent communication, the Blameless culture, bottom-up innovation, and other cultural aspects they describe in the book about Google.
However, it's worth noting that these same pros can also manifest as cons:
Working with great people: While collaborating with brilliant colleagues is inspiring, it can sometimes lead to feelings of inadequacy or competition. Many may feel the pressure to constantly prove themselves or fear being overshadowed by their more talented peers. It's not uncommon for new employees to experience imposter syndrome.
Mindset to solve planet-scale problems: Google's focus on tackling large-scale issues may occasionally result in over-engineered solutions for simpler problems. This approach can lead to inefficiencies and unnecessary complexity, when a more straightforward solution would suffice. Moreover, Google's reliance on an internal technology stack limits the applicability of skills and knowledge outside the company.
Great culture: The strong culture at Google can create a sense of loyalty that makes it challenging for employees to explore opportunities outside the company. This could potentially limit career growth and exposure to different work environments. Additionally, having experienced the exceptional culture at Google, it's natural to expect a similar level of greatness at other companies, which may not always be the case.
Of course, the above points are based on my personal perception, and these pros and cons can vary from person to person. What some individuals might consider drawbacks could be viewed as positive aspects by others. Ultimately, choosing to work at Google or any other company depends on an individual's preferences, career goals, and values.