Comparison of Working at the 3 Big Search Giants 179
castironwok writes "Finally, everything you've ever wanted to know about being an employee at Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. Tastyresearch describes his (or her) past few years interning and working at the three companies. Things I didn't know from before: Bill Gates wears old shoes, Google's internal security watches you like a hawk, the office styles of each company, and how to fill your suitcase with Google T-shirts. He calls the few select companies the 'prestigious internship circle', noting 'once you have worked at one, it's a lot easier to get into another'."
Re:big three? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:all great places (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Maybe a tamed, blind hawk? (Score:5, Insightful)
I'll bet! (Score:4, Insightful)
This doesn't surprise me at all -- I'm sure you're seen as not only good enough to have worked at the other ones, but as a possible wealth of information about the workings of the others. And you're cheaper and lower-profile than hiring away the competition's bigger fish.
The best line of the article (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Maybe a tamed, blind hawk? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I'll bet! (Score:5, Insightful)
- The competitive advantage of knowing about other companies' proprietary information is dwarfed by the liability of acquiring that information. Especially given that you'd be acquiring them through someone who had proven they could not be trusted to keep a secret.
- At least Google has the (mostly deserved) hubris to assume that their own solutions to problems will tend to be as good as or better than other companies' solutions. So while other solutions may be academically interesting, they generally won't be useful.
- Lastly and most significantly, it's unethical. And yes, every person with whom I've worked at either company would find this alone to be reason enough to refrain, even if it did grant a competitive advantage.
Really, everyone would rather just hire competent, trustworthy people who will do their actual job well and with appropriate discretion. No one is looking for a stool pigeon.
Re:all great places (Score:1, Insightful)
That's because you don't meet the ones who circular file your resume and never call you back.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Security IDs are pathetic (Score:1, Insightful)
I did a little experiment at my old job that required an ID be displayed...I just wore it backwards...all that was on the back was a company logo and RFID chip to open the main door and the data center: never once did security ask to see the picture and credentials that I was concealing...
Our High school (2000-2004) made us wear IDs, the kids from the catholic school down the street would use IDs from the previous year or IDs that others had "lost" to sneak in and at lunch with their friends at our local public school...almost never getting busted. even by random ID checks that the lunch cashiers did.
The place I work now doesn't have IDs, just a magnetic card that you swipe to get in the secure doors after hours...there is not a security problem because everyone knows enough other people that if you cant answer a few questions in a casual conversation, you will be busted in 10 minutes...questions like "new here? welcome aboard, what position are you filling?" and "oh, who manages that dept?"...that is the place where I have felt the SAFEST...
Sounds Terrible (Score:5, Insightful)
Consider that they provide all of these resources to keep you on their campus as long as possible. Their entire goal is to squeeze as much work out of you they can while prolonging the time it will take you to burn out. They create their own small community you're expected to be a part of at almost all times.
Maybe I'm in the minority but my work isn't my life. I enjoy what I do but I don't stay at the office any long than I have to. I have friends to see, places to go and personal endeavors to get to that don't involve my company. I don't want my recreational activities to be sponsored by or provided by my company. I'm not sure I want to work in a place that "optionally" provides these facilities as they become expectations of the employees and those that shun them become outcast by their coworkers.
It's like if you don't participate in as many work related activities as possible, you'll alienate yourself and not be part of the brainwashed masses at your company of choice.
Maybe I'm old fashioned but I get to the office, I do my job and after about 8 hours or so I go on my way and do whatever I want to do. I get lunch with some friends at places of our choice. I'll even participate in work related and non-work related recreational activities with people. But it's not a way of life.
I don't know, something about working for a company that has created facilities and devices to keep you occupied under their roof for as long as possible seems a little fishy. I don't trust companies like this. They don't have your best interest's in mind, like most companies, but try and create diversions from this. Many young geeks end up wasting their youth in this corporate socialism.
Re:Interesting random fact (Score:2, Insightful)
* If one fails, you still have the other in the meantime.
* You can upgrade them separately
* If you ever need another monitor for another machine, you have it
* You can turn one off if you're doing light work
* Smaller flat-panels are probably cheaper per square inch, because of a lower defect rate and higher demand (more volume of product)
Re:big three? (Score:2, Insightful)
what goes up like a rocket can come down like a rocket.
Re:So (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Interesting random fact (Score:3, Insightful)
*You can have one be a CRT and other be an LCD and get the best of both worlds.