Google: Better To Be a 'B' CS Grad Than an 'A+' English Grad 358
theodp (442580) writes "In a NY Times interview on How to Get a Job at Google with Laszlo Bock, who is in charge of all hiring at Google, the subject of grit-based hiring came up. Bock explained: 'I was on campus speaking to a student who was a computer science and math double major, who was thinking of shifting to an economics major because the computer science courses were too difficult. I told that student they are much better off being a B student in computer science than an A+ student in English because it signals a rigor in your thinking and a more challenging course load. That student will be one of our interns this summer.' Bock also advised, 'You need to be very adaptable, so that you have a baseline skill set that allows you to be a call center operator today and tomorrow be able to interpret MRI scans.'"
It's still about $ (Score:3, Informative)
Graduated CS program with a 2.089 GPA, makes six figure salary in small-mid size city.
Re:It's still about $ (Score:3, Informative)
Re:*sigh* (Score:4, Informative)
As someone that makes tech hiring decisions, I do value people with good English skills. (or is it well?...)
To be serious, though, while I value communication skills. I value engineering skills more. However, if someone failed English class, they probably lack the communication skills to get reach me in an interview.
Re:15" Golf Holes (Score:3, Informative)
I would share my google interview questions (some of them were pretty original and interesting), but unlike you I happen to remember they're confidential.
Flexibility is not exclusive to CS (Score:5, Informative)
Well, I am an English major who learned programming and started a technology shop I have been running for the last 10 years.
During that time, I have had programmers working for me with CS degrees, but also with degrees in law, economics, theater, criminal justice, business, political science, and other pursuits.
We build websites and CRM systems using open source content management systems. To be honest, the people who have worked out best over the years came to programming from another background. The people that have really thrived have tended to be lawyers, they are able to apply logic on the fly.