I Hire Engineers At Google---Here's What I Look For (And Why)
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Posted By: Hija Chang on August 17, 2016 This Googler explains how tech recruiting is becoming more holistic than it used to be, and what it takes to stand out. [Photo: Flickr user Roman Boed]¤n Keawe Block The hiring experience for engineers isn't what it used to be¡ªand that's partly by design. Here at Google, we've intentionally broadened the number of schools where we actively recruit, from 75 a few years ago to 305 today. We're as interested in English or philosophy majors as we are in computer science degree holders. We don't really care if you have a 4.0 GPA, and we're not interested in whether you can figure out how many golf balls fit inside a 747. But here's what we do look for in engineering candidates in 2016¡ªand why we look for it. 1. Don't Disqualify Yourself Preemptively Recent experience has taught us that we can find great tech talent in a much wider range of places than previously thought. For one thing, there are far more qualified college applicants than there are spaces for them at top universities. And for another, computer scientists aren't always aware of their talent for coding by the time they¡¯re 18 and have to declare a major. Google is also trying to challenge some of the industry's stubbornest stereotypes about what computer scientists look like and do in their spare time. Our Google in Residence program, for instance, embeds Google engineers at historically black colleges and universities to teach computer science and coach students about how to position themselves for engineering careers. We have similar initiatives in the works aimed at improving Hispanic diversity, too. It's important to know this because, too often, the tech sector's well-documented demographics are enough to discourage some of the best talent from imagining themselves as future Googlers. My job is to help change that; your job is to apply. More broadly, Google¡¯s CS in Education initiative works to develop programs, resources, tools, and community partnerships to make computer science accessible to more students during their formative educational years. The goal is to make sure tomorrow's tech industry mirrors the demographics of the people it actually serves. In the meantime, don't assume you're unqualified on the basis of your educational, professional, or personal background and decide against applying (or, for that matter, let self-doubt get the better of you when you do show up for an interview). Trying to land a competitive tech job is daunting, but it's only impossible if you don't compete. Source: http://www.fastcompany.com/3062713/how-to-... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Hija Chang
Management, See Moss Interactive Bellarmine University class of 2021 Member Since January 2011 |
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