Comments on: My Interview at Google in Zurich http://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=overqualified-to-work-in-google Thoughts on Software Engineering Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:06:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Peterhttp://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-1925 Peter Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:11:40 +0000 http://url/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-1925 If you asked for more than 160,000 CHF (before taxes), you asked for too much. If you asked for more than 200 K, you are out of your mind. :) Don't worry - you can share the number. Nobody will sue you. You were definitely not overqualified. No software engineer is overqualified to work for Google. It was entertaining to read that you thought this could be the problem. It might have been a communication or a culture problem. You found the interview somewhat frustrating. Maybe the interviewers felt the same way. If you seemed even a little annoyed by the questions, that wouldn't be considered a positive sign. If you asked for more than 160,000 CHF (before taxes), you asked for too much. If you asked for more than 200 K, you are out of your mind. :) Don’t worry – you can share the number. Nobody will sue you. You were definitely not overqualified. No software engineer is overqualified to work for Google. It was entertaining to read that you thought this could be the problem. It might have been a communication or a culture problem. You found the interview somewhat frustrating. Maybe the interviewers felt the same way. If you seemed even a little annoyed by the questions, that wouldn’t be considered a positive sign.

]]> By: nakovhttp://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-1819 nakov Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:59:22 +0000 http://url/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-1819 I didn't think about this, but I suppose it is true. Why don't they use this information. They have it. And they also have my mailbox for the last 7-8 years. I am curious what Google have about me. I didn’t think about this, but I suppose it is true. Why don’t they use this information. They have it. And they also have my mailbox for the last 7-8 years. I am curious what Google have about me.

]]> By: Tonihttp://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-1818 Toni Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:31:18 +0000 http://url/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-1818 Also don't forget that if you apply for a job at Google, the history of all your google-searches will get on the table (at least on somebody's table) ;) Also don’t forget that if you apply for a job at Google, the history of all your google-searches will get on the table (at least on somebody’s table) ;)

]]> By: William Larssonhttp://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-1141 William Larsson Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:58:38 +0000 http://url/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-1141 Answerring to comment no.5:Dear Mr. Syskeyes,Unfortunately we cannot allow google to obtain such a brilliant intellect for themselves, so we are preparing a 8 digit sum per month (after taxes) and a room with a window view in order to win the services of Mr.Nakov in NASA.Thanks for your understanding! Answerring to comment no.5:

Dear Mr. Syskeyes,

Unfortunately we cannot allow google to obtain such a brilliant intellect for themselves, so we are preparing a 8 digit sum per month (after taxes) and a room with a window view in order to win the services of Mr.Nakov in NASA.

Thanks for your understanding!

]]> By: Syskeyeshttp://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-919 Syskeyes Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:39:08 +0000 http://url/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-919 Last month I heard Google's CEO yammering about missing a great chance to employ a super-candidate from Bulgaria. And all because his recruiters did not recognize the great potential in you. Strangely, I cannot assume that Google cannot offer an appropriate position to such a monstrous mind like yours. Successful companies usually do not make this kind of mistakes. So, I desparately beg you, Dr. Nakov, not to leave us yet and wait here for a greater company to appear on the market since Google is not of your scale.Btw, how quickly can you think of an algorithm that calculates the percentage of irony in this post? Last month I heard Google’s CEO yammering about missing a great chance to employ a super-candidate from Bulgaria. And all because his recruiters did not recognize the great potential in you. Strangely, I cannot assume that Google cannot offer an appropriate position to such a monstrous mind like yours. Successful companies usually do not make this kind of mistakes. So, I desparately beg you, Dr. Nakov, not to leave us yet and wait here for a greater company to appear on the market since Google is not of your scale.

Btw, how quickly can you think of an algorithm that calculates the percentage of irony in this post?

]]> By: nakovhttp://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-737 nakov Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:08:43 +0000 http://url/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-737 I didn't make mistakes at the interview, but I believe that the technical skills are not the only criteria for invitation in Zurich. I think the interviewer listens how you analyze and attack the problems, the way you think. It is usually more important that the results you obtain. Sometimes interviewers just have a feeling about you formed by the way you talk, the way you think and the way you express your thoughts. If it does not match his / her expectations, this could be a problem.Regards, Svetlin I didn’t make mistakes at the interview, but I believe that the technical skills are not the only criteria for invitation in Zurich. I think the interviewer listens how you analyze and attack the problems, the way you think. It is usually more important that the results you obtain. Sometimes interviewers just have a feeling about you formed by the way you talk, the way you think and the way you express your thoughts. If it does not match his / her expectations, this could be a problem.

Regards, Svetlin

]]> By: tonihttp://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-736 toni Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:30:28 +0000 http://url/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-736 I had only two phone interviews with Google Zurich so I guess I didn't do well in the second.. Still, I made a single mistake in the first coding exercise (which was very simple) and I fixed it in less than a minute.. In the rest of the questions the interviewer seemed satisfied with my answers. So, I guess their standards are very very high if I was punished for a single mistake and because of that was not even invited for an on-site but I must admit that I don't even come close to your years of experience. So, there is a possibility that they found somebody even more skilled than you (maybe a top person from TopCoder or something like that) and more importantly, a person who asked less money. I only have one question for you. Did you make any mistakes on the technical phone screens ? Good luck if you intend to reapply! I had only two phone interviews with Google Zurich so I guess I didn’t
do well in the second.. Still, I made a single mistake in the first coding exercise
(which was very simple) and I fixed it in less than a minute.. In the rest of the
questions the interviewer seemed satisfied with my answers. So, I guess their standards
are very very high if I was punished for a single mistake and because of that
was not even invited for an on-site but I must admit that I don’t even come close to your years of experience. So, there is a possibility that they found somebody
even more skilled than you (maybe a top person from TopCoder or something like that) and more importantly, a person who asked less money.
I only have one question for you. Did you make any mistakes on the technical phone screens ?
Good luck if you intend to reapply!

]]> By: nakovhttp://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-730 nakov Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:33:46 +0000 http://url/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-730 I was contacted by few Google recruiters in LinkedIn. Try to search in LinkedIn for "recruiter Google". I was contacted by few Google recruiters in LinkedIn. Try to search in LinkedIn for “recruiter Google”.

]]> By: Aishwaryahttp://www.nakov.com/blog/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-726 Aishwarya Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:48:11 +0000 http://url/2007/12/27/overqualified-to-work-in-google/#comment-726 What is the procedure to get a job in Google, Zurich? What are the qualifications needed? Please let me know ASAP..Thanks, Aishwarya What is the procedure to get a job in Google, Zurich?
What are the qualifications needed?
Please let me know ASAP..

Thanks,
Aishwarya

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