I want to work for Google

Isn't Innocent similar? I remember seeing a show a while ago where some folks visited Innocent, Google, Agent Provocateur, and others to see what it's like, and Innocent was also lovely inside, they even had fake grass in the offices and loads of people walked around barefoot.
 
Im sure its nice to work inhouse for these companies, but the reality is that it kills everything in the surrounding area, San Francisco is a prime example of neo-liberal capitalist death.

Nobody else can live there apart from those drones, and drones aren't "fun".
 
Last edited:
I hear it's pretty difficult to get into google and no doubt the reason these treat things are in their offices are to pursuade you to work long hours. And no doubt if you don't produce good quality work, you're gone very quickly.
 
Last edited:
I've toured their Holborn office and it's pretty fun. I'd imagine it becomes very normal within about a week though. What I couldn't help notice was that for the middle of a work day it was very quiet. Nobody was talking to each other, I only ever remember seeing people sitting alone on laptops, headphones in. Doesn't seem very sociable to me! Felt like a glorified coffee shop.

Their terrace is the bees knees though :cool:
 
dowie said:
Have you applied then OP?



Not sure that is completely true, one of the founders is supposed to be keen on promoting a healthy work/life balance - they've got generous maternity/paternity packages by US standards etc.. Seem more like it is there to make the employee's lives easier - given that they're paid a lot of money and contribute to projects that make a lot of money then saving them time/hassle with mundane things like doing the laundry, getting lunch etc.. or just generally trying to have a nicer environment would be a good investment.
Click to expand...

And yet they came up with ... Google Glass.
 
G-MAN2004 said:
Am I the only one that wouldn't be bothered about all that rubbish? I'd just want to get to work, do my job and naff off as soon as possible.
Click to expand...

If work provided 3 meals a day (and they were good and healthy), I'd happily spend 12 hours at work. Miss the morning rush and have breakfast at work, have a more casual build up to the normal working time of 9am. Have a good cooked dinner, miss the heavy return traffic and not spend any time cooking and doing the washing up at home. It sounds like a great singles life, but I can see it breaking down a relationship that was not part of this environment quite quickly.
 
I would too, as long as it was optional. And actually optional, not "well technically you don't have to do 12 hour days but it reflects badly on you if you don't" optional.
 
You'll find a lot of places similar to that OP, so don't just 'settle' for google :).

http://www.officelovin.com/

Shows different companies offices from around the world if you're into that.

I've worked for a Big 4 before but sadly the office wasn't as whacky as that, we did get free drinks/snacks/consoles to play/foosball and people did play them throughout the day. There wasn't really a period were people just stopped playing them after a few weeks which I saw someone mention above. No guilt either if your pm walked past and you were playing any of them as long as there wasn't immediate deadline or if you were missing a meeting.

Nice environment! Although I do agree with those saying that obviously there is an element of them wanting you to stay to work more and providing these services which may help that.
 
tom_e said:
It's not unknown for a solution to a work problem from the day before to randomly pop into my head while on the can in the morning, it's nice to start the day off on a positive note :D
Click to expand...

90% of my programming problems are solved in my dreams - I have a pad and paper for that very reason - to jot down ideas when I wake up. If I can't progress past a problem within 30 mins of encountering it, it gets shelved until the next day and I'll work on something else.
 
Meanwhile at at Microsofts 'bing' department:
image%2B01%2Boffice%2Bspace.jpg
 
Jamie23 said:
You'll find a lot of places similar to that OP, so don't just 'settle' for google :).

http://www.officelovin.com/

Shows different companies offices from around the world if you're into that.

I've worked for a Big 4 before but sadly the office wasn't as whacky as that, we did get free drinks/snacks/consoles to play/foosball and people did play them throughout the day. There wasn't really a period were people just stopped playing them after a few weeks which I saw someone mention above. No guilt either if your pm walked past and you were playing any of them as long as there wasn't immediate deadline or if you were missing a meeting.

Nice environment! Although I do agree with those saying that obviously there is an element of them wanting you to stay to work more and providing these services which may help that.
Click to expand...

working for avast in prague :D

nothing to do with the design though, tbh it all looks so fake and tacky. I know you shoudl enjoy being in a place you spend the largest part of your life but at teh same time i want to enjoy being out of it.
 
Last edited:
howiepoohs said:
I want to work there.....
It looks an amazing place. I just work in a boring, grown ups building.
Click to expand...

I think that because most people just do just boring work. :(

I am reminded of that Jack Reacher quote...

...Time to see what you've given up your whole life for. Maybe get some of that freedom for yourself. Look at the people. Now tell me which ones are free. Free from debt. Anxiety. Stress. Fear. Failure. Indignity. Betrayal. How many wish that they were born knowing what they know now? Ask yourself how many would do things the same way over again?...
Click to expand...

Then i look at my office.....:(
 
Your motivation to work for Google should be based on what you think you could contribute there.



.. not just because they have a swanky office somewhere.
 
Our Santa Monica office that I work in is freshly built and A-List client facing. Trees down a main indoor boulevard look nice but have to be rotated out every couple of months as they can't quite survive long term indoors.

Massive cafe area where a full hotel style buffet breakfast is supplied each morning. There is all day many varieties of coffee and a barista machine thingy (I dont drink coffee). Most importantly there is an unlimited Coke soda fountain machine such as found at a fast food place. Down the other end of the cafe is a fully stocked bar that gets opened for staff once a month for an evening get together and on specific special events.

Being California we also have a sundeck with loungers and tables....

Despite all this it is still an office that I go to work and grind at. The security of the work we do means most indoor offices have no windows, any windows often get frosted or completely blacked out. My office is in the middle of the building with no windows at all other than frosted to the corridor.

As others have said, a great looking office means nothing after the first 3 days. What the Google office screams without causing them legal problems is they wanted young youthful workers.
 
JBod said:
...As others have said, a great looking office means nothing after the first 3 days. What the Google office screams without causing them legal problems is they wanted young youthful workers.
Click to expand...

Its also encouragement not to leave the office. So it encourages people without commitments outside of work.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/04/64-year-old-engineer-sues-google-for-age-discrimination/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rimination-lawsuit-against-Google-expand.html

Its common in Tech Companies in general.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/04/64-year-old-engineer-sues-google-for-age-discrimination/

When you're young its not a problem, obviously.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom