
Andy Rubin | photo by Russ Quackenbush
It's too good to be true. That's what Andy Rubin was thinking back in 2005. He'd worked for more than a decade at various tech outfits, including a stint at Apple, and now Google was interested in acquiring Android, his latest venture. When he dug around to see if the Internet giant would be a good fit, Rubin met with what he assumed was the usual Silicon Valley spin: lots of talk about boundless freedom, perfect perks, a culture that prizes spectacular failure more than middling success. Right.
But now he works for
When you visit the Googleplex in Mountain View, California, what's special is elusive. The company looks like the standard-issue Wii-in-the-lounge, hieroglyphs-on-a-whiteboard, code-until-dawn tech shop. But the difference isn't tangible. It's in the air, in the spirit of the place.
Talk to more than a dozen Googlers at various levels and departments, and one powerful theme emerges: Whether they're designing search for the blind or preparing meals for their colleagues, these people feel that their work can change the world. That sense is nonexistent at most companies, or at best intermittent, inevitably becoming subsumed in the day-to-day quagmire of PowerPoints, org charts, and budgetary realities.
The marvel of Google is its ability, after 10 years, to continue to instill a sense of creative fearlessness and ambition, even as it has grown to more than 16,000 employees. Prospective hires are often asked, "If you could change the world using Google's resources, what would you build?" But here, this isn't a goofy or even theoretical question: Google wants to know, because thinking--and building--on that scale is what Google does. This, after all, is the company that wants to make available online every page of every book ever published. Smaller-gauge ideas die of disinterest.
The marvel of Google is its ability to instill a sense of creative fearlessness.
With $14 billion in annual revenue, Google has evolved to become far more than an "Internet search and advertising company." Google's singular worldview sees information as a natural resource, one that should be mined and refined and sorted and universally distributed. Information is a necessity, like clean water. That idea stands at the center of all Google does, unifying what can appear to be wildly disparate projects: mapping the world, searching the Web on a cell-phone screen, providing an early-response system for epidemics and natural disasters, developing cheap renewable energy. Android, for instance, isn't simply a universal platform for mobile-phone applications. It's a new pipe--and a far bigger pipe--to serve a parched landscape.
In the end, the resources and liberty Google entrusts to its workers infuse them with a rare sense of possibility--and obligation: "Are we taking advantage of what we've got here?" they ask. "Are we doing enough? Are we doing everything we can?"
They're thrilling questions, ones we all should ask more often.
CIO and VP of engineering
"I was deaf as a child, and I am dyslexic. I spent a lot of my childhood struggling to do things that everybody else found easy. I adapted by finding tools to make things simple. I'm still fascinated by tools that make it easier for people to explore their worlds.
During the carpool this morning, we heard a song on the radio, and the driver asked, 'When did that come out?' I whipped out my iPhone and did a Google search. That's what drew me here, the idea that we can take the world's information and render it all available and useful.
Organizations that exist for a long time almost always have strong cultures. But any sociologist will tell you it's rare for people to talk about the elements of their culture. Google lives out loud. We argue about strategy and whether our products are good or bad. We argue about everything. But you want conflict to thrive in a supportive way. At heart, I'm an introvert, but I've learned to enjoy the give and take of ideas here. We work hard to protect people who argue.
Our hiring process is legendary. We have hiring committees that are checked by other committees. An engineering candidate talks to an average of eight engineers. I talked to 20 people before I was hired.
I'll ask candidates who aren't engineers how to build a Web crawler. The right answer doesn't matter. I want to hear you think the problem through, because the odds are good that since we're an innovative company, you're not going to know how to do what you're going to be asked to do. You're going to have to figure it out."
Recent Comments | 56 Total
February 20, 2008 at 5:01pm by Richard Lipscombe
It is true Googlers tell great stories even though they are repetitive - but then they do have great achievements to talk about and so this thing is a feel good advertisement for Google. Nevertheless there is a real issue lurking for the future of innovation at Google - it is simply that the Googleplex has become a limiting factor for innovation. The C21st is all about networked or distributed models for business and their innovators. Let us hope therefore that Google projects in India, China, New York, Ireland, etc come to rapidly outpace and outstrip the innovations homegrown in Mountain View. By 2012 my innovation for Google would be to have the Googleplex concentrating on running and innovating passive revenue models while the engineering and product development is done in clusters offshore or out of the State of California...
July 16, 2009 at 3:02am by Smith William
Google would be to have the Googleplex concentrating on running and innovating passive revenue models while the engineering and product development is done in clusters offshore or out of the State of California.
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July 16, 2009 at 3:03am by Smith William
but then they do have great achievements to talk about and so this thing is a feel good advertisement for Google.Online degree program Nevertheless there is a real issue lurking for the future of innovation at Google.Online degree
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August 31, 2009 at 3:25am by ConcreteSealer ConcreteSealer
Working in Google, you must come out with great experience and knowledge. It is one the biggest and most pleasant company to work in the world. Concrete Sealer
September 1, 2009 at 5:48am by UKproperty UKproperty
Google is such a nice company to work with. They pay good attention to the employees. A perfect workplace! Proviser UK Property
September 3, 2009 at 11:40am by Tom Johnson
I visited Google in Mountain View once and I was amazed at their working environment and campus. I am constantly intrigued by added insight into the company so thank you for a very enjoyable article!
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September 4, 2009 at 5:14am by CarInsurance CarInsurance
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Google workplace must be a really conducive place that encourages creativity and innovation. It is always interesting to know about the company's internal life. Cosmetic Dentist Los Angeles
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If only they opened a branch office in my country or city, Google would be my first target for workplace. It must be great to work there, and only great people can enter the company. Artificial Turf Synthetic Grass San Diego
September 16, 2009 at 7:05pm by Portal Galo
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September 17, 2009 at 12:43am by doctor review doctor review
Just read about an experience of employee candidate of Google. The interviews are deadly difficult, he said doctor reviews. Hmm.. must be fun and cool to work for one of the biggest Internet companies.
September 19, 2009 at 9:36am by Gordon Clarck
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September 22, 2009 at 3:16am by Krishna Pandey
Working is Google is most interesting and also difficult work. Though i never had chance of working on google, i work online for my sites.
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September 24, 2009 at 12:24am by John Ting
Great article here. I really think that Google is really successful in what they are doing now and perhaps they could plan bigger and monopolize the whole Internet Marketing industry in the future? Not to say it is a good or bad thing but to the Googlers, it definitely is something worth looking forward for.
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September 24, 2009 at 12:26am by John Ting
Great article here. I really think that Google is really successful in what they are doing now and perhaps they could plan bigger and monopolize the whole Internet Marketing industry in the future? Not to say it is a good or bad thing but to the Googlers, it definitely is something worth looking forward for.
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September 25, 2009 at 4:26pm by lillie ann
Its good to find this place here, google is a giant, with $14 b in revenue,it can run amok,but gracefully done,it is an asset,
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September 26, 2009 at 1:55am by lillie ann
that is a great post indeed, i think the new york shopping atmosphere is great and google is doing a wonderful job,cheers,
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September 27, 2009 at 12:27am by lillie ann
google is the giant, however it offers opportunities and for the small time entrepreneur and the home worker, it has been the turnstile, wonder how long this will stay,
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September 27, 2009 at 12:51am by Yono Suryadi
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September 27, 2009 at 2:27am by Anil kumar
working with the google is really interesting and really hard but u are paid for the hard work really google is worth to be worked with
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October 1, 2009 at 11:44am by marcus sloth
yes, agree that google does some good work apart from the web presence and takes its power to the masses, good that larry and sergy are doing so,
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October 3, 2009 at 9:45am by Namasaja Namasaja
I watched at Biography that the workplace is really supporting for innovation and fun. No wonder they are one of the most innovative companies in the world. When people have space to develop new and extreme ideas, you're building room for innovative product and service.
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October 3, 2009 at 2:16pm by benjamin lathe
google is doing a fine job in the philanthrophy dept too! and larry and sergy should be happy with the service.
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October 3, 2009 at 2:17pm by benjamin lathe
google is doing a fine job in the philanthrophy dept too! and larry and sergy should be happy with the service.
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October 4, 2009 at 6:45am by John McCain
Andrew Rubin is a technology pioneer, co-founder and former CEO of both Danger Inc. and Android. He is currently Director of Mobile Platforms at Google, where he is reported to be overseeing the development of Android, an open-source operating system for smartphones.
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October 5, 2009 at 5:07pm by Robert Johnson
Google is a case study on how corporations should treat their employees. Google has a small turnover rate and hence are able to have a great competitive advantage over other firms who lose more of their top talent.
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October 8, 2009 at 6:57am by Andrew Pall
Very nice article. Thanks for sharing.
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October 10, 2009 at 12:30pm by charlie woods
Thank you very much for sharing us your views. It is really useful information. Hope you will gave always such a wonderful information.
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