The 5 Worst Things About Working at Google

Having been a Software Engineer at Google for over 2 years, I often get asked what, if anything, is bad about working at Google. This video covers exactly that: the 5 worst things about working at Google.
Watch the video I made on the 7 best things about working at Google here: • The 7 Best Things Abou...
Prepping for coding interviews? Practice with 70 video explanations of popular interview questions and a full-fledged coding workspace on AlgoExpert: www.algoexpert.io

[@chickenshieee]

1. Golden handcuffs. 2. A lot of the skills are non-transferable. 3. Sometimes the company moves slowly, on an organizational level. 4. Sometimes you feel like a cog in the wheel, so you are replaceable and worthless. 5. A lot of times projects will get canceled.

[@jayshartzer844]

"Golden handcuffs" sounds pretty good out of context ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@creativeclub2023]

Golden handcuff already used in history about 10000years ago in Ramayana by lord Ram's mentor.

[@pemcodegame4918]

who cares they pay so much you can retire in like 5 years

[@someone6949]

@@pemcodegame4918 I can tell you from experience that you will not be retiring in 5 years if you start your career at these big tech companies. Big salaries and decent stock are great out of context, but when you factor in cost of living and tax(state and federal), you are no longer looking at absurd take-home money. Still very good, but you could still take 20+ years before you hit fuck-you money. Of course, assuming you are great at and lucky in your job, you could get promotions that expedite this process.

[@richardhuang5026]

Legend

[@micaylaspencer9449]

The golden handcuffs just blew my mind. Your comfort zone becomes so incredibly comfort zone that you don't want to take any risks or do something new. I hope that anyone feeling that can feel a little better by knowing how blessed they are to have that problem. :)

[@existentialchild698]

1. Golden Handcuffs (1:57) 2. Non-Transferrable Skills (4:10) 3. Slow (5:49) 4. Cog in the Wheel (7:31) 5. Canceled Projects (10:08)

[@carloshernandes3437]

Thanks!

[@metaocloudstudio2221]

I can relate all. I was working at Google for 2 years, and decided to leave finally. It was not an easy move, but now I have my own company with a lot of freedom and of course 4x salary. I work on anything I love and my customers all love and share respect to me and my beloved employees.

[@kaushikraghupathrunitechie]

Do 5 best things to work at algo expert!! 😁

[@SeamusMcMichael]

I would like to hear it

[@XueyongQian]

The first two points are also true in my tiny startup (9 people): 1. Golden handcuffs. The managers really go out of their way to make everyone feel comfortable, like in a family. This is really great for people(like me) who have imposter syndrome. 2. A lot of the skills are non-transferable. Hey, our company is doing neuroimaging, which is not easy to transfer to any other tech company.

[@Jalalx]

Thank you for sharing your ideas! Of course it wasn't a surprise. I've experienced most of them in my current position as a software engineer in a medium level company. A suggestion: Please put a summary in the description part. It's hard to find it in comments.

[@amirhosseinahmadi3706]

Informative video, thank you, brother.

[@nosthrillz]

starts at 2:00

[@Kivsha]

ty

[@ElectraTechna55]

Thx

[@jbb8261]

Hero

[@-Edwin.55-]

Thank you for all your help and support..... Edwin from India.....Clement .my friend .my brother..... respect u buddy for you work

[@onbeat089]

No provolone cheese?? Google: "Congratulations, we would love to extend you an offer" Me: "Goodbye"

[@TheJFMR]

Thanks Clement for being brave and make this video. Regards

[@goomyman23]

Juan Fran Martín how is this brave? This was a what is your greatest weakness level of softball answers. I agree with these but they are true of all big companies. How about long working hours. They give you free food because they don’t want you to leave. 24 hour on call. Traffic and housing prices in the area making your high salary less enticing. An extremely low working age of 29. See age discrimination + burnout from the long hours Http://www.computerworld.com/article/2914233/median-age-at-google-is-29-says-age-discrimination-lawsuit.html How about the percentage of h1bs. There are golden handcuffs and then there are visa handcuffs. Foreign employees are literally unable to change companies. Don’t like it, go home. They aren’t even allowed to change jobs within google without renewing their visa. So those cancelled projects have a huge effect. If it’s anything like other tech companies there are more foreigners than citizens. How about how most employee don’t even last 5 years. This isn’t because it’s the most amazing place and the golden handcuffs, it’s because it’s often constant crunch, stressful, and there is always a new lower salaries college hire waiting to take your place. This guy left google to try something different. That’s probably true to some degree but it’s the bs answer hiding the real truth, people leave a “good” job because it’s not as good as you make it sound or they got offered a job making more money in which case maybe the job doesn’t like to promote internally.

[@davidurbina6555]

I think what you were trying to describe in number 4 is the scope of how you look at it. Very informative. Number 5 would be the worst for me. Thanks for the video!

[@aleksagordic9593]

Thanks for the vid buddy! Really similar to the problems Microsoft is experiencing. I guess every big tech company is really similar in a lot of ways.

[@HolisticDeveloper]

Interestingly enough the same happens at small tech companies as well.

[@GabiN64]

Went to a larger company myself and regret it! My main issue is feeling like another cog in a giant machine you had no part in building up. The sad thing is i left an amazing start up. Everyday I think of asking for my job back.

[@briancoates6849]

Clément I currently am working as a developer at a company I love but I'm really obsessing with being interview ready at all times. I didn't have to do the traditional technical interview we see at google to get my current job but I want to sharpen my skills and be interview ready encase something ever happens. I have been contemplating getting algo expert and practicing interviewing questions and such but I want to make it sticks for the long haul and something I invest in now and I just forget when the time comes.

[@yasinuddowla]

Feeling demotivated for my dream job...

[@Red-fg9qr]

lmfao I fell for the cheese joke, i was like wtf dude.

[@great-garden-watch]

The tools are amazing. And while they are built in house, if you leave you can improve processes and tools in your new company by taking hints from what you learned at Google and I think that makes the skills extra transferable!

[@andrewm69]

I'd like to hear someone make a version of this that is worst things about being an engineer at a regular company in middle America

[@Dxeus]

Awesome @Clément Mihailescu. You are spot-on #3 and #4, I am working as a tech lead in a trillion $ company and it took me 8 months to get approval for a test DB instance, not to mention another 3 months to get authentication to a small virtual machine.

[@foru3400]

You Explained it great bro!!

[@Kevindevin7]

Hi Clément! As a finishing Google intern and possible Googler, I can say I felt all of these while working for the company! It's amazing to know that someone else was also feeling the way I did. I do plan on accepting an offer though, if I get one! (knock on wood). Thanks for the great content, please continue.

[@MsRoropiroro]

@Erick Budal Seems like we''ll never know

[@basharanisnarendramodi3526]

Yoo how did u get an internship?

[@waseemq1522]

@@MsRoropiroro 😂😂 well , we'll just wait for someone to reply to my comment now

[@waseemq1522]

Bruv, it's been a year now, reply to the dude¯\_( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)_/¯

[@Anon-cn9ob]

@Kevin A ?

[@mendel6101]

Was waiting for this one xD

[@clem]

I hope it didn't disappoint!

[@dimitrastav]

Very honest confession! I was specially touched about the fourth level!

[@quangvo4563]

Great video mateee !!. I’m looking forward to a video about the journey you built algoexpert from scratch. From validate the idea to front-end, back-end, deploy & scale. Have a nice dayy !!

[@clem]

Thank you! And yes, coming soon!

[@hectorserrano9314]

Re-Tweet

[@edwardtan1773]

That's not really what Golden Handcuffs typically refer to in the tech industry. Golden Handcuffs typically refers to when companies give you stock options which vests over X amount of years, and when you leave the company before said X years, you don't get any of the stock. Amazon is notorious for that.

[@nathanwiebe935]

Nah, man. The expression generally doesn't just refer to stock options... any time when you would have to walk away from a lot of money for other types of fulfillment.

[@pedromalbernaz]

The American cheese one was pretty funny 😆 😆😆👏... I would’ve been pissed.

[@ksv0509]

Xoogler here and current Facebooker, I can say this 1, 2, 4 are all true at FB too, But we work a lot faster than traditionally at Google and things are constantly in broken stage vs Google has their shit together. I need to make a video myself about the differences :)

[@dantealexis7835]

11/10 channel promotion ;)

[@mfkman]

If you had to choose between Google and FB, which would you choose?

[@bigpoppa4094]

on a tablet why the hell does a FB video start over to the beginning when you flip it or go to full screen?

[@cosmicbunny541]

His mouth...

[@algorithmimplementer415]

superb video .. really of high quality.

[@clem]

Thanks!

[@avnishkumar7315]

Hi Clement! What are the skills which are common to all the companies as SWE! What are the things which tie all the great SWE together? Can you make a video on this?

[@valdius85]

First time here. I like your content and you are a good speaker. First World problem: please consider improving sound quality by dampening the echo from the walls ;)

[@robbeandredstone7344]

Agreed

[@Yan-rv8mi]

yeah, this is indeed a video that makes me want to work at Google more.

[@thisisit9771]

Are Google interviews for non software engineering roles different/less technical? E.g. Security program manager

[@ninezero6975]

I think you've summed it up nicely. Another thing to note is that the development process at google is extremely bureaucratic, slow, and process oriented. A project that takes about 1 month at a mid sized company will take an entire quarter here at google. Maybe its just my team, or maybe its a Google culture thing. I've been a SDE for about 7 months now.

[@99ProfessorGroup]

Thank you. This is so useful! I cannot settle with nontransferable skills. It's not my long term goal

[@cseteacher23]

As another example for nontransferable skills, I remember once our software engineering professor was talking about IBM support personnel, exaggeratedly called engineers. However, they were actually 'IBM' engineers since they were unable to fix non-IBM business machines!

[@anthonyl2823]

Great attention gainer about the omelette cheese. I was analyzing if the video to check for false negatives. And almost searched for another video based on the omelette story. Good attention gainer, good video.

[@sneha_d_mystery_princess]

omg... in the starting... i literally thought.... they didn't gave u the Cheeze u wanted... n so only you are upset.... n i imagined the next 4 points like... yes... every morning they put more sugar in my coffee... n my salad tastes different every time... 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 that was the most hilarious punch in the whole video... 😂😂😂😂 n i was like... man this guy has struggled soooo much to take out bad about Google ... 😂😂😂

[@wsidechris]

I was an SDE 2 at Amazon for 2 years. Only #4 applies (Amazon is the ultimate corporate machine, you are definitely a cog). Of course #5 as well, but Amazon is fail-fast and will cancel a doomed project before you can even start it.

[@bperez8656]

Wanna give a referral? 😂😂😂

[@java3942]

Random question, as a front-end engineer did you use javascript in your technical interviews? Or something easier to write like python/java.

[@clem]

I used Python for my interviews at Google. But note that I applied for a generalist "Software Engineer" role there--not for a "Frontend Software Engineer" role. Had I done the latter, I may have been asked to use JavaScript for frontend-specific interview questions. In my most recent interviews (also for a generalist role), I used JavaScript because now it's just too ingrained in me 😛

[@smokedpaprika691]

Imma smash that like button!!

[@Lethcode]

As someone who works at a 45k employee Fintech. The only one that doesn't relate to my company is golden handcuffs. At my company the software out numbers the engineers we may have 100 engineers on one program family that might have 1000 pieces. You can see why this might slow down refactoring, decision making and all causing projects to be killed. If something becomes deprioritized it makes sense to kill it. The refactoring is usually looking at managing risk vs opportunity cost of using that time on anything else. This video might as well have been called the realities of working in software development.

[@chandanagarwal9313]

You are a wonderful person.. lots of love from India :)

[@Garowen]

my #1 worst is getting hired by Google driectly for a direct, full time job, super excited, moving across country then showing up to the first day to learn it is 'Contractor Orientation'.

[@Garowen]

I think Clement is so deep in the Koolaid of google he can't see the surface.

[@bperez8656]

@@Garowen what do you even mean by he’s so deep in the kool aid he can’t even see the surface? So cryptic

[@AbhilashRathod5]

What about work stress? I've heard its extream.

[@BobcatMoviesInc]

It's so amazing and takes so much to get into the company, yet developers seem to leave so quickly 🤔

[@clem]

Their feet are itchy 😛

[@masuzun6546]

The slow pace and politicality of some things (especially the promotion grind), as well as the salary disparity depending on where your office is, drive me mad 🤮 I think that the golden handcuff feeling definitely is not that present outside of the USA when you can make comparable cash or more through personal projects on the side.

[@eugenevedensky6071]

On the topic of being a cog in the wheel, is this really something that’s a ‘bad’ thing ? It just is, right? One could make the argument that with greater impact you have greater exposure. More weighs on you and the scope of your responsibilities is much broader than someone who is perhaps perfectly comfortable with their half a mil salary and quality of life.

[@doubtunites168]

I like Clement for having almost as wide tooth spaces as I have. ♥

[@gamma_girl]

I worked at Amazon for 4 years and felt all these which is why I quit but in retrospective I regret the decision. It's not going to be any better outside so if you got an opportunity to work at big tech try to stay. Maybe switch between other big techs.

[@martinharris4416]

bro these ex - googlers are cracking the youtube algorithm and making channels

[@gorillaman283]

1. There is not much room for growth. 2. Ethics: you'll do well, but you have to look the other way when it comes to privacy invasion and censorship

[@bperez8656]

Absolutely gross and agreed. Personal interest over the good of humanity. That is the ultimate golden handcuff.

[@robertcorbin2749]

Provolone is better than American cheese for sure. That part of the video was funny Clement. Hahahahaha . The “slow” bullet point is interesting. The bigger they are the slower they decide?

[@clem]

😂definitely! And I would rephrase it to say the bigger they are, the more hoops they have to jump through to make decisions.

[@mbonuchinedu2420]

i love number 3

[@hellowill]

I like how you talk about your best things at google video. But this has twice the views xD

[@boggeshzahim3713]

I think most jobs have the downside of having some non transferable skills, no two companies are going to have the same stack

[@rodrodrod60]

Any insight on working with google fiber??

[@svdfxd]

In my opinion apart from #2 these apply to all big organizations esp. tech.

[@clem]

Agreed; like I said, it was hard to find 5 negative things, let alone *unique* things!

[@bluespeckcf5949]

6. Their hiring process is loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong. Took me 5 months from first contact with a recruiter to the joining date, including all the immigration stuff. Still a privilege to join G ;) 7. Google knows you will join them, so they won't budge in their compensation package, even with FAAN counter offers. I eventually chose Google, and left the higher compensation offer. (Anecdotal! My reason was my team manager was awesome enough to up my comp more than what I expected, and the project was higher impact than the competing offer) So yeah, G is da shit, and G knows it!

[@epicbanana4943]

the worst thing its to good to leave

[@nitinagrawal6637]

Correct points but mostly these are valid for all the organisations, as you change the projects/companies tech/processes/working style changes which may not be applicable to other projects/companies & all these just add in your profile only & for me it is about impossible to remember everything especially during the time of internet. And anywhere, projects can shutdown in single day/night & worst you can be jobless. In mostly all big organisations things moves slowly on management/business side & funny thing is that same people expect the tech guys to deliever the work at lightning speed, & I have to agree Google like companies can be leading such culture. In mostly all organisations we see big failures by management/architects etc happen. In all the organisations we have around 15-20% people only, who will doing major critical work on which other 80% will be drawing their fat salaries & in Google that core % can be higher like 30% or 40% but if one sees honestly then here also we will be having major % of people who just make large talks, use heavy buzz words, talk about out of the box innovations. So I think, heavy salaries at Google like organisations suppresses conscience of individual else in most organisations we can see such complaints. And we all know, hardly any organisation will be doing its business honestly with good heart & no such organisation can pay fat salaries to its employees.

[@charlesa1234]

I was waiting for the comment of The @TechLead

[@solepanic6583]

no manches para mi sonó como " 5 razones por las cuales trabajar para google", no joking for me sounds like " 5 reasons for why work in google"

[@cernejr]

How about open office? Not a problem?

[@christineng5132]

How frequent is pay raise given? And how much is the norm to the pay increment?

[@thejayman1886]

If you are a help expert on google help you are 95% guaranteed to be a volunteer. If he ever did get paid it probably wasn't much because Google generally treats their employees like crap. Only people who ruin everything get paid a decent wage cough susan wockji cough cough.

[@hat_awesome21]

so my next question is , how to stand alone from ur team that is , how to not be a cog in a wheel?

[@ChristopherJereza]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@clem]

I think you forgot a 🔥!

[@amitsatpathy07]

I disagree on the 5th point, if you are working on R&D division it is never 100% sure that the work or project you are working on may be a successful one, so it's alright if the project is discarded if the POC does not work or project does not become successful.One should be happy the fact that he/she got to work on such project which was impossible but they were assigned to do such project instead of others.

[@Kenbomp]

It's not good or bad it's about what fits. But don't think they're not getting their money's worth from their employees. Of course it's something you can choose

[@sayantanbhaduri3874]

Most of points except point no 1 is common in my company too.....I experienced almost all of these within 2 years of career😅😅😅

[@CEA9234]

The non transferable skills is biggest issue I see.

[@Witty.Coding]

1:40 Google lost me here 😂😂😂

[@midnightsrequiem3909]

Ahh i see these arnt 5 bad things. This is 5 bad things for extroverts. Glad im an introvert

[@kunxue9343]

a lot of facial expression! awesome

[@danieljacales326]

For Mexico City Office we earn 10X less than other offices for the same job. Sill great and I'm aware of cost of living is less but still feel like we are second class citizens.

[@tbraghavendran]

All these criticisms applies to all big companies.

[@darvius]

Ok so working at Google is a dream come true. Gotcha.

[@hellowill]

We use GCP and like 5 Google java libraries.. oh no..

[@Raj_jsr_23]

The video starts at 01:58

[@TheLoneWolfOfWallStreet]

video starts at 2:00

[@Alexander-dt2eq]

so no neg point about working at google. all you mentioned is common problems not specific to any company.

[@namahshrestha3226]

Golden handcuffs? Dammit Ill even take the golden legcuffs. Ill also take the golden shackles.

[@rbcook5245]

Everyone is a cog in the wheel, no matter the company

[@videogamesare1]

Yo I am caressing that like button so hard

[@clem]

Fantastic!

[@y1ink]

What’s up everybody!

[@creapalicios]

I only SMASH dat like button. I aint gonna caresse it

[@clem]

😂😂😂

[@amberts180]

I see that golden handcuffs could very possible, especially if you have entrepreneurial ambitions.

[@MH-vb4ug]

No favorite cheese. Yup thats a deal breaker. LOL

[@muhammadiqbalbazmi9275]

Then, why have you created "Algoexpert".

[@archmad]

Wait, he said provo - lōn and not lōnē? that's the most surprising thing in this video :)

[@sanjaygatne1424]

Its human tendency to criticize past when in better condition today. And visa versa.

[@bundalord8764]

Did this channel name changed? I thought it was something else

[@faye_isc]

HEY !! Are u romanian ??? Cuz u have a romanian name !! ♥️

[@agnesakne4409]

10:00

[@kingmufasa9958]

he is braggin that it's easy for him, but he doesnt say they take only 0,2% of the applicant

[@ligeskityler]

I am outraged.

[@borgirvspitsah7329]

Salut!!

[@clem]

Salut!

[@kirkoashley]

You should change the title to the 5 worst things about working at a large tech company, because you kept saying "This may not be unique to Google".

[@onlinesnepal5747]

with your new earnings youc can buy a new tshirt

[@LiquidityThieves]

Thats part of his MOJO!!!! Clement has been very inspirational to me and Im considering buying a bunch of black shirts myself!!!!