EDIT I wrote this in January of 2017 when I restarted my blog but it’s about an event that happened in 2016 so I back-dated it.
Well I guess third time really is the charm. I finally passed through the maze, defeated the minotaur, and exited victorious. Yay me!
I was working at a startup medical company when I got a cold-call from a Google recruiter. I almost didn’t answer the phone because I didn’t recognize the number. But I did and had a nice chat with the recruiter. I wasn’t looking for a job as I had started with Lifecode only 10 months before, but I decided to talk with them for fun.
Well, I went through the process, phone interview, in-person interview, and it started looking like I might actually get the job but I already had one. I would feel bad for leaving Lifecode after such a short time but I probably wouldn’t get another chance to work for Google. This gave a bit of stress for a while. Then, after being with Lifecode for almost 1 year they told everyone that the money had run out and they were closing the doors. Boo, I liked the job. Yay, I was free to go to Google without regret. Boo, I didn’t have a job offer yet. Yay, I didn’t have to make the drive to Foster City anymore. Boo, I was out-of-work.
So the stress of possibly having to leave Lifecode turned into the stress of not having a job. At this point, I’m almost through the process at Google and everything is looking good, so do I wait for Google to get back to me or do I start sending out my résumé. I decided to wait for a little while. Then a little more. And a little more. Argh, I think I’m getting an ulcer.
Finally, after almost a month without work I get the call.
- We’re going to offer you a position
- Yay
- But…
- But? No But! No one said anything about a but…
- You have to have a project to join before you can start with Google
- Ok…so…?
- So now we have to find a group that wants you
- What? You mean like more interviews?
- Well, sort of. Much more informal. You’ll just talk to the managers over the phone. If they like you, you’re in.
- So how do I know who will want me?
- Well, you won’t until they call you. If they call you.
- How long is this going to take? I’m kinda do’t have a job anymore. Or a paycheck. Or food.
- Don’t worry, it shouldn’t take more than a week or two.
- Uhhhh….
Anyway, I only talked with three managers, and the third liked me, asked it I could come in and meet the group. So I did and everyone loved me and showered me with gifts…well, they did like me and I started the next week.
