I am not the kind who buys into a cult, so may view point may not be the most accurate. I am skeptical of Google as I would be of any big company.
I have a Masters in Computer Science from NYU and I interviewed at Google twice and I’m pretty sure I didn’t get hired because I didn’t fawn all over Google when asked “Why do you want to work for Google?” I simply couldn’t answer that, because to me Google is a yet another big company for me to get lost in. I want to work somewhere where I can make a difference and a direct impact and I am simply not convinced that I would be able to do that at Google.
I have friends who work at Google and tell me that I didn’t pass the interview because I don’t have a “personality fit.” They apparently look for “Googleyness.” No wonder they come across as having an echo chamber and have a problem with women and minorities to the point where their own employees write anti-diversity manifestos. How did that idiot get hired in the first place?
Reality is that there is a ton of big successful companies and exciting start-ups who would love to have people like you (or me) as an engineer. In my career I had nothing but great things to say about all of my employers, including the current one. I love my job.
I continue to get inquires from Google recruiters and I stay in touch with them politely. They never offer any specific job opportunities at Google. That part hasn’t changed since I first interviewed there 10 years ago. You never know what job you are applying for when you go for an interview.
So, anyways, my point is — Google as an employer is not an end goal. The goal is to become a great engineer and be good at what you do and that’s that. You will be successful and marketable anywhere, and you will make an impact anywhere you want.
