Google Work Location Flexibility
How flexible is Google with work location? Does it differ by team/function? Passed on applying for several network engineering TPM positions because they would all require me to relocate. There is an office in my city, but from what I can tell, its mostly SWE/SRE focused with some sales / support roles.
So your question is what is Google's willingness to allow you to work from another office versus the location of the job posting. I'll share my story of a role that I'm looking at, with the caveat that I'm not sure how often Google will allow something like this. I'm currently in the process for a Google Cloud job that was originally listed for the locations of Sunnyvale (HQ), Austin, and New York City. I live in Seattle, where Google has a large presence, and a new office building that is walking distance from where I live at. I initially asked the recruiter about possibly being able to work this job from here, and she informed me that was not an option. So because I'm originally from Austin, I told her that I would be OK relocating to Austin, just to continue the interview process and see how things shake out. Fast forward to onsite interviews back in August that went well, and recruiter informs me that I'm moving forward to hiring committee. I had not spoken to the hiring manager for the role yet, so I asked the recruiter to speak with him before she submitted my profile to HC. Once I got on an informal call with him, we talked about the role, his vision for the team, and just got to know each other a little more. It was at this point that I positioned to him about me working in Seattle, and my preference to work from the office here. He agreed, and subsequently informed the recruiter to allow the role to be worked from Seattle. I believe this is a very isolated incidence, primarily because my type of role can be worked from any location, and I have significant experience working isolated from the hub of the team. But it is possible. It probably just depends on the hiring manager and their comfort allowing such a scenario.
That’s pretty much exactly the best-case scenario I had imagined. Probably need to indicate willingness to push beyond the HR screen. I don’t mind travel for on-site meetings and the compensation / cost of living here is substantially lower than the posting locations. Thanks for sharing your experience, and best of luck with the hiring committee!
Nice. Which role?
It’s dependent on your manager. My manager has team all over US and Europe, he let me choose between any place he has team in the west coast because he want to have me with some of his team and in the same time zone.
From what I hear, they are pretty flexible given the ability to video conference. I asked about this in my interviews. I am in Seattle area and they have to keep in touch with MV a lot anyway. I told my recruiter I am open to MV-based roles if I can work most of the time in Seattle area (and travel expenses are covered). My interview lunch buddy transferred to Kirkland from MV but had to commute back to MV full time for awhile on his own dime and was OK with that since it was his choice. Now he has a Kirkland role. I live down the street from Kirkland campus so want to be based there if at all possible.
Occasionally working from home is fine. Working remotely a couple of weeks at a time is fine. But the only people I’ve ever met who have made remote working their permanent long term thing either grandfathered from an acquisition, or been with G for 15+ years. Otherwise, the role is where the team is.
When you say occasional - is one to two days work from home fine ? Or That’s too much ?
That's fine. I wfh 1 day/week, some teammates do 2. But you need to be physically located the same place as your team.