Careers of newly graduated CS PhDs in Google?

Baidu / Data
yiJK48

Go to company page Baidu Data

yiJK48
Oct 30, 2019 13 Comments

A lot of people go to Google to learn things and gain advantages for the next hop of their careers. But is joining Google alone enough?

In my current company over half of my colleagues are PhD. We do a lot of challenging things and I feel I'm learning new things every day. Unfortunately for some organizational reason many of us have to find a new job.

So I got an offer from Google, and matched a team where only one colleague of my level has a PhD. The others are bachelors with a lot more industry experience than I have. Does that mean the skills of a PhD are not really needed in such a team? Is that a good sign for career development?

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TOP 13 Comments
  • Apple
    hfbrt

    Go to company page Apple

    hfbrt
    You do know most PhDs work in industry not doing typical researchy stuff.

    That doesn't mean it's not interesting or innovative or smart. As far as "skills of phd" is concerned -- My impression is that there is nothing "unique" about skills in PhDs in industry that can't be done by any guy with strong CS background and enough experience and exposure. (Exceptions exist, but very rare) Degrees are just piece of paper.

    So perhaps talk more with you potential team and learn more beyond what piece of paper they hold?
    Oct 30, 2019 0
  • New
    Optimizely

    New

    Optimizely
    Lots of ramblings about titles and credentials and academia. That’s been your life for some time now. Now, in the real world, things are very different. The only thing that matters is working at an optimal rate and increasing revenue. At Google, they want that and a little more. They usually get mediocrity. So just do your best and excel in every way, and you’ll be fine.
    Oct 30, 2019 4
    • New
      Optimizely

      New

      Optimizely
      It’s always better to be with a group that matches your background. Especially if that matters to you.
      Oct 30, 2019
    • New
      Optimizely

      New

      Optimizely
      I’ve learned that you want a group that matches your IQ, not necessarily your credentials.
      Oct 30, 2019
  • Google
    noiseless

    Go to company page Google

    noiseless
    Most new PhD grads at Google start off as L4 SWE to push protos for Ads or Search
    Oct 30, 2019 0
  • New
    llIIl

    New

    llIIl
    OP probably got assigned to a shitty team like cloud or android.

    You never want to be the smartest person in the room.
    Oct 30, 2019 1
  • Google
    couched

    Go to company page Google

    couched
    You'll anyway end up doing frontend.
    Oct 30, 2019 1
    • New
      Optimizely

      New

      Optimizely
      True
      Oct 30, 2019