Working at Google feels pointless

Google
falador

Go to company page Google

falador
Feb 23, 2021 669 Comments

This is a rant question. But been at google for four years now. I've been through two teams and all the work feels like uninteresting busy work that no one actually cares about unless you backstab the whole org and shamelessly plug yourself every 10 minutes. I'm at the point where I want to move to Amazon just so I can have a fire under my ass and grow (single, no kids) but that seems like something I'd regret and this might be a problem with all big companies.

Would going to a startup help? Has anyone felt like this and done something about it? Or am I just a whining millennial?

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TOP 669 Comments
  • Start a youtube channel, how to become Software Engineer at Google :p
    Feb 23, 2021 6
  • Facebook / IT
    zuck bucks

    Go to company page Facebook IT

    zuck bucks
    Come to FB. Fairly easy to switch teams after being here for a year, less PIP fear than amazon and lots of growth opportunities if you have the drive.
    Feb 23, 2021 9
    • Facebook / IT
      zuck bucks

      Go to company page Facebook IT

      zuck bucks
      Hey Shell, I think your phone posted something, glad it wasn't a nude 😆
      Feb 28, 2021
    • @jtr.dev, all interviews are being done remotely. They are starting to hire fully remote people (if that's your intention), but there are more positions for people that are willing to eventually move to CA/WA/NY. If you are open to moving and you are a 'yes' on the hire, they will find an offer to get you out there.
      Mar 11, 2021
  • Google
    kkkkko

    Go to company page Google

    kkkkko
    Same situation after a year. Most pointless place I worked at. I think Google is good for very specific 2-3 teams. The rest are just there to keep the show running IMO.
    Feb 23, 2021 9
  • SpaceX
    qadwed

    Go to company page SpaceX

    PRE
    Google
    qadwed
    If you want fire under your ass and to feel like you're working on something important come to SpaceX before Amazon. I felt the same way and came here and it definitely fulfilled that itch.

    But even after seeing my code in space many times and even having my name etched on a car flying in space, it also starts to all feel pointless after awhile. Eventually everything you do and everyone you know will be gone and forgotten so don't worry too much about the point of things and have fun.
    Feb 28, 2021 5
    • TACHC / IT
      ctonpoono

      TACHC IT

      PRE
      Q2, USAA, Clearwater Analytics, Nautilus
      ctonpoono
      @dengey Startups and small/medium tech companies are a better bet for most people. Starting your own company is vastly more work than most people realize. And if you opt for that, definitely get a business focused partner that you trust. It's not that you can't do that side of things, you just won't want to.
      Feb 28, 2021
    • good ol' existential dread.
      Apr 13, 2021
  • Google
    sQrT42

    Go to company page Google

    sQrT42
    Probably.

    What did you think working at a 100k+ person company would be?
    Feb 23, 2021 7
    • Google
       

      Go to company page Google

       
      >True I guess. It's hard to reconcile that after all the work you had to do and school you had to pay for to get here.

      That's why they pay you 😂. The vast majority of people don't have jobs that they're very passionate about. But we are lucky enough to get our work done and blow our money outside of work on things we actually give a fck about.
      Feb 28, 2021
    • New / Strategy
      Alchemi3t

      New Strategy

      Alchemi3t
      ^^^respect
      Mar 1, 2021