Are there any mediocre SWEs at Google?

New
eddude

New

eddude
Jan 7, 2021 37 Comments

Blind has made me skeptical of ever being able to employed at Google as a SWE. Posts about how difficult it is to go through the interview, get hired and perform at the job makes me doubt myself.

I've never been top of my class while in school. I do have a MS in CS and made up for the lack of s high intelligence by working hard. With 15 yoe I've always gotten good ratings from my managers and am currently at a tier 2/3 company.

Should I do a lot of LC and try to get into Google? Will I be able to perform as a mediocre dev without getting pipped? Living in the Midwest, I don't have access to many companies and am at a stage in my life where I value WLB.

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 TOP 37 Comments
  • Google
    xuqing

    Go to company page Google

    xuqing
    Most swe including me are mediocre. There are some superstars though.
    Jan 7, 2021 3
    • Cisco / IT
      watch-d

      Go to company page Cisco IT

       watch-d
      I sometimes feel lost in LC. Feels like an ocean and don't know where to go. Educative.io has good tutorials which help you in understanding the basic concept and also good interview questions. You can start from there.
      Jan 7, 2021
    • Cadence
      Rando911

      Go to company page Cadence

      Rando911
      There are only so many data structures and algorithms. List the most common ones and practice them using tag. Start off on LC just by looking at the problem, thinking about it for a few minutes, then check the highest voted solution for your language in the discuss. Do this a few times and you'll start to get it, then try solving some yourself. Use the tags at first to focus on certain things, then start looking at random problems.
      Jan 7, 2021
  • Sure, but with 15 yoe you should also have a spine: if it's anything less than L5, reject.
    Jan 7, 2021 5
    • Walmart
      thanos2

      Go to company page Walmart

      thanos2
      Actually joining soon. I did talk to a few friends there and they told me not to worry about it. Less expectations coming in so that's a good thing I guess. Plus you will be learning alot. You probably will perform at a higher level and that might get you a promo faster. But that's not guaranteed especially with Google's promo. I mean, if you are not happy, you can move to FB or somewhere else after a year for more $$$$. And can come back to G at a higher level as well. I've been reading that here on Blind. Plus I hear you dont have to interview if you are coming back at the same level that you left. Of course I assume you have been performing well for that to happen. Let me know if you have any other questions.
      Jan 9, 2021
    • New
      eddude

      New

      eddude
      OP
      Thays my understanding as well. you can boomerang within a year. Whats your YOE? How was your interview experience?
      Jan 9, 2021
  • Google
    ๐Ÿฟ hm

    Go to company page Google

    ๐Ÿฟ hm
    I am mediocre, never been top of my class. Just have to LC and get lucky in interviews. Google's got good wlb, and hard to get fired, I have teammates that have been coasting for years
    Jan 7, 2021 3
    • Google
      ๐Ÿฟ hm

      Go to company page Google

      ๐Ÿฟ hm
      Cover all range of topics, don't worry about dynamic programming. Focus on understanding solutions on LC rather than blind memorizing solutions because most interview questions aren't on LC word for word.

      The interviewers don't really care about your education background btw, they wouldn't know or care that you're mediocre.

      Oh and this is obvious but PLEASE communicate while you're thinking of solutions, its obvious but so many candidates just heads down write stuff without saying a word
      Jan 7, 2021
    • VMware
      tatti๐Ÿ’ฉ

      Go to company page VMware

      tatti๐Ÿ’ฉ
      @hm: I consider myself mediocre too and value wlb the most. I have upcoming team match. Can you please suggest the product/team I should stay away from. Thanks
      Jan 7, 2021
  • Google
    plokij

    Go to company page Google

    plokij
    I have not seen any mediocre SWEs at Google but I can admit that I am very much a mediocre SWE so I guess that makes 1 at least. I am like you, not top of the class or anything, just got by by working harder than everyone else. Youโ€™ll be fine. Just focus on grinding Leetcode to pass the interviews. Focus on doing mock interviews and getting good and communication while solving the question. Once youโ€™re in, youโ€™re set. Take time through team matching so you can get what you want. If you wanna maximize WLB, you can definitely find the right team
    Jan 7, 2021 0

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