Today was my last day at Google. I had a hard time leaving the office and my eyes were red and puffy as I walked out of those doors one last time.
Seeing my offer letter 4 years ago was what my parents described to me growing up as the American dream. Coming from a military family in a small town, that worked for everything they had, my parents were right all along:
Work hard, make friends with everyone, hold yourself with the highest standard of integrity, and the right things will come your way.
Growing up this way, being parented this way, is what allowed me to get an offer from Google I thought; So this is how I entered myself into Google as well, in the big state of California where I relocated to.
Although naive to large corporate culture, I believed I could navigate it and get along with everyone as I was jokingly described by everyone back home as a big happy golden retriever.
As a white male, I was immediately corrected by my manager on how to act and what to say, especially to what they described as “protected parties”.
Within my first year, I found myself talking with HR over using nouns such as “girlfriend/boyfriend” instead of “partner” when asking teammates how their weekend plans were.
In my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years, I found my work being stolen and colleagues taking credit for various projects I built. I found myself helping peers with things they struggled with, and a cold shoulder when I asked for the favor in return.
When my manager seemed to start becoming more critical of my work, I asked my peers for help in reviews, only to be stabbed in the back with their feedback.
After watching everyone else seemingly get promoted and not myself, I began being gaslit by my manager when I raised my concerns.
I was blindsided by random performance emails and required HR classes on being receptive to feedback/communicating with tact/recognizing bias.
After enough time, I got the hint, and started applying elsewhere, but I took my learnings from Google to my applications and interviews.
I used other’s projects as reference points, I claimed I was the main driver for their inception, and I landed a new opportunity from it.
My parents were wrong sadly; But Google, and their swamp ecosystem filled with snakes taught me a valuable lesson, because their teachings have landed me a role at a company I know everyone else is applying to.
And now it’s my turn; Every Googler I worked with who asks for a reference, I will gladly accept, and intentionally sabotage.
Every Googler who finds themselves at the offer stage, and I am asked by the HM of my opinion, I will recommend they not be hired.
The chickens have come home to roost.
Thanks Google.
