Most googliest places to work in the south Bay Area?

October 17, 2007 11:16 PM

After making it to my 3rd and final interview, Google decided not to hire me (*sniff*). What are the other most googliest places to work?

"Googliest" meaning:
- Bright, motivated, curious engineers.
- Engineers encouraged to work on multiple projects / domains.
- Engineers encouraged to be creative (e.g. 20% project).
- A conscious effort to foster a unique working environment.
- Located in the south Bay Area.
- Currently hiring.

Thanks in advance!

posted by blahtsk to work & money (16 comments total)

Try C/Net.
posted by parmanparman at 11:20 PM on October 17, 2007

I think even at Google, googliness depends on your group. There are probably some very googly groups at almost every software company in the Valley. Conversely, there are some oppressively ungoogly groups at Google. It's the luck of the draw - just make sure you actually get to talk with your group before you sign anything.
posted by crinklebat at 11:38 PM on October 17, 2007

Facebook?
posted by divabat at 11:59 PM on October 17, 2007

Try Linden Lab.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:05 AM on October 18, 2007

Depending on the division and your work style, there's Apple.

I know people who, believe it or not, love their jobs at Yahoo!

What are you interested in making happen and achieving? For every Google, there's about 100 smaller companies that will give you freedom, control and creativity. They may go under, but hey, then it's on to the next one, yeah?
posted by Gucky at 12:05 AM on October 18, 2007

University research departments.
posted by grouse at 1:19 AM on October 18, 2007

Oh man, I feel for you - Google interviewed me in early 2000. Needless to say, I didn't get the job. If I had, I'd be rolling around on a bed stuffed with money underneath sheets stitched from hundred dollar bills with several beautiful ladies, possibly also made from money, instead of posting this answer as a librarian with a six year old laptop.

That said, I agree with the posters who mentioned small startups, Yahoo, and university research departments. Depending on your temperament and toleration for risk, any of them might work for you. Good luck.
posted by the dief at 4:35 AM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

Nothing to offer, except that they rejected me on Monday (after a phone interview, six face-to-face interviews, and a takehome worksheet). I feel your pain.
posted by web-goddess at 4:54 AM on October 18, 2007

Thoughtworks
posted by PenDevil at 5:16 AM on October 18, 2007

Don't feel too bad -- Google's under pressure right now to cut back on hiring. In Forbes today:

"Analysts also expect Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) to fess up to scaling back its hiring. During the four quarters ending in June, Google hired at a torrid pace, boosting head count by 74%, as pointed out American Technology Research analyst Rob Sanderson in a report Tuesday.

Gross revenue, by contrast, was up only 58% during the same time. That weighed down Google's operating margins, Sanderson noted--and kept the company short of Wall Street's expectations. "
posted by sevenyearlurk at 5:46 AM on October 18, 2007

Akamai.
posted by mkb at 6:55 AM on October 18, 2007

Another vote for Yahoo. An NYC-based company I used to work for was acquired by them shortly after I left. Six years later, a lot still work there (or have moved within Yahoo) and have nothing but good things to say about Yahoo.
posted by mkultra at 7:12 AM on October 18, 2007

Read Netflix's recruiting page, it sounds like something you're looking for. They're hiring in Los Gatos.
posted by lou at 7:22 AM on October 18, 2007

I don't know if Mozilla is hiring right now, but they are pretty damn google-rific and very close by. Also, try looking into companies that show up in TED talks--many of the smaller ones are probably on track to be the next Google.
posted by eralclare at 12:21 PM on October 18, 2007

What do you want to do, and what are the things that you're good at?
posted by anildash at 5:38 PM on October 18, 2007

I think startups are fairly hit or miss when it comes to the environment that you are searching for. If you end up interviewing at a startup, be careful to observe the place and the people.

Folks tend to assume that startups today are like the playground startups of the 90's, or like Google. Many of them may be, but I haven't found that. When you interview, try to detect the general stress/anxiety level, and be sure to ask about things like side projects.
posted by zpaine at 7:27 AM on March 26