9 Things You Didn't Know About Google

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CNN Money has a list, complete with photos, of nine things you didn’t know about Google. Some of my favorites are Google’s filtered air, use of solar panels and “movie night.”

After years of getting around their sprawling Mountain View headquarters on two-wheeled Segways (which kept breaking down) and electric scooters (which employees kept falling off), Googlers now use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation at corporate.
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I need to apply there. Hell, I'd even take the position of a janitor and pick up some stock options ;)
 
It's nice to see some fun and elaborate things that Google is doing that actually have employees wanting to go to work instead of the same old drab. It would definitely be a joy to work for them.
 
All very nice indeed, espcially the never more then one hundred feet from food part.

One question though, what the hell is a certified Lego designer? More to the point, what does such a job pay?:p
 
BillR said:
All very nice indeed, espcially the never more then one hundred feet from food part.

One question though, what the hell is a certified Lego designer? More to the point, what does such a job pay?:p
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Haha, I couldn't say, but if you have a Mall of America near you, I suggest you pay a visit. The one in Minneapolis has a Lego store which is literally a Lego store: counter, cash register, shelves, walls, everything is made of legos..

At least it was like this when I went up there 10 years ago.
 
One of the food network shows, I believe it was Bobby Flay's BBQ show, sat in on one of Google's BBQ days. Just tables full of bbq meat, dam I wish I was a google employee.. Of course after all the bbq they would have to pay for me to lose weight but hey...
 
I would say that definitely classifies as a dream job, mostly because of the atmosphere.
 
RandomNY said:
One of the food network shows, I believe it was Bobby Flay's BBQ show, sat in on one of Google's BBQ days. Just tables full of bbq meat, dam I wish I was a google employee.. Of course after all the bbq they would have to pay for me to lose weight but hey...
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That is why they have bicycles for everyone to ride around on. :D
 
BillR said:
All very nice indeed, espcially the never more then one hundred feet from food part.

One question though, what the hell is a certified Lego designer? More to the point, what does such a job pay?:p
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LEGO model builders and designers are part of the Shows and Events branch which falls under the Marketing department. Their main job is to promote and support New Toy Product Lines, by building large scale models of key product items and product lines. Another job is to fabricate thousands of 'buildups' which are the contents of certain product items, to be displayed in the typical plexi glass box at many stores. One other important role, is participating in "Building Happenings" where model builders interact with children, adults at venues such as Malls, and other points where potential customers can be recruited. There are 3 different types of designers and they are all hourly pay. There is the model designer (low pay compared to other similar type jobs), senior model designer (Pay Rate starts at 14.00 up to 19.00 with no more than 0.50 cents payraise increments per year) and the Master Model Designer (predominately a marketing title, this is typically an honorary title given to some of the most brilliant designers that have worked for the company at any given time. One person holds this title in the US. It is not a salaried positon). And if you don't want to be a LEGO employee you could always look into becoming a LEGO Certified Professional as a hobbyist.
 
brydon10 said:
I would say that definitely classifies as a dream job, mostly because of the atmosphere.
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The only downside to a job like that is I’d bet they have a very very high expectation quotient for their employees.

No matter how wonderful the work atmosphere might be you can only work so many hours for so many years until you burn out.

If you search for Google jobs the listings are endless which makes me wonder what their employee turnover rate might be.:)
 
KrylonArt said:
LEGO model builders and designers are part of the Shows and Events branch which falls under the Marketing department. Their main job is to promote and support New Toy Product Lines, by building large scale models of key product items and product lines. Another job is to fabricate thousands of 'buildups' which are the contents of certain product items, to be displayed in the typical plexi glass box at many stores. One other important role, is participating in "Building Happenings" where model builders interact with children, adults at venues such as Malls, and other points where potential customers can be recruited. There are 3 different types of designers and they are all hourly pay. There is the model designer (low pay compared to other similar type jobs), senior model designer (Pay Rate starts at 14.00 up to 19.00 with no more than 0.50 cents payraise increments per year) and the Master Model Designer (predominately a marketing title, this is typically an honorary title given to some of the most brilliant designers that have worked for the company at any given time. One person holds this title in the US. It is not a salaried positon). And if you don't want to be a LEGO employee you could always look into becoming a LEGO Certified Professional as a hobbyist.[/COLOR]
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quoted for easier reading :p
 
Yeah, didn't know that it posted in Black and can't edit it. Was just about to do that myself.
 
a programer friend of mine started working for Google 3 months ago. from NASA to Google, and he was in town for New Years celebrations. i asked him how he liked it and the smile on his face said everything. BASTARD! :p
 
"Movie Night" is pretty common in tech land. We do it all the time here at ...the place I work at...
 
BillR said:
If you search for Google jobs the listings are endless which makes me wonder what their employee turnover rate might be.:)
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I work there and I love it. It's not the turnover that's causing all the job listings, it's the constant state of expansion.
 
See I have been saying this for years... If your place of employment actually gave a rats ass about its people that work for them and offer little "perks" to them, it does many things.

The workers over all are more happy and that in turn makes them work better and then become more productive. That in turn makes more money for the company.

I mean if you hate your job, you go in day in and day out... in a bad mood and wishing you were not there. This makes you not wanna work that hard

How hard is that for companies to realize this in the US? They need to take a look over seas and a good example is Japan. They are very effective over there but then again they have little perks that come along with the jobs.

If the company shows they care you there in turn care for the place you work. DUH!

As a crew lead I found that even a simple rounds by me and the Super every day saying "HI" to each and every one by name makes a big difrence. Well not huge but it at least shows some signs that you care about your workers.

More companies need to take this page out of the book. Probually not going to happen, but it would be nice
 
We get lunch and stuff like that every once in awhile and they feed us on holidays if were working them.

But on average we don't get much, I would like an exercise room but we don't have one, i'm going to bring that up at the next meeting because half the building still isn't finished so maybe I can get them to build one.

Google is actually building a data center in NC not too far from where I live, its a bit long of a drive though, I already drive too far for work.
 
ACPDestructo said:
We get lunch and stuff like that every once in awhile and they feed us on holidays if were working them.

But on average we don't get much, I would like an exercise room but we don't have one, i'm going to bring that up at the next meeting because half the building still isn't finished so maybe I can get them to build one.

Google is actually building a data center in NC not too far from where I live, its a bit long of a drive though, I already drive too far for work.
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well there was one company i work for a long time ago and they still do stuff to this day like this:

Days care right in the plant.if you were working at the plant and the other person was working you could have the kids babysat for you FREE OF CHARGE. you know how much that would help families? even half the cost would help because like for me, it does not pay to have the old lady work due to cost of day care and it wouldn't make any sense due to most of the paycheck of one person would be gone just to pay for it.

ON site living. They have housing that is dirt cheap apartments. Not only that, they are well over 1100 SQ FT, and some are bigger then others depending on what your needs are. The cost.... a little over 550.00 a month. That is exactly what I am paying for this POS apartment that is not even over 550 SQ ft
The apartments are also only 2 blocks from work, so you can get to and from without even needed a car....
Fitness area. This thing would put most health clubs to shame. I mean its HUGE!!! And did I mention its on the plant property too?

Free health care. They have their own doctors. Just like the ones every other joe goes to every day cept this is free of charge.

All this company asks from you is that you show up every day for your shift. Also overtime hours that are needed...and yes there is tons of overtime. Shifts are 12 hours each. Yes you work your butt off but you wanted to.

Man why i was so stupid to leave is beyond me... I was young and didnt know the benefits that they had and how much it mattered till it was to late. Heck I may re apply there just because.
 
watertown28 said:
well there was one company i work for a long time ago and they still do stuff to this day like this:

Days care right in the plant.if you were working at the plant and the other person was working you could have the kids babysat for you FREE OF CHARGE. you know how much that would help families? even half the cost would help because like for me, it does not pay to have the old lady work due to cost of day care and it wouldn't make any sense due to most of the paycheck of one person would be gone just to pay for it.

ON site living. They have housing that is dirt cheap apartments. Not only that, they are well over 1100 SQ FT, and some are bigger then others depending on what your needs are. The cost.... a little over 550.00 a month. That is exactly what I am paying for this POS apartment that is not even over 550 SQ ft
The apartments are also only 2 blocks from work, so you can get to and from without even needed a car....
Fitness area. This thing would put most health clubs to shame. I mean its HUGE!!! And did I mention its on the plant property too?

Free health care. They have their own doctors. Just like the ones every other joe goes to every day cept this is free of charge.

All this company asks from you is that you show up every day for your shift. Also overtime hours that are needed...and yes there is tons of overtime. Shifts are 12 hours each. Yes you work your butt off but you wanted to.

Man why i was so stupid to leave is beyond me... I was young and didnt know the benefits that they had and how much it mattered till it was to late. Heck I may re apply there just because.
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Wow. That sounds like more of a community than a company. Assuming they have good food you could almost never leave the campus.
 
HOCP4ME said:
Wow. That sounds like more of a community than a company. Assuming they have good food you could almost never leave the campus.
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well you really dont leave lol. The goal is to have you and your family comfy after you do your 5 days of 12 hour shifts But yeah the guys that run the company have done it right. When I worked there we kinda called it a cult... but then again Like i said I didnt know how I had it made there compared to most companies
 
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