Comments on: Google: No. 1 Best Company to Work For

By: Keith, Santa Clara, CA

Keith, Santa Clara, CA — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:20:51 +0000

I work there, and other places too. I do believe Google is the best place, ever, to work. I disagree with Mel, I was hired with no degree. I’m not aware of any such lists. You just have to be good. In my group there are many over 40, including me. So it’s not just for single, 25 year olds. There are many employees with families, and Google is very accommodating and a great place for kids, also.

By: Luke, Los Angeles, CA

Luke, Los Angeles, CA — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:59:05 +0000

Having a tech background and hearing of the daily news of Google’s cutting-edge progress and growth, I can imagine that working for Google, regardless of position, would be exciting to say the least.

When they were gaining many percentage points in their stocks each day, I’m sure employees with stock options were constantly checking quotes and feeling on top of the world.

It’s slowed down a bit now, and Google’s stock price has dropped relative to the peak, showing that even this giant is vulnerable to the broader market. Although Google is a great company with good vision, I wonder of the employee sentiment now. I’m sure they don’t feel that Google is invincible, but perhaps they may be pushed to come up with even more cool new ideas for the web. Add News to Your Website

By: Jennifer Smith, san francisco, CA

Jennifer Smith, san francisco, CA — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:31:08 +0000

Although one does not have to pay to be part of the Best Places to Work list, you do have to complete the Best Places to Work application process which expends a good deal of time and money.

By: seattle wa

seattle wa — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:37:50 +0000

I agree. google has bad recruitment policies, they get lot of applications so they tend to get arrogant, also it is good for people just out of college, for experienced people its not the place to be .. i work there and i am telling you ! it doesnt deserve to be no 1. i guess it pays a lot to be here.

By: mark, nyc

mark, nyc — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:22:47 +0000

Google will grind you up and spit you out a burned-up jaded web monkey.

By: John WA

John WA — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:41:44 +0000

I agree with Mandy on Google. I dont work for any major Giants like Google, Microsoft or Yahoo. However I did send resumes to all of the three. only Microsoft responded and even though I was not selected, they actually made my interview experience pleasant and let me know the reasons why I was not selected. Thats what I call true caring unlike a company that boasts off being the search giant and not actually caring people.

Google did not acknowldge the receipt of my application.

By: Laura Mael, Madison, WI

Laura Mael, Madison, WI — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:47:31 +0000

I have worked for a variety of companies in my life but never for one where the leadership team so opening cares about the associates who work there, the clients who entrust them with their money and the world in which we live. Johnson Financial Group does an outstanding job spending countless hours, holding numerous conversations and conducting endless research to ensure that each associate is place in a position that highlights their current skills while offering limitless opportunities to build new ones. The benefits are life balance oriented with a focus on healthy lifestyles from healthclub reimbursements to connections with the Mayo clinic. Client focus is not product based by ensuring that by entrusting us with their financial planning needs their wealth will grow, advice is given in the interest of the clients and not the Company. There are more accredited individual providing more informed advice and information to JFG clients than anywhere else. The SC Johnson family has a long history in regards to their committement to the world in which we live and that lives on through Helen Johnson at JFG. Employees volunteer more hours per year than any other company and the importance of giving to the community is felt and heard through the leadership team as well. Associates are often heard to say “I need to get some volunteer hours in, I haven’t done much this year” and it’s been told that Regional Presidents are often asked “have you donated enough resources to making your communities a better place because you’re here this year?” JFG honestly spends time, effort and resources to live this committment to their communities. There are many companies who say they are committed to their associates, their clients and their communities – JFG lives it. It is not just a committment by their Leadership Team, it is a committment by every associate who is fortunate enough to work there. You can feel it in the halls, see it in their work, hear it in the many JFG stories that are told. It is the best place to work.

By: Mel, Sunnyvale, California

Mel, Sunnyvale, California — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:15:49 +0000

I cannot let this ranking go without comment. It is true that Google has made many millions of dollars for many. However, the hiring policies of this Internet giant are rarely spoken of. Perhaps this is because not many have the inside knowledge that I do. I happen to know that a list exists for specific Universities that you must have attended to even be considered for a position. This list even has rankings depending on the type of position which they are hiring. Not only do these lists exist, but you must have a 3.0-3.2 or higher GPA to be considered. Sure, there may be a few exceptions in the engineering department, it depends how desperate they are to fill a req (Good engineers are hard to find in the Valley). No matter if you have been working in the industry and bring 10 plus years experience to the interview table, you must be prepared to bring your college transcripts and explain away that C+ you got in Freshman Biology. No kidding here, this has been confirmed by many and is public knowledge in the Valley. Many people who I currently work with were employed at Google as contractors and, as it has been previously said, dumped at the mark where the law does not allow your contract status to continue. Google has many positive attributes, free food is great, bringing your dog to work is fantastic…all for the naive, SINGLE, 25 year old employee who would never know or understand the real lack of “lifestyle diversity” that they are surrounded by every day. Some may argue that they have childcare, for a lucky 300 spots they do, good luck getting one. My point is that even though Google may be an interesting company to work for, I am not sure I would ever want to work somewhere where experience in the job market and historical knowledge is simply not valued as much as which University your parents could afford. I wish Google would prove me wrong and change their ways.

By: Gabrielle S. (CNNMoney)

Gabrielle S. (CNNMoney) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:44:46 +0000

For all those wondering how the Best Companies to Work For are selected, please see our methodology. And to answer Grace's question, no, companies don't pay to be included. Thanks for your comments

By: Grace, Arlington VA

Grace, Arlington VA — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:20:49 +0000

Is it true that companies pay to be included in this list?

By: Javier, Reading, PA

Javier, Reading, PA — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:35:00 +0000

Precisely, I was looking into that Quality Rater jobs opening from Google a few minutes ago. Mandy, I'm wondering why did Google tell you that you could never ever work remotely for them again? I'm just curious... work-online

By: Mandy Schaefer Glendale, AZ

Mandy Schaefer Glendale, AZ — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:48:31 +0000

Google may be the best company to work for — in California or other physical locations. I don’t know. I’ve never been to the Googleplex. But I have worked as an independent contractor for Google as a Google Answers Researcher from 2002 until they unceremoniously dumped the service at the end of 2006. And I spent nearly 3 years working as a remote “Quality Rater,” even being promoted, only to be also unceremoniously dumped at the end of my second assigment and told, without explanation, that I could never, ever work remotely for Google again.

My experience over the course of four years’ association with Google is that they are arrogant and dismissive of their unseen human resources. They do not answer emails, phone messages are not returned, names are never given, they remain anonymous and unapproachable, while wielding a power over their remote workforce that is feudal in effect. They outsource their payroll to a company that is inept and nearly as uncommunicative as Google itself, regularly messing up people’s pay without apology or responsiveness.
Conclusion? Google may well be a nice place to work if you’re young, highly educated, and located near one of their physical offices. But to one of the many thousands of ill-treated remoted workers around the world, while it’s nice to earn while working at home, it’s frustrating and demeaning to do that work for Google.

By: Gabrielle S. (CNNMoney)

Gabrielle S. (CNNMoney) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:02 +0000

Have you worked for the company? Would you like to?

By: Gabrielle S. (CNNMoney)

Gabrielle S. (CNNMoney) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:59:47 +0000

Should they be No. 1?

By: Gabrielle S. (CNNMoney)

Gabrielle S. (CNNMoney) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:59:27 +0000

What do you think of our No. 1 company on the Best Companies to Work For list as an employer?