Sep 19, 2008
Google Phoenix Tanks
Categories: Featured, General
Written By: derek
Google seems to be having trouble making their Phoenix operations work. Google made the decision to put their campus on the Arizona State University campus nearly two and half years ago. They made a play to employ professors and control all recruiting out of the engineering department of the university. Clearly, Google was in it for Google, not the university and not the city. Ask yourself, have you seen Google at local technical events? Have you seen them contribute anything beyond job solications? Google while we love you, we are disappointed you didn’t make it work. I think your approach here was all wrong. The next time you come into a community remember you recieve in accordance to what you give.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I think I might have bumped into a Google employee at Refresh a while back. I agree that their employees need to get out more.
As for local events, they sponsored a dinner at one of my favorite Mexican food places last year after a technical event.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Lame! That is all I can say. The post by Google makes it seem like the Phoenix people are to blame for the faltering projects, but I can’t imagine that is the case. This is/was an organizational problem. It always felt like they were relegating the Phoenix googlers to the janitorial roles in their engineering efforts. No cool projects, nothing to really get excited about, and no effort made outside of their campus to integrate. It was a half-assed attempt by Google at best and shame on them for making it seem otherwise.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I agree that they’re not participating in PHOENIX. They ignored a bunch of major networking events in Phoenix for years, and it really bugs me.
Some of the other tech companies in Phoenix should take notice and begin participating. Looking at all of the Yahoos, Amazons, and other companies in AZ.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Brian come now. You are smarter than that. Sponsoring drinks at an event and sending two bubbly co-ed recruiters and your hiring manager to the mixer. Is NOT participating. It is as the post mentioned “job solicitation” at best. Granted we should thank companies that financially back events (even if they ONLY want an opportunity to sell/market/recruit the event), but lets not call it participation in the way that is outlined here. That said, at that particular event I think they did have a speaker talk about a java product, I will give them that. Just disappointing that their involvement in nearly three years has been so minimal.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
This is a rough PR hit for Phoenix, but it’s probably a good kick-in-the-butt for the local government and trade organizations trying so hard to get the “big tech” to Arizona.
Arizona’s economy is driven by small businesses. The great tech innovations are coming from small businesses. The world is changing because of small businesses.
Forget Google. Put some time and effort toward the great little companies that are reshaping Arizona.
September 20th, 2008 at 2:36 am
I agree Google made it seem like there were no engineers in phoenix that are worthy. The first line of the post is “At Google, engineering is everything - no great engineers, no life enhancing products, no happy users. ” Only allowing work on internal projects to take place makes Jack a dull boy. You need a mix otherwise you won’t draw the talent you desire. Lot of good people would have applied if there was more opportunity beyond internal support.
September 20th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Wow - tough break for Arizona. I wasn’t a fan of the tone in the announcement post either. I think Arizona is a great place for innovation.
September 20th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I’ve met Google people at Refactor Phoenix and at the Phoenix Ruby User Group meetings. Not recruiters, not picking up a tab, just geeks interested in tech.
Yes, I would like to see more Googlers at these gatherings, but I’d really like to see more geeks from other local companies who’ve been in the Valley far longer yet rarely venture away from their offices.
It’s not just Google who is self-focused, though they make an easy target.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
[...] Startup Meme, among others wishes the Phoenix Googlers well, but what really caught my eye was this wry I-told-you-so-ish comment from Daily Hoopla: [...]
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
To me, the last statement you made about them showing up at tech events is key. While there are a lot of companies that can throw down cash and sponsor food/drinks/locations (which is all needed btw), it doesn’t help them (or the community) when their organization is pretty closed. Google engineers did show up at the first code camp. They were really engaged and did some sessions and talked to folks. But their conversations seemed very walled. I don’t get the impression Google is the open company they say they are. I think in some regard Apple and Microsoft are in areas as well. I know that I’ve tried to be the best liaison for MSFT I can be, but that only goes so far as well if the other parts of an organization don’t participate. But at least I feel empowered to be open, honest and participate ACTIVELY in the community when I can (and the when are only limits on me — personal and schedule — or I’d be at everything).
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Google was in Phoenix???