14 Years at Google: 21 Essential Career Lessons for Tech Professionals

A veteran engineer with 14 years of tenure at Google has compiled a definitive list of 21 insights, offering a rare glimpse into the internal culture of one of the world’s most influential tech giants. The advice covers critical aspects of career development, specifically focusing on the importance of navigating bureaucracy and managing upwards in a massive organization.

Key takeaways include the technical reality that premature optimization is the root of much evil, and that shipping code often holds more value than endless debate. The author emphasizes the human element as well, noting that managers generally want to help but are often constrained by the system.

Other notable points for technologists include the recommendation to ignore promotion velocity compared to peers and to treat interviews as a two-way street. The blog post serves as a grounded reality check, stripping away the mystique of Big Tech to reveal the practical mechanics of survival and growth.

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