What is it like to work at Apple or Google?

The widely recognized top five companies in tech are Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Google. Working at any of these companies can be a dream-come-true for many aspiring technologists. This article aims to capture what it is really like to work at Apple or Google .

Tips to consider before applying:

1. You will most certainly want a college degree to even apply. These companies get so many resumes that unless your last name is “Zuckerberg” , built something REALLY impressive, or have some unbelievable work experience, without a college degree you’re likely wasting your time.
2. Professional experience in a tech-related field will definitely make you stand out amongst either applicants. Obviously, the longer the better
3. Coding skills. This seems obvious, but this list would not be complete without mentioning this. All these companies have rigorous coding interviews, some of which can last an entire day.
4. Your greatest chances of getting hired is through a referral, internship, or a recruiter. These companies get flooded with applicants, and the easiest way to ensure your resume gets lost in the abyss is to apply directly through their website. By directly reaching out to a recruiter (or, even better, having a recruiter reach out to you), the chances of you getting hired increase dramatically.
5. Become an expert. Having a surface knowledge of a lot of different topics might be helpful when working as a fullstack engineer at a startup, but at a place like Google its the specialists that they are after.
6. Work on that resume! Make your resume as impressive as possible. This is no-brainer no matter where you apply, but should nonetheless be mentioned. Work on your project portfolio to showcase your coding skills. The importance of this cannot be understated.

Google

Google’s headquarters are located in Mountain View, California and is frequently rated as one of the best places to work in America by many publications (Business Insider, Universum, Glassdoor). The campus is spread out over 12 acres, and “G Bikes” are provided to employees to get around. There are organic gardens, tennis courts, sports fields and beach volleyball courts all on the campus. The main building, the “Googleplex”, is 2,000,000 square feet where employees can enjoy (free of cost):

• fitness classes
• massages
• 24/7 gym
• on-site doctor
• dry-cleaning facilities
• cafeterias and micro kitchens with breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Car wash and oil change
• Hair salons
• Nap pods
• Shuttle services

Unexpectedly, Google employees report a high level of job satisfaction. The amenities, as well as being surrounded by smart, driven people working on the latest cutting-edge technology are a surefire recipe to be ensure you don’t hate your job. Even dogs are allowed on campus! New dads receive six weeks of paid leave, and moms are allowed to take up to 18 weeks. During this time, they’ll continue to even receive their usual bonuses. Google even provides its own kind of life insurance. The widowed spouse of a Googler receives the cash value of the stocks their spouse left behind, and will continue to earn 50% of their spouses salary for the next 10 years, no questions asked. All Googlers children will receive $1000 a month during that time. Perhaps, the coolest perk of all is the 80/20 rule. Google allows their employees to devote 20% of their working hours to their own personal passion projects that they believe will help the company.

Apple

Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, formerly known as “Apple Park”, house more than 12,000 employees. The circular building is 2.8 million square feet, and its walls are almost completely made of glass. The campus sits on 115 acres filled with running trails, orchards, trees, and grassy fields. Also on campus is 100,000 square foot fitness center. The entire building is powered by renewable energy. Word on the street is that everyone there is really athletic. One employee even lost 60 lbs just from going biking with his coworkers during lunch. If you end up working there as a developer, be prepared to potentially have to wake up for meetings at 4AM, to allow for time differences around the world. The average worker age is late 30’s and early 40’s. Not too many nerf guns floating around.

Additional notes on applying to Apple: If you’ve been rejected for an internship, don’t bother reapplying. Apple has software in place that automatically rejects any second time applicants. Apparently, if you weren’t impressive enough the first time around, Apple doesn’t think that anything is likely to change. In the words of one failed applicant’s interviewer, “We [Apple] don’t waste time with the dumb.” Another report by a former Apple employee spoke of the work culture, “Generally speaking it is a pressure cooker and all communication is one directional (guess which way that is).” Summing it up succinctly, they said, “… Work here at your own risk. On the upside, cafe food is pretty good and dress is casual.””