That being said I really do think there is a difference between who is working at google today and the google we all fell in love with pre-2008.

I am sure there are a amazing people still working at google, but nowhere near like it was.

The way I like to think about google is that some amazing people mad ea awesome train that builds tracks in front of it -- you can call them gods maybe -- but those people are gone -- or a least the critical mass required to build such a train has dwindled to just dust. What we have left is a awesome train full of people pulling the many levers left behind.

To make things even worse my last interview as a SRE left me wondering if even the people who are there know this as well, and they are actually working hard to keep out those who might expose light on to this. I don't say that because I did not get the job -- I am actually happy I did not get extended a offer.

I say this with one exception, the old-timer who was my last interview. I could tell he was dripping in knowledge and eager to share it with any that would listen. I came out of his 45 min session learning many things -- I wold actually pay to work with a guy like that.

I would also like to point out that the work ethic was not what I expected. I was told that when on call, my duty was to figure out the root cause was in the segment I was responsible for. I don't know about you, but if my phone rings at night I am going to see through to a resolution and understand the problem in full -- even if it is not on the segment that I was assigned.

/end rant