[segmondy]

Of course. I have no intention of moving to Cali, but one thing I do plan to do when I go to vacation West next year is to apply to Google, possibly Facebook or/and Amazon. If I get the offer letter, I can frame it and use it as negotiating tactic here in the midwest. It's almost as good as saying "I worked at Google"

[HelloMcFly]

Unlike employment, there's very little to stop this probably-currently-useful tactic from being rendered valueless by fakers.

[mcguire]

Possibly better: you don't have to actually work at Google. 80% of the benefit minus 1% of the opportunity cost.

[skj]

That's a very interesting perspective on working for Google. That is, that it's a waste of time. In my experience, working at Google is a blast both in terms of compensation and exciting projects.

[mcguire]

Depending on what you want, what you can do, and from a certain perspective, any job is a "waste of time". For one thing, you will almost certainly spend the majority of your time working on someone else's grand idea. (By necessity, most of the people working at Google are doing the same kind of things that everyone is doing everywhere. The environment may be better, but it's the same stuff.)

As one of my favorite supervisors said, repeatedly, "It's not supposed to be fun. That's why they call it a 'job'. Now get back to work."

[timburus]

If you were luckier than others it doesn't necesserily make you an example to be followed.

[yetanotherphd]

I wouldn't call it luck. Google is consistently ranked as one of the top workplaces. Out of a large number of my co-workers at Google, almost all of them seem to enjoy their work. Very few people are unhappy or seeking to leave. The main difficulty is getting in.

[8_hours_ago]

Idea: Apply before you plan your vacation, then extend you stay when they fly you out to interview. Free flights!