I love Google and Apple. I love Google because of its Engineers, Apple for its Marketers and would give anything to work there.
I admit that I have been attempting to get into Google for some time now. My tech prowess is zero if you compare it to Google Engineers/Scientists but I think, I will rank very high when it comes to my Sales+Marketing+Tech combined experience compared to the Marketing/Sales stock in Google India.
So I kept applying. The first time was in 2006. The very first time I applied, I was called, gave around 11 interviews and was told the position was on hold . The second was in 2007, not even called. The third was in 2009, was told the position was on hold. The fourth was in 2011, gave one interview and nothing. And finally applied again a couple of days back. This time, I applied just for the heck of it. If I make it for interview, I know exactly what I’ll say, just for the heck of it.
Anyway, my statement of my Sales+Marketing+Tech prowess vs. Google India Sales & Marketing team, needs quantification. Till date, I just have a hunch as all the people I keep bumping into from Google are ex Internet / Radio / TV sales guys. When they meet, they come across as exactly that. Disparate sales guys.
So, digging for some justification of my statement. And as usual Linkedin to the rescue.
Simple search for Google + India + Marketing and Advertising (industry) returned 164 profiles (as of 4th Oct 2012, 1.36 pm). The following is the education profile.
- Delhi University : 10
- Osmania University : 9
- Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies : 9
- Christ College – Bangalore : 7
- St. Xavier’s College : 5
- University of Mumbai : 4
- Indian Institute of Management – Calcutta : 4
- Symbiosis International University : 3
- S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research : 3
- Indian School of Business : 3
- University of Calcutta : 3
- Others : 103
What stands out is just 2.5% of people are from IIMs. The bread and butter profile for any well known FMCG. Even If I add up #s from all well known B Schools its still just 12% people. I did manually go thru about 100 profiles and most of them are people with just media background and its true across internet companies (Yahoo!, Rediff, Google and now Facebook).
I guess that’s where all digital companies, including Google, are struggling in India. They know what motivates media guys (err… gifts!) but they fall flat when they come to meet brand guys.
