IN the 2013 movie The Internship, which co-starred Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, audiences around the world had a peek as to what it was like to work for US-based tech giant Google as they followed the characters of two middle-aged salesmen trying to get a job at the company via its internship programme.
Though creative license was at play, it gave an insight to many aspiring future employees as to how the company encourages creativity, collaboration and productivity in the workplace as well as a work-life balance culture.
The same can be said for Google’s Malaysian office, which opened its doors in 2013 in Kuala Lumpur where free food, games and entertainment are just a few steps away from the work station — creating a comfortable environment and place to work for its staff.
This concept has certainly created an impact that in the Jobstreet.com “Top 10 Companies 2017” survey — which saw the participation of more than 10,200 respondents — Google was named the topmost company Malaysians want to work for.
The only technology company in the Top 10, Google Malaysia came in first, up two levels from last year’s survey.
Government-linked company Petronas came in second, and Shell third, in the survey.
Google specialises in Internet-related services and products which include online advertising technologies, search, cloud computing, software, and hardware.
The ranking, Jobstreet country manager Chook Yuh Yng said, underscores that it was no longer sufficient to attract talents only through financial benefits or incentives. Companies need to be more creative by using strategic and unique approaches that differentiate them from their competitors.
Of being ranked first in the survey, Google Malaysia communications head Zeffri Yusof said the perceptions cited around growth opportunities, work environment, and company reputation by the participants has the company humbled.
“Google is a diverse and inclusive workplace where we encourage people to challenge themselves to ‘think 10X’, be ‘uncomfortably excited’, and do ‘cool stuff that matters’. We generally evaluate job candidates based on the following criteria: general cognitive ability, role-related knowledge, leadership ability, and the ‘x-factor’ we like to call ‘Googleyness’,” he said.
On job opportunities that are available at Google Malaysia for both fresh graduates and professionals, Zeffri said the Malaysia office is primarily a sales consulting office.
“Opportunities at Google are listed on careers.google.com that’s kept very up-to-date, and seekers can filter by geography and/or function. Fields of work overall include engineering and technology; marketing and communications; sales, service and support; design; business strategy; finance; legal; people; and facilties,” he elaborated.
People in engineering and technology create and iterate on the products and tools of the future — for billions of users. The sales, service and support unit turn product innovations into vital client solutions — equipping businesses with the right tools to help them grow.
The marketing and communications group range from event planners and designers to statisticians and analysts.
Those in design create powerful visuals that highlight each of the company’s product.
The business strategy unit deliver the analysis and insights Google uses to innovate. Finance keeps the business on track to meet company goals. Legal help shape the future of Internet law. People — or more commonly known as human resources elsewhere — find, grow and support the people who make up the company.
And the facilities team create the collaborative work environments that help Google succeed.
And does working in the Malaysian office mean one is restricted to activities for the Malaysian market only?
Not strictly, said Zeffri. “It depends on the job function,” he said.
On the activities Google Malaysia have been involved in since its inception, Zeffri offered a list.
In 2011, Google Malaysia kicked off the “Get Malaysian Business Online” initiative, helping 30,000 SMEs get online. The next year saw the company launching YouTube Malaysia along with the YouTube partner programme for content creators to monetise.
The year 2013 saw Google Maps with Navigation launched in Malaysia. In the latest developments this year, the company launched its “Go Global” programme to assist export-oriented SMEs to enter digital foreign markets.