We recently shared an article about companies that have hired Bentley graduate students upon completing their degrees. Today, we want to focus on one of those companies in particular—Google.
Several of our technology graduates have made their way into the ranks of the internet giant, and we’ve highlighted two of them here. Take a look at what it’s like to get hired at Google, what these two men do, and why they love their jobs.
Tomer Sharon
Tomer Sharon graduated from Bentley with a Master’s in Human Factors in Information Design (think of it sort of like a UX degree) and began working for Google Search in 2008 as a User Experience Researcher. He provides insights into product users, their perspectives, and their abilities, along with doing plenty of research on a daily basis.
Below are excerpts from an interview with Tomer, conducted by Hillel Fuld.
“I’m a researcher, so I either plan research, actually do it, analyze the results, or create some kind of communication around [it]. Most importantly, I follow up to see that people actually do something about the research we did together.”
Tomer enjoys working for Google, but not for the reason many people assume makes it a great place to work (perks like ping-pong tables and indoor swimming pools).
“I’m used to all the amenities [like] food and everything, but these are not the most important things. The most important thing, in my mind, is the ability to do the right thing. I worked in a lot of companies before, and there were always a lot of excuses for why not to do things. Here, if you think something is the right thing to do, you can do it. That’s what I love about Google.”
How can you make a good user experience (UX) today, according to Tomer?
“Solve a problem people really care about: Design and UX are not just about how a product looks and works. It’s also about the problem it attempts to solve. If your product doesn’t solve a problem people care about, it is most likely your business fails. You’ll waste your money, you’ll spend time you can never get back, and you’ll be taking a huge risk.”
Check out the full interview with Tomer here.
Ben Huggins
Ben Huggins graduated from Bentley with a Master’s in Human Factors in Information Design in 2013, and began working for YouTube (a subsidiary of Google) as an Interaction Designer in 2014. He believes that understanding human behavior is the key to great design and that the user should be a designer’s first priority.
“At YouTube—and throughout Google—our job is about connecting people with the world’s information and with each other. These products have an impact on millions of people every day, which is amazing. But it also means that we need to design for the user above all else. Not just because it’s our job to build good products, but because we have a responsibility to the people who depend on it every day to create, connect and share.”
Ben says at YouTube, UX design is less about the mundane computer work and more about problem solving on a daily basis.
“Some people think we spend our days pushing pixels and arranging post-its on the wall. In reality, 90% of UX design is about making difficult decisions—lots of them, all day long. It’s about working with a team to constantly challenge your own ideas, even when you think you have the right answer.”
In reality, 90% of UX design is about making difficult decisions—lots of them, all day long.
TWEET THISWhat does Ben love most about his job as a UX designer?
“I’m still shocked that I get to wake up every day and build things. It’s a hard process, but in the end we have a chance to make a positive impact on people’s lives. That’s pretty rad.”
Check out our full interview with Ben here.
Ready For A Career Like This?
As user experience designers, Tomer and Ben both share a love for research, problem solving, and making products that consumers truly love. They also understood the importance of learning the methods and processes that drive great design—which is why they chose to get their master’s degrees in Human Factors in Information Design. If you’re ready for a meaningful career like this, a master’s degree in technology, UX or data & analytics could be the right move for you.