Google Student Blog: Googlers Beta

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Our next entry for the Google Beta Series features an interview with intern Alex Sydell. Alex interned last summer at our Mountain View campus as a Software Engineer in Search Quality. Follow below as Alex details his unique experience at our global headquarters.Interested in being a summer intern at Google? Visit www.google.com/students to apply today.

Name: Alex SydellSchool: UC Berkeley Internship Focus: Search Quality Evaluation ToolsHobbies: Creating websites and iPhone applications; Rock Climbing; Movies and VolleyballQ: Hi Alex, thank you for joining us today. Could you briefly explain your summer internship project with Google this summer?A: Sure. My team creates and maintains tools that are used to evaluate the quality of Google's search results. I worked on a new web-based user interface (UI) that automates part of the evaluation process. My project allows engineers to more intuitively configure some of our tools and quickly get the new configurations into our codebase.Q: What would you say is for your favorite part of working here at Google?A: Being surrounded by Googlers! I have never been in a place with so many smart, talented, friendly, and open people. Everyone is easy to approach with a question, whether just asking for directions or having a detailed discussion about a project. And someone always offers a helping hand. It is incredibly easy to make friends at Google because there is a very little sense of superiority and no reservations between Googlers. The atmosphere at Google is second to none.
Q: Could you describe a moment during your summer that will be difficult for you to forget?A: BBQ week before the 4th of July holiday. Three days of BBQ: Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas-style! We ate what seemed like pounds of delicious BBQ meat and seafood each day, completely full but wanting more. I must admit, it was a bit hard to work after eating so much good food, but we all survived. There was even a mechanical bull and a mini petting zoo, giving us plenty of opportunity to make complete fools of ourselves falling off of the bull or chasing rabbits and goats around a little cage. Without distractions like these, work would be mundane and unmotivating. There so many exciting events constantly taking place around us, and Googlers have proven that it is possible to be incredibly productive while still having a lot of fun.