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Inside ITRP - Brian
January 12, 2012
Introduction: This is the third post in our series about current residents in Google’s
Internal Technology Residency Program
. Today, we highlight Brian Call, who joined the ITR Program in February of 2011.
Where did you go to school? What did you study?
Brian Call:
I attended the
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
, in scenic upstate New York, where I earned a degree in applied networking and systems administration (ANSA). The ANSA program at RIT offered me the unique opportunity to learn through a combination of traditional classes, real-world lab scenarios and cooperative education. The
cooperative education program
gave me the chance to gain valuable experience with several different companies, including
SAIC
, the
Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies at RIT
and
Frontier Communications
.
Brian works on fixing a Googler's machine, which is one
of the many challenges he faces in a day.
Tell us how you found out about the ITRP program.
BC:
I stumbled upon the ITRP program in an email from my school’s career center, only a few hours before the deadline for the application. The multi-component core of the program—training and development, front-line support and internal rotations—caught my attention as a chance to push my limitations and hone my “skills toolbox” in a technologically diverse and highly dynamic enterprise. I also loved the prospect of expanding my horizons through world travel. I took the dive and applied only a few hours before the deadline; The following day, I was pleasantly surprised by an invitation to interview at our college career fair, going on later that week.
What have you enjoyed most about the ITRP program?
BC:
There’s so much I’ve enjoyed about the ITRP program. In particular, the program has given me the opportunity to drive across the country to Google headquarters in California, explore new places, meet new people, work with a diverse group of individuals and technology, and I enjoy it so much that, at the end of the day, I can’t wait to go back and do it all over again (minus the cross-country trip of course).
Something else I find truly unique about ITRP is the dynamic nature of the program. Mirroring the dynamic nature of Google, components of the ITRP program are adjusted based on feedback from each new class, with the goal of making the process as streamlined and enjoyable as possible. One significant adjustment that took place before I joined was changing the training schedule from long, concentrated blocks to shorter, more spread out blocks. The content of the training changed as well. The team is very open to feedback (they love it...the more, the better!) and are more than willing to sit down with us to discuss changes.
Tell us about the front-line support part of the ITRP program. Explain what that means and how you've experienced it firsthand.
BC:
At Google, we’re helping fellow Googlers solve I.T. based technical issues (however, as the neighborhood “go-to” folks, we often find ourselves solving non-technical issues, too). The goal is to get the Googler back up and running as quickly as possible. Throughout the process, we have the opportunity to chat with really neat folks, including everyone from recruiters (they have the best stories to tell) to pivotal figures in computing history, such as Vint Cerf. Front-line support is, in essence, an opportunity to learn new skills, hone old skills, make people happy and network, all bundled into an exciting, fast-paced experience.
Brian had the opportunity to work from our Kirkland office
for a quarter during his internal rotation. This is just one of the
many awesome images he was able to capture.
New skills aren’t just learned on the front-lines. Front-line support and training/development at Google are tied together in harmony. Needing to solve unbelievably bizarre problems on the fly drives a constant cycle of on-the-job training while, more formal, instructor-led training sessions and self-study skills development drive personal growth and efficiency. With front-line support, finding the right solution can involve almost anything, from searching textbooks and Internet sources to building test labs to recreate the problem. To me, front-line support carries a prerequisite to keep an open mind to all solutions, no matter how strange they may seem.
What do you look forward to most during the rest of your time as an ITR?
BC:
I’m really looking forward to doing some international travel. The opportunity to travel the globe while helping out at other offices is an exciting prospect, especially since I’ve never traveled outside of North America.
Posted by Brian Call, Internal Technology Resident
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