Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Latest NewsRecruitment & retention

Google makes the mind boggle with its recruitment challenges

by Rob Willock 7 Feb 2007
by Rob Willock 7 Feb 2007

Google is growing so fast its senior managers spend 30% of their time interviewing prospective employees.


The internet giant receives 250 applications for every vacancy, according to Liane Hornsey, the firm’s HR director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).


Each successful applicant will have a minimum of four interviews, with Hornsey herself enduring 14 before landing her job. Company founder Larry Page signs off every single hire, at a rate of more than 100 a week.


“Our number one objective is to hire the right Googlers,” she said. “We never just put a bum on a seat. This ensures we only recruit high-potential, culturally compatible staff – 100% talent.”


The consequence of this is that Google never sacks people, Hornsey revealed.


“If someone fails, it must be our fault. This means there is no fear within the organisation, because no-one worries about losing their job.”


Once a new employee’s contract is signed, the company sends them presents every week before they join and invites them to lunch with their managers.


“On their first day, the ‘Noogler’ [a new employee] finds their desk festooned with balloons, gifts and T-shirts,” said Hornsey. “So they already love us – and why would they ever want to leave?” As a result, staff turnover is just 3%.


Training and development is largely an on-the-job experience. Google operates a 70:20:10 policy to encourage innovation. Some 70% of an employee’s time is spent on their day job 20% is spent on project work and 10% (or one day a fortnight) is spent working on whatever the employee wants to do.


“If someone thinks we should open an office in the Congo, they can gather a team and research the opportunity,” said Hornsey. “And if they conclude we should, then they can go and do it.”


All this emphasis on people development requires a hefty HR resource. In the EMEA region, Google has 300 HR staff as part of a total workforce of 2,500.


Avatar
Rob Willock

previous post
Restructuring local government is big challenge for HR professionals
next post
Age Concern’s Heyday frustrated by delays to mandatory retirement court hearing

1 comment

Google's Human Resource Management Strategy 20 Mar 2017 - 5:20 am

[…] https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/google-makes-the-mind-boggle-with-its-recruitment-challenges/ […]

Comments are closed.

You may also like

Christian doctor loses transgender pronoun case, but beliefs...

29 Jun 2022

New chief workforce officer at NHS England

29 Jun 2022

Staff shortages affecting business growth at three in...

29 Jun 2022

MP seeks action on Passport Office’s ‘toxic’ working...

29 Jun 2022

Six in 10 seek help with cost of...

29 Jun 2022

What has cyber security got to do with...

29 Jun 2022

Green jobs: are there shoots of growth on...

29 Jun 2022

Hire quality vs speed: Finding the perfect balance...

29 Jun 2022

Retaining talent during the great resignation (webinar)

29 Jun 2022

Law protecting frontline workers against violence takes effect

28 Jun 2022
  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+