Google's loss is some other company's gain. Apply to places like Facebook or Microsoft or Amazon instead. Or in your case The New York Times.
Personally I was in between jobs recently, so I sent Google my resume using their online application site. After about a month, Google still didn't get back to me -- meanwhile I managed to interview at 6 different places (all the way) and found a new job.
"I heard nothing for a month and a half" is the key problem I think. It's going to be very hard for any full time employees that are any good to stay off the market that long, they'd have to apply to Google before quitting their last job.
As for interns, I am not overly surprised since you applied in December. At my school we had the hiring booms in October/November and then again in March/April (that's when we had the 2 engineering job fairs), so anytime between that people weren't really finding a new internship (unless it was on their own).
One last thing, what exactly is a Google spreadsheet beta candidate form? Is that the same one as the optional Google "survey" where you had to rank your skills (1-5 or 1-10 was it)?
Yes, I just looked at the form again (the link still works) and it asks:
University, Major, GPA, strongest programming language, second programming language, and preferences for location, and then a five-option part where you rate yourself out of:
Not my thing (none)
Can make do (fair)
Comfortable (good)
Comes easily (better)
World Class (best)
On the following:
1) Applications and Services: this is Google's term for the software that is directly visible to end users. People who focus on applications and services typically work on improving our capabilities in a variety of areas that span the range from new features to increasing performance and efficiency at Google scale. They will be tasked with devising and building new approaches to Google's problems, and exploring their effectiveness.
2) Systems: People who have a systems focus are oriented towards behind-the-scenes software and systems, often building them from underlying components and services. Systems work spans from platforms (hardware, OS, networking) to infrastructure (shared services such as storage, cluster management) and everything in between.
3) Sys-admin: Our system administrators keep all of Google's systems running, and help deploy new ones. They deal with issues involving single machines to those involving huge numbers. They work with native Linux environments, and Google extensions and services.
4) Verification and Test: Our test teams helps make our systems resilient and reliable - we put a lot of effort into this. Building world class applications at world class scales doesn’t happen by accident. It takes insight, innovation, and precision to verify our systems perform as expected.
Having done the internship application process this year, I believe that's the one he's talking about, yes. It basically asks you to rate skills on things relevant to Google, and give location preferences and such.
I don't think it was optional, though perhaps I'm mistaken and filled it out assuming it was required.
Personally I was in between jobs recently, so I sent Google my resume using their online application site. After about a month, Google still didn't get back to me -- meanwhile I managed to interview at 6 different places (all the way) and found a new job.
"I heard nothing for a month and a half" is the key problem I think. It's going to be very hard for any full time employees that are any good to stay off the market that long, they'd have to apply to Google before quitting their last job.
As for interns, I am not overly surprised since you applied in December. At my school we had the hiring booms in October/November and then again in March/April (that's when we had the 2 engineering job fairs), so anytime between that people weren't really finding a new internship (unless it was on their own).
One last thing, what exactly is a Google spreadsheet beta candidate form? Is that the same one as the optional Google "survey" where you had to rank your skills (1-5 or 1-10 was it)?