Career Path Of A Tech Lead At Google
Jay's career path was "pretty much straight following" a passion for computer science ignited at age 14, leading from part-time tech work during computer science studies in Germany to a move to Silicon Valley in 2015, a startup experience, and ultimately a six-year tenure as a tech lead at Google, which Jay describes as "the Mecca of tech".
Career Path, International Experience, Tech Industry, Startup Experience, Leadership Roles
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jay Zelenkov
Software Engineer; Tech Lead
Munich University of Applied Sciences, 2012
N/A
Computer Science
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
International Student, Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Jay pursued his passion for computer science from a young age, starting with self-learning at 14 and continuing through university studies.
2. He leveraged opportunities in the European Union's open borders to study and work in Germany, gaining valuable experience before moving to Silicon Valley.
3. His career progression highlights the value of internships, adaptability (as shown by his transition from a startup to Google), and continuous learning, showcasing the dynamic nature of the tech industry.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
I always knew I wanted to work in my field, which is computer science. I got my first computer when I was 14 and started playing with it. From the beginning, I knew I'd be working in that industry throughout my career.
My path pretty much followed that idea. I finished high school in Estonia and then went to study in Germany. Part of the reason was that it's in the European Union, and it's really easy to go to different countries there, similar to how people travel between states in the United States.
I studied computer science in Germany and worked part-time while studying. This was partially to support myself and partially because I was genuinely curious about the field. After that, things were pretty straightforward.
I worked at a lot of different tech companies in Germany. I got a chance to move to the United States in 2015, and when the opportunity presented itself, I moved here. I went straight to Silicon Valley because, for me, it's like the mecca of tech.
I joined a startup. It was a really fun ride for one and a half years, and then we ran out of money. After that, I applied everywhere and got lucky. I got into Google, and that's where I've been for the last six years, working as a tech lead now at Google.