Have you even tried to get out of the defense contracting world and work at one of the non-shitty jobs that commenters here keep futilely trying to tell you exist?
That can be exteremly hard, if you're not writing code. Not all the roles and responsibilities directly translate to the world of private industry. For example a Systems Engineer in defense is loosely a product manager/ architect. However, it's impossible to get show all the responsibilities translate. Try explaining that to a recruiter... It tried for months.
I was in that boat for ~2 years (got out of it a little over a month ago). My problem was reduced in some respects, while amplified in others, because on my program systems engineers were developing signal processing algorithms[0] and implementing them in real-time signal processing software, in C. This caused all sorts of partial mismatches and misunderstandings, but ultimately the software piece got me out of there.
[edit] I would like to add that not being able to discuss what I did in meaningful detail was the most serious hindrance to my job search.
[0] This bit caused its own problems with a few companies, who saw "algorithms" and thought something else.
Yea, I'm pretty much a pure systems engineer. I'm working on teaching my self some code but it's not going to get me out of there. It's rough... I'm close though. Hopefully in a few weeks life will change.
Seriously. Try explaining PfM, UML, DoDAF or FEAF, to a recruiter. Or Troux, Primavera, System Architect, or DOORS. Or why ISSEP/ISSAP can be critical.
All while the recruiter is trying to do their job asking "Do you know C hashtag?" ... LOLWUT.
Yup, got called by Google. The "senior talent management engineer" had no idea what 'cost control measures' were. If within the first 10 seconds you can't tell me if I've got to pay out of pocket for visual studio of whatever else, then get lost.
Why are you even talking about that kind of thing in the first 10 seconds of talking to a recruiter? Discuss the terms of the job after you get offered the job.
Plus, I mean, have you done any research into the degree of coddling Google employees receive? You really think they provide you 3 gourmet meals per day, but not with the basic tools to perform your job?
I'm not sitting through 4 or more rounds of interviews with recruiters, senior recruiters, recruiter managers, technical recruiters, senior technical recruiters, technical recruiter managers, to finally reach the person capable of making a decision.
And exactly how can a recruiter brag about the company "gourmet" cafeteria (I'll pass on getting food poisoning from another gourmet cafeteria again), but doesn't know if the company provides the equipment?
It's they don't know, or more accurately won't disclose, then I'm just hanging up. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.
> I'm not sitting through 4 or more rounds of interviews with recruiters, senior recruiters, recruiter managers, technical recruiters, senior technical recruiters, technical recruiter managers, to finally reach the person capable of making a decision.
Well that's a problem. What you think they're going to hire you because of your charm and winning personality?
And honestly, I seriously doubt there are many people who would doubt that google provides their employees with the basic tools to do their jobs. It's simply one of the most absurd things I've read.
A brief interview process is fine. You do the HR crap that justifies their existence and move to the technical rounds - I'll do 3. If after the third round of technical interviews the decision maker can't make up their mind, then I'll help them out.
As was written elsewhere, if google was so great, then why were their recruiters apprehensive/defensive when asked. If the answer was "Yes, sure we provide the equipment - I'll send you our plans, policies procedures, practices, processes, duties and scope, roles and responsibilities for that area!" - but it wasn't.
You've been in the strange government contract world for so long, simplest things outside it confuse you. Are you a full-time employee, with an indefinite job contract and paid vacations? Then the answer is yes, and the question is borderline absurd, particularly to someone at Google, where they give away two hot meals a day and assign $5k office chairs. Are you a contractor and get paid 2-3x times more per hour, at the expense of benefits and job 'security'? Then probably no.
