This always seemed like a sensible approach - so I tried it. I'll let you know if it works...

http://www.appidio.com/apps/scrybe/

(To save you the click through, it's a project of mine that combines Google Scribe with an Android keyboard. It's definitely alpha quality, but the concept is there.)

Good attempt. What I would add, if you are really into landing a job, is add a byline that says "I'm a recent graduate" (rather than say I'm jobless), and make sure the product name you are targeting is in the title. This way, you maximize your chance that someone who works on that products eventually finds your page, and your bio will automatically make them think: "hum, why doesn't he work for us?"

Making sure a PM on the product reads your blog post isn't about optimising the title and having buzzwords like graduate. Think about being in the PM's shoes and where you would be looking for coverage and posts and so on on your product.

Hint: Writing a cool, insightful blog post, teardown or even nifty mashup (youtube instant?) that appeals to both the HN community as well as being hand crafted to subliminally read 'Please hire me, Google' would more than get you noticed.

The premise in the main post is very sound. If you want a product job at Google, put yourself in the shoes and start thinking product.

Another possibility:

Remember the guy that bought the AdWords targeted specifically to the hiring manager at Google?

That was a creative way to get noticed.

Maybe doing that + having the work to show for it (a landing page specifically for the manager! showing your work :) )

Brilliant idea. I’d go even as far as saying that this is the first thing that makes me consider buying an Android phone instead of a next gen iPhone.

I do hope you’ll hear from Google about this! Good luck.

I don't think this is the best advice for everyone:

"How would I become a VC? By being one: pull some of my own money, invest it in startups, and build my track record. That’s how. I can’t imagine any other way."

I can definitely imagine another way - the way I suppose the people that went to the event being discussed ("how to become a VC.") might have in mind: learn the ropes from someone experienced, learn what's needed (lots of legal, economical and technical stuff I didn't even know existed before reading stuff like the A VC blog http://www.avc.com/ ), learn from their mistakes and successes (and no, I don't think the Internet is a good enough substitute for the actual experience).

How do you propose to learn what's needed, without actually doing the job? VC jobs have a crazy applicant ratio above 100 to 1. So even if you are super-qualified, with the best MBA, your chances are still below 1% to land that job.

The alternative, kind of what Jeff Clavier did, is just ignore the traditional ladder and just do it.

A problem with this is, most people don't have the money to just start investing in startups. This is one reason why startups tend to need VCs in the first place. It's not like the only thing holding people back from investing in startups is willpower.

I don't think a 20-year old, fresh out of college, wants to become a VC. So that particular advice was more targeted at mid-level managers, with some cash in the bank, and the desire to become a VC. Do you know any VC who is less than 30?

Speaking personally, this probably has to do more with resources (money, experience, people) and less with desire.

Agreed. I know several young finance guys that would all like to get into VC one day, but they know that without a founder background they need to cut their teeth in banking/dealmaking before moving over. But there is definitely a desire.

I didn't know that the VC jobs were that hard to get.

I thought you could get into a job with a VC firm and learn from inside.

Not necessarily a VC job, but one where you're in contact with the business.

Or, you could get a VC or super-angel mentor.

I'm not looking to become one, but I was drawing from my father's experience on how he started his own company (he first learnt the ropes at another firm).

Apparently not, from what i've heard big VCs only hire experienced people, most firms prefer hiring ex investment bankers. There's really not many Entry level jobs in the VC industry (Source: wall street oasis forum)

especially because VCs invest other people's money.

This advice worked for Feross Aboukhadijeh, see http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/24/youtube-instant-instant/ for proof.

However most applicants would be better off brushing up on basic algorithms and CS stuff that most people have forgotten.

I guess telling Google what they should be doing differently might work, but I wasn't really prepared in my interview to give them advice. Still got accepted, though.

Great advise, unique perspective. Gives me an idea for interview questions as well. Thanks.

Why wd you want a job at google anyway?