I've often heard about how hard Google's hiring process is. And I like to think I have a really good knack at getting an idea of someone's proficiency.

I have a distant relative who was working in javascript as his main job. But he didn't know what typescript, coffeescript, or web assembly were; even though he was working with javascript as his primary language. Nothing he described or talked to me about gave me the impression that he was able to do any programming whatsoever.

But, he was 100% a "total frat bro". And of course he landed a job at Google. As a programmer. Am I jealous? Sure. Do I think he is capable of creating intricate things? Absolutely not. Do I think he will survive at Google for a long time? Definitely.

> Nothing he described or talked to me about gave me the impression that he was able to do any programming whatsoever.

Maybe he's just good at the job even if it isn't his whole personality?

Like how do you think someone would get through Google's interview without being able to program? You have to be the very top of your field to pass that interview.

I have known ex-Googlers who were not very good programmers. You definitely have to be smart to grind the FAANG interview process, but you can still be a bad programmer.

> how do you think someone would get through Google's interview without being able to program?

You really will be surprised if you have a decent standard