On No Longer Being a "Googler"

My heart breaks for all those affected by the Google layoffs.?

One of the things about working for a company like Google is that it becomes such a huge part of your identity - you become a “Googler”, embrace being “Googley”, and develop deep bonds with other Googlers around you who become, in ways, like an extended family.

Even after leaving the company, it still holds onto a large part of your identity - you’re now “Ex-Google”. I’m not immune either - my own LinkedIn title says “Ex-Google” which I wear like a badge of honour, and I still find myself referring to my employment there, having left a number of years ago.

When something becomes such a huge part of your identity, removing it can really upset your internal equilibrium and can leave you feeling at sea. This is hard enough even when you proactively choose to move on - I found adjusting to “the outside world” really challenging for quite a long time after leaving Google - it really does operate as its own fully functioning ecosystem! I can’t even imagine how it must feel to have that identity taken away from you when it wasn’t a decision you made.

I can’t pretend to know what it feels like to be laid off. But I do know what it feels like to have to adjust to a new identity following a career transition. So here’s what helped me - and I hope it can help you, too.

What really helped me adjust to life outside of Google was realising that the term “Googler” is really an umbrella term for all the parts of your identity that make you an amazing coworker, employee, leader, friend, etc. Unpacking my identity as a “Googler” into a newly reframed identity as someone who is ambitious, commercially astute, tenacious, optimistic, collaborative, passionate, empathetic, and so much more, helped me realise that all those parts of my identity were mine and could never be taken away from me - no matter what I did for a living or who I worked for.?

Reframing my identity in this way also helped me reframe my strengths, helping me figure out how what I had done and learned at Google could be transferable to other roles in other companies, and where I could add value to an organisation beyond my immediate world of sales.

Thinking about my identity and strengths in this way has helped me anchor myself during times of transition or uncertainty, and gives me confidence in my abilities and the value I bring when my self-belief is shaky.

I absolutely loved my time working at Google - it was the place I experienced the most personal and professional growth, where I learned some of the critical skills that have enabled me to build my career post Google, and where I have developed amazing friendships that sustained long after I left the company. It has a wonderful culture filled with people who constantly want to do better and be better - the talent market is now getting some incredible people who will be a huge asset to any organisation.?

The bar is HIGH for talent at Google, which is why I can say with confidence that anyone who has worked there has SO much value to bring to organisations. The key to identifying and communicating this value is to take the time to peel off that upper layer of your identity that says “Googler”, and unpack all of the amazing qualities, strengths and skills that make you the unique high performer that you are - and then instilling the belief in yourself to confidently communicate that value to others.

One of my favourite questions to ask myself to begin peeling back those layers is “when am I at my best?” - this will tell you so much about your identity, your strengths, and your purpose.

The experience of having to review and renew your identity is certainly not unique to those who work or have worked for Google - it is an experience that so many of us go through when we experience a transition (and even more so when that transition is thrust upon us rather than something we decide for ourselves).

If you have been affected by recent layoffs from any organisation, and we have had the opportunity to cross paths or work together, please do reach out. If I can write a recommendation, make an introduction, or cast my eye over a CV or Cover Letter, I’d be happy to. I’m very passionate about helping others grow in their careers, and would be more than happy to have a quick chat for anyone wanting to talk more about self confidence, identity or strengths.

If you’re looking for further exercises to reflect or explore, I highly recommend The Squiggly Career podcast, who have lots of exercises you can work through (and whom I have used heavily for my own career development).