

Former Google HR Head Reveals the Truth behind Google's hiring success!
Aug 5, 2025
Laszlo Bock, the former head of HR at Google and founder of Humu, shares his groundbreaking insights on people analytics and workplace culture. He discusses the pivotal experiments at Google that reshaped hiring practices, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decisions. Laszlo highlights the value of 'constructive defiance' in driving change and reflects on the evolving role of CHROs in today's tech landscape. With engaging anecdotes, he explores the transformative impact of high company standards and the entrepreneurial journey from corporate giants to startups.
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Six-Month, 24-Interview Hiring Odyssey
- Laszlo recounts a six-month Google interview with 24 interviews and multiple cross-country trips.
- He joined Google when staff grew from 3,000 to 5,000, highlighting rapid early scaling.
Choke Points Plus High Autonomy
- Google paired tight executive-level choke points with broad autonomy below, balancing control and freedom.
- Larry required approvals for launches and hires, while teams started offices with little formal budgeting.
When Pedigree Overruled Merit
- Laszlo describes a hiring committee dossier with 40–80 pages per candidate and deep pedigree checks.
- He shares an early rejection where an exec dismissed a human biology major as 'only idiots study human biology.'