How do we find these non-routine savants? There are many factors, of course, but we primarily look for ... ... analytical reasoning . Google is a data-driven, analytic company. When an issue arises or a decision needs to be made, we start with data. That means we can talk about what we know, instead of what we think we know. ... communication skills . Marshalling and understanding the available evidence isn't useful unless you can effectively communicate your conclusions. ... a willingness to experiment . Non-routine problems call for non-routine solutions and there is no formula for success. A well-designed experiment calls for a range of treatments, explicit control groups, and careful post-treatment analysis. Sometimes an experiment kills off a pet theory, so you need a willingness to accept the evidence even if you don't like it. ... team players . Virtually every project at Google is run by a small team. People need to work well together and perform up to the team's e
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