Google co-founder Sergey Brin has shared an important change in how his company hires employees. According to him, Google no longer focuses only on college degrees when selecting candidates. Instead, the company is paying more attention to real skills and practical knowledge.
Sergey Brin said this while speaking to Stanford engineering students last month
Sergey Brin explained that Google has hired many people who do not have a formal bachelor’s degree. These individuals may have learned coding, problem-solving, or technical skills on their own or through hands-on experience. What matters most to Google now is whether a person can actually do the job well.
Skills matter more than certificates
In the past, a college degree was often seen as a must for getting a job at a top tech company. But that thinking is slowly changing. Sergey Brin believes that a degree does not always show how talented or capable someone really is.
Many people today learn skills through online courses, personal projects, or real-world work experience. Google has started recognizing this shift. Instead of asking only where someone studied, the company wants to know what problems they can solve and how they think.
Bigger change in the tech industry
Google is not alone in this approach. Several other big tech companies are also reducing the importance of degrees in their hiring process. The industry is moving toward a skills-first mindset, where ability and performance matter more than certificates.
This change helps companies find talented people from different backgrounds. It also gives more opportunities to those who may not have had access to expensive education but still have strong skills and ideas.
What this means for students and job seekers?
Sergey Brin also shared advice for students who are worried about the future because of artificial intelligence and automation. He said people should not choose or drop subjects only because they fear machines will take over jobs. Instead, they should focus on learning things they truly enjoy and are curious about.
According to him, passion and creativity will always be important, even as technology evolves.
New definition of success
Google’s hiring shift shows how the world of work is changing. A college degree is no longer the only way to prove your worth. Skills, curiosity, and the ability to adapt are becoming just as important.
For many people, this change opens new doors. It sends a clear message if you don’t need a perfect academic background to succeed what you know and what you can do matters more.