Google-eyed for AUC Graduates
By: Nesrien Abdelkader
@NesrienAshraf
Science and engineering students have the potential to work at international companies of their choice, and Google wants them.
Google Software Engineers, Omar Darwish and Ahmed Fadel told AUC students that they have the skills to work with innovators at top international technological companies on October 8.
Darwish and Fadel visited AUC for the first time during the ‘Google On Campus’ event hosted by the AUC Robotics Club in the Bassily Auditorium where they discussed their jobs and walked students through the process of applying to intern or work for Google.
“People at Google, from the stats and so on, believe there is a lot of good caliber and talent here in AUC and other Egyptian universities. They are interested to get in touch with the students and make sure that there are more people from here that can join Google,” Darwish told The Caravan.
Fadel explained that on a global scale, Google’s People Operations Team found AUC to be one of the top universities. With that information, they reached out to the university to find students interested in software engineering internships or future careers.
Both Fadel and Darwish said they were alumni of the German University in Cairo (GUC) and have been working for Google in Europe for around three years. Darwish is in the Munich, Germany office, while Fadel works in the Ireland office.
Darwish explained that the software engineering field has a very high demand today and that it is one of the most wanted jobs in Egypt.
Fadel also said that there is a good market in Egypt as the startup ecosystem has grown. It may not be as big as in Europe or the US, but the job market in the Middle East is growing.
“Computing in general is booming now so this is a great and exciting time to engage in the computing domain. The market, I would say, in Egypt is not just restricted to companies here. But our grads may actually reside physically here and be working for companies in Silicon Valley,” said Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Sherif Aly.
Silicon Valley, in California, is known as a hub for technology. It also houses top global companies such as Google and Apple.
He added that AUC’s Computer Science graduates have been working for international companies that have a presence in Egypt, startups or in local companies. Some people also decide to start their own business.
Robotics Club President and Computer Engineering junior Muhammad Osama, agrees.
“I think that [Computer Science and Engineering students] are pretty competent on the international level. AUC is an international university. This is one of the reasons Google actually reached out to us at AUC,” said Osama.
Fadel also mentioned that engineering graduates and future software engineers may not have trouble finding work in Egypt, but they may still want to travel abroad for even greater career opportunities.
“Abroad you have more resources to be successful, so your chances of being successful are higher because you have access to professors who are doing top research compared to Egypt. Having said that, it doesn’t mean that your chances in Egypt are nonexistent. They do exist, but they’re not as high as in Europe or the US. But it’s doable to be successful,” Fadel said.
Darwish and Fadel are not the only graduates from Egyptian universities in their company. Darwish explained that he has worked with highly competent people from AUC, GUC, Cairo University and Alexandria University.
“In the Munich’s Google office, there are between 10 to 15 Egyptian and Middle Eastern employees. When I joined, it was two. But now it’s growing,” Darwish said.
Fadel added that there are around 20 to 30 people from the Middle East and North Africa working in the EU headquarters.
Darwish and Fadel said Google aims to find even more talented future employees through their talk given at AUC.
