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How to Google Street View drivers get their job?

TheBonk

TheBonk

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 22, 2007
300
12
Chicago
I've been interested in working for Google driving one of those cars that takes pictures for the Street View of Google Maps. I have no idea how I could get that job though! I've searched desperatly online and found nothing. How do all those people get those jobs? :eek:
 
JNB

JNB

macrumors 604
Oct 7, 2004
6,872
9
In a Hell predominately of my own making
Failed the test at McDonalds?

I can't see where that would be much of an attractive job: perfect driving record likely required, your own car (probably), your own camera (probably), and minimum wage (probably). The whole "Do No Evil" thing generally doesn't apply to contract employees.

Might be interesting for summer work if you're bored and just want something different for the experience of sucking fumes and getting nearly run over eight hours a day.

I do use it, though--I needed the view from State & Hubbard when I stayed at the Courtyard last month!
 
TheBonk

TheBonk

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 22, 2007
300
12
Chicago
JohnNotBeatle said:
Failed the test at McDonalds?

I can't see where that would be much of an attractive job: perfect driving record likely required, your own car (probably), your own camera (probably), and minimum wage (probably). The whole "Do No Evil" thing generally doesn't apply to contract employees.

Might be interesting for summer work if you're bored and just want something different for the experience of sucking fumes and getting nearly run over eight hours a day.

I do use it, though--I needed the view from State & Hubbard when I stayed at the Courtyard last month!
Click to expand...

Well, I'm a high school (soon to be graduate) student working as stocker at a grocery store. I'm sure driving a car for Google would be much better than that. :p
 
B

Blue Velvet

Moderator emeritus
Jul 4, 2004
21,929
265
Although I can't help you with the job hunt, I think, although I'm not sure, that I saw a car doing this — or something similar — in central London a couple of months ago.

It was a low-slung black sports-type car with two people in it. It had a 4-5 foot antenna with a cluster of small cams on the top, and within the car I could see a couple of small displays. The passenger seemed to be making notes but as a pedestrian I couldn't see exactly what they were doing.

I would contact Google directly. I think you've got to start here.
http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/index.html



street-view-car-nashville.jpg
 
JNB

JNB

macrumors 604
Oct 7, 2004
6,872
9
In a Hell predominately of my own making
TheBonk said:
Well, I'm a high school (soon to be graduate) student working as stocker at a grocery store. I'm sure driving a car for Google would be much better than that. :p
Click to expand...

Retail grocery has a longer shelf life (no pun intended), career-wise, tho' the Google thing would be a giggle in the short term (but only the short term). Hell, I could've been a VP at Safeway long ago if I'd started bagging/stocking at your age. If you have Costco in the area, look into them. Seriously good place to work for.
 
TheBonk

TheBonk

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 22, 2007
300
12
Chicago
JohnNotBeatle said:
Retail grocery has a longer shelf life (no pun intended), career-wise, tho' the Google thing would be a giggle in the short term (but only the short term). Hell, I could've been a VP at Safeway long ago if I'd started bagging/stocking at your age. If you have Costco in the area, look into them. Seriously good place to work for.
Click to expand...

Hmm, have you worked at Costco? How is the work there? I hear the pay is starting at $11.
 
juanm

juanm

macrumors 68000
May 1, 2006
1,624
3,053
Fury 161
No, it's not your own camera, and as far as I know, they also provided the car:

goog-zoom-car.jpg


It probably consists only in driving according to the GPS directions, and the software does the rest. Taking, archiving and stitching 11 pictures manually every 3 meters for thousands of kilometers would be a hell of a PITA! :p

Google "streetview new beetle" and you'll find more about it. Maybe there's a FAQ or about page in the Streetview website.
 
JNB

JNB

macrumors 604
Oct 7, 2004
6,872
9
In a Hell predominately of my own making
TheBonk said:
Hmm, have you worked at Costco? How is the work there? I hear the pay is starting at $11.
Click to expand...

True, but it's pretty over the top for retail, and it ramps up pretty quickly. There's generally a waiting list to get in, and most folks end up staying a LONG time.

From http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/articles_2004/costco_employee_benefits_walmart.html:

"Costco pays starting employees at least $10 an hour, and with regular raises a full-time hourly worker can make $40,000 annually within 3½ years. Cashiers are paid $10.50 to $17.50 an hour.

Wal-Mart doesn't disclose its wage rates, since they vary by location. According to a recent study funded by Wal-Mart, cashiers at its Supercenters in Las Vegas were paid $7.65 to $11.45 an hour. Supercenters are Wal-Mart's discount grocery and general-merchandise stores.

Costco also pays 92% of its employees' health-insurance premiums, much higher than the 80% average at large U.S. companies. Wal-Mart pays two-thirds of health-benefit costs for its workers. Costco's health plan offers a broader range of care than Wal-Mart's does, and part-time Costco workers qualify for coverage in six months, compared with two years for Wal-Mart part-timers.

'From day one, we've run the company with the philosophy that if we pay better than average, provide a salary people can live on, have a positive environment and good benefits, we'll be able to hire better people, they'll stay longer and be more efficient,' says Richard Galanti, Costco's chief financial officer.

Costco has several advantages over Wal-Mart that help it extend such unusually generous pay and benefits. Costco has a more-upscale reputation than Sam's Club, helping it attract shoppers with higher incomes. The average Costco store rings up $115 million in annual sales, almost double the Sam's Club average. And Costco, which charges $45 to $100 for yearly memberships, doesn't spend any money on advertising."
 
S

sparquay

macrumors newbie
Apr 15, 2008
1
0
Thinking the Same thing

I've been thinking about the same thing actually. If it would mean getting streetviews for my town, I'd be willing to contribute my time for that effort! Where would I sign up?!? I don't think I would even mind minuscule compensation for the time contributed for the good of lost kind.:D
So if they ever plan on Streetviewing Columbus, Ga... tell someone to look me up!
 
G

google123

macrumors newbie
Jul 2, 2008
1
0
have you ever looked into google as a company?? they treat their employees way better than a costco or sams club.
Look it up go see what their offices look like and i bet youll want to get a job as a google street car driver. I highly HIGHLY doubt its making minimum wage.
This job is perfect for an adverterous person who wants to see the world and get paid for it!!!
do some research before you start dissing a company.
 
cleanup

cleanup

macrumors 68030
Jun 26, 2005
2,643
10
Toronto
According to this article, Google contracted the work to this company, so you're outta luck in terms of being an independent, got-my-own-car-just-gimme-the-camera Google Streetview driver. Sorry!
 
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ErikCLDR

macrumors 68000
Jan 14, 2007
1,795
0
I don't like google street view. I mean it's handy, but I don't like the idea that people can snoop around my neighborhood :p
 
I

idyll

macrumors 6502a
Jun 5, 2007
500
15
I've always wondered the same exact thing.. Not sure what other people are thinking, but I think it would be an awesome job.
 
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amraam024

macrumors newbie
Jul 29, 2008
1
0
street view driver

Ok the job is called "GeoImmersive Data Producer" and its with the Immersive Media Company that Google contracts to get all the street view images. Pay starts at about 24K and they provide a limited budget to live and eat on when you're on the road.
 
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Phileguy

macrumors newbie
Dec 30, 2008
1
0
TheBonk
In Philadelphia they advertised on Craigs List under Jobs/Transportation/Driver with a short description of the job. What I would like to know is there schedule and the next city they are going to shoot. If I knew that I would break out my Waldo costume and have some fun.
 
B

Barbarella218

macrumors newbie
Apr 17, 2009
1
0
JNB said:
Retail grocery has a longer shelf life (no pun intended), career-wise, tho' the Google thing would be a giggle in the short term (but only the short term). Hell, I could've been a VP at Safeway long ago if I'd started bagging/stocking at your age. If you have Costco in the area, look into them. Seriously good place to work for.
Click to expand...

Seriously?? Yeah, don't work for google, a highly rated employer, but managing a grocery store, that's a great career choice.
 
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birdmaineac

macrumors newbie
Dec 22, 2009
1
0
found myself several times

id love to do that, roll a few joints and cruise around taking pics, found myself in three different pics, one in the middle of nowhere 3 years ago and two where i live now. like it
 
leomac08

leomac08

macrumors 68020
Jul 12, 2009
2,096
0
Los Angeles, CA
If you spot a 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID THAT IS THE COLOR RED! AND HAS A BIG STICK ON TOP WITH SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A CAMERA, STOP THAT CAR!:D
 
wackymacky

wackymacky

macrumors 68000
Sep 20, 2007
1,546
53
38°39′20″N 27°13′10″W
Umm. you want to spend your life going up 1st St, down 2nd St, up 3rd St, down 4th St, up 5th St, down 6th St.....etc etc.

day in day out, going mile after mile after mile, going nowhere?

Interesting ambition.
 
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