It seems like the case. So your friend had 3 interviews and he's waiting for a confirmation for a "yes or no" right? What do you mean strong references? What's his experience, What was the job description requirement? which college/uni did he graduated from and how old is your friend? what's the job level? entry? senior? mid level ?
Even you cant easily find out that who are the employees of google, Because Google maintain its all secret
You simply will not get tired if you are "self-taught" without certification. As for your question, they hire everyone from high-school drop outs (Janitors) to graduates with Masters (Software Engineers). A PhD is actually not as impressive as you'd think. It is a "Doctorate of Philosophy". A PhD is an independent degree and you must do something independently to earn this document. Google would look at this as just having to pay you more because you have a different piece of paper with the same qualifications. Settle for a Masters... Also, why do you want to work at google so badly? There is so many options out there, don't set your sights on Google. Work where ever you can get the best position at.. Again, no one is going to hire you as a programmer with a "self-taught" claim. Get certified. http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/
It helps to have an MBA or PhD. My friend's wife got a job at Google a few years ago...and she has a PhD in...I forget but it has NOTHING to do with business. I'd say the easiest way to get in is with more education. Yeah, you gotta pay to play.
Hope you get what you want, but in general when I see talented people have to look for references to get into a job, the job market needs to freshen up and give way to others, and those who say there are no jobs , retire the ones above the age of 60, let the new talent come in, anyways its a wide topic to discuss... Good luck
I think Google hires people who usually have degree related to technical capability, like programming, etc. But they also hire people with other degree like designing or marketing. I have seen a movie of Owen Wilson called "Internship". I think that movie tells almost the whole thing about what kind of people that Google tries to hire for their company. It's actually good and funny movie, you should watch it. It was made at Google HQ in Mountain View. Yes, the real Google HQ.
To get a Job in Google not requires the highly certified College Degrees but the Google requires the Math, Computing and Coding skills so if your better grades reflects the skills in those areas you apply, its an Advantage.
They can offer various kind of opening But you must best. They have opening for Marketing / Admin / Technician/ Programming / Hardware / Networking. Even you Less qualified but having best skill means sure u have very bright change to enter in google
Youtube founders got hired by google upon purchasing their start up.. so if you are able to create or invent something unique then google might hire you even without a degree ;-)
I think that first of all look at the person's ability, rather than his education and what a degree he has
Don`t get discouraged by people who say that you need an Ivy league degree. I have a friend who finished his studies in Romania (Bucharest), he didn`t have a PhD when he applied to work at Google and he got a job. Sure, he is one of the best programmers I know, but no Ivy league degrees. He finished his studies at the University of Bucharest, and had two jobs as a programmer before working for Google. The best way to find out if you would fit in is to apply for a job there. You will never know if you don`t try!