So you want to work for Google - here's how can I help.
I think the biggest misconception people have, is what I can actually do. Even though I’m a manager, I simply can’t skip you past the interview process. Things at Google work a bit differently, and having seen how other hiring processes work, I’m glad that they do.
From the Google re:work Hiring Committee guide
At Google a hiring manager can say "no" to any candidate, but if they find someone they want to hire, they alone cannot give a final “yes” — they must pass the candidate onto a hiring committee for review.
So is that it - I can’t help you? Well, I can, but not in the way most people expect. I can help you prepare, and I can let you know what’s expected. Coming into a Google interview unprepared makes it unnecessarily difficult. Treat it like finals - study until you feel ready, and do some practice exams. There are some good resources on the Google Tech Dev Guide.
I interviewed at Google about 10 years after I finished undergrad, so I had some studying to do. I found “Cracking the Coding Interview” to be helpful in preparing. This is not an affiliate link.
As a Front End Engineer, do I find the selection process to be inaccurate?
Some of the skills I need to succeed in my job at Google were covered in the interview - many were not. However, what helped me in the interview process was knowing what was going to be covered (see the links above).
So, what if it doesn’t work out the first time?
That’s not uncommon. You can reapply after a year. Really, just don’t take it personally - it’s a good process, but not a perfect one.
But what about a referral?
So, if I haven’t met you in real life, a referral isn’t going to do much. How well I know you is asked specifically when I provide a referral, and it’s in no-ones interest for me to lie as that lie won’t help you get through the interview. So I can’t help you skip past the interview, but I can make sure you know what to expect.
Is that cop out?
No, knowing what to expect is how I passed the interview - the second time. The first time, I was asked to do an NP reduction - after not thinking about NP hard and NP complete questions since undergrad (about 10 years earlier). At the time, I was doing Flash and HTML5/Video development at Yahoo!, so I was caught completely off guard by that question. Don’t be caught off guard. Study.
