Google interview booked. Now what?!
October 8, 2012 7:29 AM   Subscribe

I've got a job interview at Google? What should I expect?

It is with a regional office, and is a position in between sales and operations. The job description is right up my alley, and doesn't seem to be too far of a reach for me. However, I am nervous! What makes a job at Google different from any place else? What kind of questions can I expect in the interviews?

I had a 30 minute phone interview with HR that seemed to go well, but now they've called me in for an in-depth meeting with four different Googlers.

Any mefi's out there with insight into the world of Google?
posted by kilikina73 to Work & Money (9 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Oh yes, the on-site Google interview. THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOOGLE. GOOGLE IS GREAT. GOOOOOOOOGLE!!!!!!! WE HAVE SNACKS! That's what it will sound like.

But in all seriousness, everyone who interviews has to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) when they come on-site, promising not to reveal anything about the process. The document is very long.
posted by hellomina at 8:05 AM on October 8, 2012 [1 favorite]


I only heard of Engineers who applied. They would give impossible questions, that actually have many different answers. They just want to see your thinking process on how you got your answer.
posted by udon at 8:14 AM on October 8, 2012


Glassdoor might be able to help - of course it's anonymous so YMMV. You can filter by job title.
posted by radioamy at 8:25 AM on October 8, 2012 [2 favorites]


Google is notorious for asking bizzaro questions.

There are some articles out there that talk about this, and also what they're looking for in an answer;

Article 1

Article 2

If you google "Google Job Interview Questions" You'll see all sorts of information.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:57 AM on October 8, 2012


If you google "Google Job Interview Questions" You'll see all sorts of information.

This information will overwhelmingly be out of date (they're dialing way back on the "you're the size of a nickel and in a blender! What do you do?!?!" questions), and most of the experiences and advice will be for engineering jobs.

Interviewing with a number of people is standard.

I think ... I think you should just do the normal interview stuff. Do your homework, be ready to talk about yourself, but also ask good questions. If there are technical qualifications for the job, be prepared to show that you meet them. (Engineers do have to code on white boards, so don't lie and say you know Python if you don't! I know you're unlikely to have that happen to you based on the position you're interviewing for, but the principle holds.)

Good luck!
posted by purpleclover at 10:07 AM on October 8, 2012


They like youth and energy, AKA will work overtime on a base salary. Very very team-oriented.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 11:17 AM on October 8, 2012


this is probably more for helpful for engineers but you might find something anyway
posted by uncreative at 1:52 PM on October 8, 2012


What makes a job at Google different from any place else?
A different total-compensation equation, since they provide things like food and coffee and the occasional toy directly, and a few odd benefits (electric car charging, death benefit, bussing) in some areas. How much do you value those things? Salaries are good but not great, bonuses can be significant, performance measurement is data-driven, but most of all it's not a startup any more.
What kind of questions can I expect in the interviews?
That depends on how "google-y" the team is or the interviewers are. I've only ever gotten one of the cliched off-the-wall questions, and it was frustrating because I answered it directly almost immediately ("multiplexing. next.").
Any mefi's out there with insight into the world of Google?
Plenty, but yeah, they'll make you sign an NDA as everyone else has. The process is completely inscrutable, and the people you interview with will not be making the final decision. The hiring committees are independent, and are notorious for making decisions that displease everyone but themselves.

My best advice is not to let yourself get caught up in the stigma of Interviewing At Google. Seriously. They're a business and not a vacation destination. Don't forget that.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 2:33 PM on October 8, 2012 [1 favorite]


Remember, as you begin to prepare, this interview thing is as much about you wanting to work at Google and Google is wanting to know can you work well in their culture. And prepare you must, not the questions that they ask but what kind of work will they be expecting you to perform and does it fill in from your past experience. Google likes to think of themselves as a career employer. Is it a good fit goes both ways.
posted by ptm at 11:54 PM on October 8, 2012


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