Applying for any job can be an intimidating process, especially when you’re applying for a position with one of the largest, most forward thinking and desirable employers in the world. But, if you’re passionate, determined and talented, there’s no reason why you can’t get your foot in the door with Google, and then knock the interview process out of the park. Let’s look at some tips to get you started.
Networking
A strong network is the key to getting your foot in the door across seemingly every industry, including the tech sector. While you can apply for jobs directly with Google, you have a much higher chance of getting a call back for an interview if you have a referral to help you get your foot in the door.
A great place to start is LinkedIn. Find some people who work in recruiting for Google and shoot them a message. Often, they’ll write you back and provide you with valuable information or an invitation to interview for a position.
If you’re still in college, or if you’ve recently graduated, see if Google attends the career fair at your university. If they do, be sure to attend and meet with the Google recruiter who comes to your school. That face to face interaction is a great opportunity to learn more about the company while making a strong first impression.
Patience
Each year, over 2 million people apply for a job with Google. Only one in every 130 applicants are selected for a position at the company. To put that in perspective, you’re about nine times more likely to have your application accepted at Harvard than you are at Google.
Then, there’s the interview process, which can take more than a month to complete.
If you have your heart set on working at Google, you’ll need to be patient, both with the application process as well as the interview process. You may not get your foot in the door on the first shot either. But, if you’re qualified and driven, you can certainly obtain a job with Google.
Degree Optional
Sure, having a degree provides you with a leg up over some of the competition when you’re interviewing for any job. But, it’s not necessarily a prerequisite at Google. If you’re extremely talented in your field, Google will often overlook the fact that you don’t have a University degree.
Mind Your Grades
If you’re a current college student or a recent graduate, you’ll want to make sure your grades are on point if you’re looking for a position at Google. Google asks for college transcripts for recent graduates. If your grades weren’t up to snuff, you might want to hold off on your application.
If you’ve been out of school for three years or longer, Google is unlikely to ask you to furnish a copy of your transcripts. So, if you didn’t put up the type of grades that will inspire confidence with the brass at Google, it may be wise to hold off on applying for a few years until you’re safely out of the transcript window.
Broaden Your Expertise
Do what you can to show that you’re a jack of all trades. Google has said in the past that they look for “T-shaped people” A T-shaped person shows an extremely high level of performance in their area of expertise but also demonstrates other skills, interests, and passions in addition to their main area of expertise.
Have a Strong Portfolio
Having a strong portfolio is another key to success in the Google interview process. It’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to walk into Google (or any other tech job, for that matter) and dazzle your way through the door with charm and personality. You’re going to need to show that you have the chops to compete in Google’s ultra-competitive workplace.
Depending on the type of job you’re applying for, you’ll want to be able to demonstrate that you’re capable of completing similar work at a high level. By being prepared with a strong portfolio, you’re not only sending a message that you’re serious about the position, but you’ll also be putting your talents on display at the same time.
Show Passion and Creativity
A great way to differentiate yourself from the dizzying number of other applicants in the field is by showing your passion and creativity. Beyond looking for people who will be able to accel in their position, Google is looking for applicants who display passion, creativity and outside interests.
The Brainbusters
For years, you’d hear stories from people who had interviewed with tech giants like Google and were faced with a wide range of different riddles, brainteasers, and exercises that were far from the realm of “normal interview questions.”
As if you didn’t have enough reason to be anxious about interviewing with the largest tech company in the world, these questions added a whole other level of anxiety to the equation.
On the bright side, Google has recently done away with this practice, as they felt that the questions didn’t provide them with any edge in evaluating potential employees.
