How to get a job at Google — tips from people who actually work there

Google is the Holy Grail of tech companies to work for, and its intense hiring processes are the stuff of recruitment legends. Though many details of how the company finds its employees are kept secret, some Google employees are willing to share their journey from being one of the 2 million people that apply to the tech giant every year to actual Google staffer.

We spoke with two Google employees: cloud advisor Camilo Moreno-Salamanca and product manager in commerce Annie Sheehan. They shared how they prepped their applications for Google, strategized for their interviews (and aced them), made an impact on the hiring manager, and were hired at one of the most important companies in the world.

The shortest distance isn’t always a straight line

The tricky thing about a company as pioneering as Google is that standard processes aren’t really standard for them. So the people who find their way there also don’t follow a customary path to their jobs.

“I moved to tech sales at Google from being a procurement agent at Boeing,” Moreno-Salamanca said. “At first glance, there really isn’t a path. I focused on abstracting away the elements of my procurement agent job and my overall experience at Boeing (project management, negotiations, stakeholder management), and mapping those experiences to the elements in a sales role.”

Google reached out to Sheehan first — even though she wasn’t in the tech world.

“I worked in management consulting after majoring in economics and international studies in college,” she said. “Prior to joining Google, I didn’t have much exposure to tech, so I wasn’t actively thinking about recruiting in this field. However, a Google recruiter reached out to me on LinkedIn just as I was thinking about making a career change. That started a whole new journey of learning about all the diverse opportunities at tech companies like Google (many of which do not require a background in engineering).”

Here’s the takeaway: Google hires are lauded for their abstract and creative thinking. This means that, as an applicant, you need to identify and emphasize these aspects of yourself, your job, and the job you’d like to have.

Try demonstrating when you have been creative in your career and showing that on your resume, cover letter, and bringing it up in the interview. Talk about times in your career when you positioned yourself as a creative thinker to solve a problem with budgeting or organization. You want to show that you orchestrated a creative process with a positive outcome most importantly.

Use certain keywords including “innovation,” “diverse,” and “development” on your resume and LinkedIn and Ladders profiles when discussing your experience.

Why do you want to work for Google?

Passion permeates all things. It doesn’t matter if you’re programming or painting — the people who are the best at what they do, who attract the best at what they do, are always passionate on some level.

“It’s important to assess yourself based on the minimum and preferred requirements in the particular Google job description you’re interested in,” Sheehan said. “A role in marketing is dramatically different from one in engineering. This exercise can help you identify whether you’re truly passionate about the role and provides a starting framework to prepare yourself for the interview.”

“Ask yourself, ‘Why Google?’” Moreno-Salamanca said. “Having a solid why (e.g., impact, benefits, skill match) is better than ‘I think this may be good’ or ‘Google is all the rage.’ There is a strong correlation with how well candidates prepare for their interview (know the role, know the industry, have ideas) with having a ‘why Google’ they can articulate.”

The bottom line? “Why do you want to work for Google?” seems like a simple question to ask, but it’s one we often forget, and it might be the most important question you ask yourself before applying for any company. Passionate, confident candidates know themselves, what they want, and why they want it. Be sure to express that in your interview.

Teamwork makes the dream work

Every company has a focus, a theme that runs through their core values, and they look for evidence of those themes in their hires, either consciously or unconsciously.

Moreno-Salamanca said there’s one thing Google values most.

“Collaboration,” he said. “I would define collaboration as an umbrella term for other critical skills like communication (written, verbal), emotional intelligence, and having enough grit and a growth mindset. The good news is that all these skills can be learned and honed. Googlers pride themselves on teamwork and building consensus.”

And that consensus isn’t built on team members who look, act, and think alike, either, Sheehan said.

“Google values diversity in skills and experiences, so don’t believe that you have to fit a cookie-cutter definition of an ‘ideal’ Googler!” she said. “Generally, we are looking for candidates who are adaptable, strong problem solvers, effective communicators, and good team players.”

So don’t get caught up with office politics. Consider what you can offer Google that others don’t and why that is important to them and you.

How do you seal the deal?

You’ve finally gotten an interview with Google. How do you seal the deal?

“The advice I often share most is to use the STAR system (situation, task, action, result) and have four to five work scenarios where you’ve dealt with conflict, faced an ethical dilemma, difficult co-workers, etc., ” Moreno-Salamanca said. “And take the time to think about your answers. The awkward 30-second silence you’ll use to think about your answer is a lot less awkward than a blabbering answer that is hard to rectify because of the unfounded pressure to respond immediately.”

And, of course, practice, practice, practice, Sheehan said.

“Make sure you tailor your prep to the needs of the role,” she said. “Take the time to make an interview prep schedule for yourself so you get the practice you need before the real thing. Reach out to peers for mock interviews as that will most closely resemble a real interview scenario. Lastly, your Google recruiter is a wonderful resource on additional tips and tricks during this time. They want to see you succeed!”

So, take a moment to sincerely consider the question. Anybody can recite prepared responses to anticipated questions, but that’s not what Google’s about.

While you have to do your homework, there’s no shortage of material out there to study (Google search anyone?), you’ll never anticipate every question. Be prepared to adapt on the fly.

Remember, Google values creativity, collaboration, and perspective. Expect to use those skills in unique ways on your path to Google.