Google Interview Guide
Want to land a job at Google? You are not alone, many dream of joining Google but aren’t sure how it really works.
In this guide, we will simplify Google’s hiring process
WHAT GOOGLE LOOKS FOR IN YOUR RESUME
Sample Resume
Resume Tips
Sharing valuable insights into building an impressive resume below.As recruiting experts, we typically spend just 10 seconds reviewing a resume. Here are 9 key tips to help you build a standout resume:
- Keep it concise: Limit your resume to one page. Space is at premium on a resume!
- Show off your skills – A dedicated section to highlight your technical skills at the top of the page is a must. Make sure recruiters can see your strengths quickly.
- Project focus & GitHub – Got no job experience? Highlight your projects. – Showcase your coding projects and maintain a professional GitHub profile
- Tech stack matters – Emphasize the technologies and tools you used in your projects
- Cut the unnecessary – Only include relevant accomplishments that show you are a good fit for the role. Highlight major achievements that are recognized in the industry and are relevant to the job.
- Be specific and use data Use this format:
“Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z].”
This shows impact, not just tasks. - If you are a recent grad or career starter.Include school-related projects or coursework that showcase your skills and knowledge. They count too!
- Contact info – Always include your city, phone number and email. Many recruiters prefer directly speaking on the phone.
- Cover Letter? Your call.
It’s optional. But if you write one, customize it just like your resume. Show your passion, back it up with data, and draw a direct line between your experience and the role.
Remember that the resume is meant to give you an interview- not the job! So, keep it concise. You should have something interesting to talk about in the interview, which goes way beyond your resume.
How to Get Noticed by Google & Popular Programs
Google offers several programs and competitions that can help you stand out and improve your chances of being noticed by tech recruiters and companies. Here’s an overview of some key opportunities:
1. Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
What it is: A global, online mentoring program for students and new developers to contribute to open-source software projects237.
How it works: Participants work on real-world coding projects under the guidance of experienced mentors from open-source organizations for 12+ weeks.
Benefits: Gain hands-on software development experience, mentorship, real-world project exposure, and a stipend145.
Outcome: Builds your resume, expands your network, and increases your visibility in the tech community.
2. Google Kick Start
What it is: A global online coding competition hosted by Google.
How it works: Participants solve algorithmic and programming challenges in timed rounds.
Benefits: Improves coding and problem-solving skills, offers a chance to be recognized by Google, and can lead to interview opportunities.
Outcome: High performers may be contacted by Google recruiters.
3. Google Code Camp (Note: Not an official Google program)
Note: There is no official Google program called “Google Code Camp.” However, there are coding bootcamps and online resources (such as freeCodeCamp or Google’s own developer resources) that can help you learn to code and build projects.
Context: If you meant something like Google’s developer certification programs or online learning platforms, these can also boost your skills and visibility.
"You can interview three times in 5 years. If you fail all three times then you can’t interview at Google again: you’re blocked"
What Interviewers Are Looking For?
"We are not simply looking for engineers to solve the problems they already know the answers to; we are interested in engineers who can work out the answers to questions they have not come across before."
"We are not simply looking for engineers to solve the problems they already know the answers to; we are interested in engineers who can work out the answers to questions they have not come across before."
What Google Interviewers look for
Google’s interview process evaluates problem-solving skills, coding ability, system design (for higher levels), and behavioral fit.
Here is what they assess:
Technical Competencies:
- Data Structures & Algorithms (Core for all levels)
- Arrays, Strings, Hash Maps, Trees, Graphs, Recursion, Sorting, Binary Search, Dynamic Programming.
- System Design (Typically from L4 and above, but L3s may get light questions)
- Focus on designing scalable systems, database structure, APIs, latency, etc.
- Coding Fluency
- Writing syntactically clean, bug-free code in a Google Doc or on a whiteboard.
- Problem-solving Process
- Thinking aloud, breaking problems down, identifying edge cases, and testing logic.
Behavioral/Leadership (Googliness):
- Ability to work on a team
- Intellectual humility
- Conflict resolution
- Leadership through influence (even without a formal title)
- Alignment with Google’s mission and values
Sample coding questions (Real Google style)
- Binary Tree: Maximum path sum
- Stack/String: Decode string (e.g., “3[a2[c]]” → “accaccacc”)
- Data Structures: SnapshotArray or LRU cache
- Dynamic Programming: Largest rectangle in binary matrix
- BST Traversal: Sum of values between two nodes in BST
Here are some more tips for preparing for your Google coding interview:
- Practice in teams; have someone make up a question. Then have them disguise it or plant a red herring in it (for example, purposefully have it look like Three Sum, but it isn’t Three Sum).
- Practice with someone who can change the parameters after you have solved the main question by saying things like “Remember that assumption X we made earlier. What would happen if we removed that assumption?”
- If you see a question online that has been marked as “Asked in a Google interview”, then it is not going to be asked in your interview, period. Google is very good at retiring questions that have been leaked.
- Practice without the aid of an editor or IDE: in a Google doc, on a whiteboard, or with pen and paper.
System design questions (for L4+ or ambitious L3s)
- Design Google’s web index
- Build a ticketing system (like Ticketmaster)
- Design Google Photos or Home devices
Even at L3, showing basic understanding of scalability, APIs, and component breakdown can give you an edge.
Follow https://substack.com/@everyonewhocodes and Lakshmi for more system design content
Leadership / behavioral questions
- Why Google?
- Tell me about yourself.
- Share a time you handled a team conflict.
- How did you lead change in a transitioning environment?
The STAR method (Situation → Task → Action → Result) is ideal here.
Finally:
Don’t memorize solutions, understand the patterns.
Practice coding without running the code.
Be comfortable with talking while solving, clarity of thought matters as much as the solution.
If you are unsure about something in the interview — ask!
What happens behind the scenes
If things go well at your onsite interviews here is what the final steps of the process look like:
- Interviewers submit feedback
- Hiring committee recommendation
- Team matching
- Senior leader and Compensation committee review
- Final executive review (only senior roles)
- You get an offer
After your onsite, your interviewers will all submit their feedback usually within two to three days. This feedback will then be reviewed by a hiring committee, along with your resume, internal referrals, and any past work you have submitted. At this stage, the hiring committee will make a recommendation on whether Google should hire you or not.
If the hiring committee recommends that you get hired you will usually start your team matching process. In other words, you will talk to hiring managers and one or several of them will need to be willing to take you in their team in order for you to get an offer from the company.
In parallel, the hiring committee recommendation will be reviewed and validated by a Senior manager and a compensation committee who will decide how much money you are offered. Finally, if you are interviewing for a senior role, a Senior Google executive will review a summary of your candidacy and compensation before the offer is sent to you.
As you have probably gathered by now, Google goes to great lengths to avoid hiring the wrong candidates. This hiring process with multiple levels of validations helps them scale their teams while maintaining a high caliber of employees. But it also means that the typical process can spread over multiple months.
Template Of Interview Feedback:
An interview feedback form template at tech companies typically includes several key sections designed to evaluate candidates comprehensively. While the exact format can vary by company, here are common components found in such templates:
Interview Feedback Form Template
Candidate Information
- Candidate Name:
- Position Applied For:
- Date of Interview:
- Interviewer Name:
Evaluation Criteria
- Technical Skills
– How well did the candidate demonstrate the required technical skills?
– Comments: - Problem-Solving Ability
– How effectively did the candidate approach and solve problems?
– Comments: - Communication Skills
– How clearly did the candidate articulate their thoughts and ideas?
– Comments: - Cultural Fit
– How well does the candidate align with the company’s values and culture?
– Comments: - Teamwork and Collaboration
– How well does the candidate work with others or in a team setting?
– Comments: - Initiative and Motivation
– Did the candidate show enthusiasm and a proactive attitude?
– Comments: - Overall Impression
– What is your overall impression of the candidate?
– Comments:
Scoring Section (Optional)
- Technical Skills: (1-5 scale)
- Problem-Solving Ability: (1-5 scale)
- Communication Skills: (1-5 scale)
- Cultural Fit: (1-5 scale)
- Overall Score: (1-5 scale)
Recommendation
- Would you recommend this candidate for the position?
- Yes / No / Maybe
- Additional Comments:
This template helps interviewers provide structured and consistent feedback, which is crucial for making informed hiring decisions. Each tech company may customize its form to reflect its specific values, competencies, and evaluation processes.
Final tips: How to Ace your Google Interview
- Practice storytelling: Have 5-6 STAR stories ready for common themes: conflict, failure, leadership, learning, growth, and collaboration. Be ready to adapt them to different behavioral questions.
- Quantify everything: Numbers make your impact real. Use metrics to demonstrate your achievements which convey your contributions.
- Clarify before you code: Always ask clarifying questions to ensure you fully understand the problem.
- Write Clean, Organized Code
Use descriptive variable names, proper indentation, and logical structure. Your code should be easy to read and understand. - Stay calm under pressure: The interviewer will challenge you, embrace it as part of the process.
- Think out loud: Explain your thought process as you work through the problem.
- Be yourself: Show how you think, how you learn, and how you would make Google better.
- Be authentic: Google values curiosity, humility, and a collaborative mindset. Demonstrate how you approach learning and problem-solving, and how you contribute to a team.
Understand Google’s culture: Review Google’s mission, values, and recent initiatives. Tailor your responses to align with the company’s goals and culture.
Ready to take the next step?
Landing a role at Google is about more than just solving algorithms, it is about demonstrating real impact, clear thinking, and a builder’s mindset.
This guide is your starting point. Whether you are refining your resume, prepping for interviews, or navigating the hiring process, remember: Google values curiosity, problem-solving, and the ability to grow.
Need guidance? Our mentors at the Everyone Who Codes community are here to support you at every stage of your journey.
👉 Join the Community or Book a Mentorship session to get started!