how to get a job at google

Welcome to the Evisors Webinar

Visit us online at www.evisors.com

How to Get that Job at Google – or any Great Tech Company

featuringGayle Laakmann McDowell

Hosted by: Career Advisors on Demand..com/webinars

http://www.evisors.com/webinars/webinar/60



About Gayle

Author of The Google Resume and Cracking the Coding Interview

Founder/CEO, CareerCup.com MBA, The Wharton School Software Engineer at Google, Apple and

Microsoft Member of Google Hiring Committee





How to Get that Job at Google – or any Great Tech Company

The Culture At Tech FirmsWhat Firms Looking ForHow to Research the IndustryWhat They Ask in the InterviewQ&A





Culture – As Amazing As It Sounds?

• Lots of perks!• Innovative• Brilliant coworkers• Too engineering driven?

Google Zurich





But… firms differ

• Very engineering focused• Lack of strong management

• Retail, not tech thin margins• Lack of consistent culture

across groups

• More “businessy”• Slower, more bureaucracy

Apple• “Fanboy” culture• Highly secretive – even internally





What Are They Looking For?

What do tech companies look for?

• Intelligence• Personality• Communication• Position-specific skills

• Passion for Tech• Showing Initiative The things

that set you apart





Becoming a “Techie”

• CS / Engineering Major• Work experience in tech• Read about tech• Explore tech

– Website / Blog / Twitter– Explore Amazon S3, etc

• Dive in– Learn to code– Launch a tech start-up

Be more than “just another

business person”

See: codecademy.com





Building a Kick-Ass Resume

“Glanced at,” not read.15 – 30 seconds

1. Pull resume out of giant stack2. Spot-check: company names,

positions, projects, schools3. Skim bullets to see if you’ve

made an impact

InterviewReject

How We Review Resumes

Hosted by:See the rest at evisors.com/webinars/webinar/36



Building a Resume (US)

• One page only• Real resume template• Accomplishment-oriented

– Quantify!• Short 1 – 2 line bullets

– Paragraphs will not be read

Sample resumes available at www.TheGoogleResume.com


http://www.thegoogleresume.com/



How is tech “special”?

• Less rigid culture more freedom to demonstrate strengths

• “Projects” or “Additional Experience”?– “Side projects” / start-ups– Informal consulting roles

• Technical Experience?– MS Office does not count.– List programming languages (if any)

• What did you not include?Hosted by:See the rest at evisors.com/webinars/webinar/36



Researching the Industry

Researching the Industry

• Company Strategy / Future• Product & Industry• Passion / Excitement




Company Strategy / Future

• Challenges:– What are their biggest challenges? How would you solve

them?• Success:

– Why is this company successful (or not)?• Competition:

– Who are their competitors? Who is better in which areas?• Predictions:

– What do you predict will happen to this company in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years?




Know the Products & Industry

• Know two company products• Know two industry products• Understand:

– Business model– Challenges– Recent events– How would you improve it?

Avoid the super

famous products.




Passion / Excitement

• Find something that excites you!– Crowdsourcing? Cloud infrastructure?

• Learn:– History of field?– Direction of field?– Leading companies / products?




What They Ask in an Interview

Common Interview Questions

1. Behavioral Questions

2. Estimation Questions

3. Product Design Questions

4. Business Questions

Don’t believe the “Impossible”

Google questions online!




Behavioral QuestionsTell me about a time when you

had to influence a team.

Tell me about a time when you faced a hostile attitude from a coworker.

Tell me about something you accomplished in an unexpected way.

1Hosted by:See the rest at evisors.com/webinars/webinar/36



Great Responses to Behavioral Qs

• Answer the question you were asked

• Make you look awesome

• Show strong communication skills




Behavioral Qs: Preparation

1Download grid at www.thegoogleresume.com




Behavioral Qs: S.A.R.

ituationctionesult

SAR

What was the issue?

What did you do about it?

What was the impact?




2

Estimation QuestionsHow many tennis balls

can fit in an SUV?

How much money does Gmail make from ads every year?

How much do New Yorkers spend on electricity each year?




Estimation Qs: Why?

• Problem Solving / Intelligence• Quantitative Skills• Communication




Estimation Qs: How to Approach

1. Ask questions to resolve ambiguity2. Outline / Structure Your Approach3. Break down the components4. Sanity Check




Estimation Qs: Example

2


Step 1: Ambiguous Information• Just in the US? Or Worldwide?• Side and top ads?• Gmail only? Or include Google Apps?





2


Step 2: Outline Your Approach1. Estimate # of Gmail users2. Estimate annual clicks3. Estimate $ per click





2


Step 3: Break down componentsEstimate # of Gmail users in the US1. Assume 300 million people in the US. 2. Assume 80% of people use email3. Assume 80% use a “major” email provider4. Assume Gmail has 50% of the <35 market, but 20% of

the >35 market…





2


Step 4: Validate Numbers• Suppose you get US rev. = $5 billion.• No, because…

– Google’s annual revenue is ~$30 billion– $16 / US citizen (not just gmail users)




3

Product Design QuestionsHow would you design an calculator for the blind?

Design an elevator for a building.

Pick a Google product. How would you improve it?




Product Design Questions

• Evaluates:– Communication– Ability to understand the user– Creativity– Business instincts / skills




Product Design Qs: Approach

1. Ask questions to resolve ambiguity2. Understand the user

– Who is your target user?– What are their problems?– Know your market!

3. Structure the problem




Product Design Qs: ExampleHow would you design a calculator for the blind?

Step 1: Ask Questions• Adults? Children? Professionals?• Where are they using it?

– School, work, etc





Step 2: Understand the User• What’s important to a blind child?

– Keeping up with the rest of the class– Not feeling “different”– Efficient input / output

• What about teachers, parents, classmates, etc?





Step 3: Structure1. Make a list of essential features

– Which functions do you support?– Input/output for blind?– Input/output for non-blind?

2. Design each component– Remember the needs of the

users! 3

Be creative – but

structured.




Business QuestionsHow would you introduce

YouTube to Turkey?

How would you calculate the price of an Amazon Prime membership?

How would you determine which of two business ideas to pursue?




4

Business Questions

• Heavy overlap with Product Design• Where an MBA comes in handy• The Approach:

1. Ask questions2. Outline a structure3. Solve piece by piece




Business QuestionsHow would you price Amazon Prime membership?

Step 1: Ask Questions• Who?

– Just for US users? Or worldwide?

• “Features”– What does Amazon Prime offer?

• Price structure?– Single price point? Or promotions, tiered

pricing, etc.?4





Step 2: Outline a Structure• Understand Priorities:

– Short term vs. long term? – Barriers to entry for competitors?

• Financial impact:– Short term– Long term

• Evaluate potential price structures– Single price point– Tiered pricing 4





Step 3: Solve Piece by PieceStep (b): Financial Impact• Short Term

– Increase in purchases– Lost revenue from shipping fees

• Long Term– Improve customer loyalty– Enhanced barriers to entry




The Curve Ball Question

• Remember: Questions come down to:

• So:1. Ask questions2. Structure the problem3. Solve the pieces

• Don’t rush yourself!

when the question is something totally different…

structure communication+




Review

To Review

• Learn 4 products inside & out– 2 internal, 2 external

• Find something you’re passionate about• Interview Preparation Grid• Practice, practice, practice!• Interview: Ask Questions -> Structure -> Solve




Q&A

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0470927623

The Google ResumeHow to Prepare for a Career and Land a Job at

Apple, Microsoft, Google, or any Top Tech Company


http://www.amazon.com/dp/0470927623



Questions & Answers

Question 1:

Are MBAs without engineering backgrounds valuable at Google?

Hosted by:See the answer at evisors.com/webinars/webinar/36



Questions & Answers

Question 2:

Are there jobs at Google that fit a candidate with experience in supply chain management?




Questions & Answers

Question 3:

Would it be interesting to Google if you mentioned unique background experience (Law for example)?




Questions & Answers

Question 4:

If someone had a tech background in consulting, does that count as a tech background for Google?




Questions & Answers

Question 5:

What are salary negotiations like with a big tech company like Google?




Questions & Answers

Question 6:

How do you get into international business development/strategy with Google?




Questions & Answers

Question 7:

What type of position is suitable for a candidate who has extensive tech experience and was a former COO?




Questions & Answers

Question 8:

For someone who is entering the tech industry for the first time, is it important to land a job with a big company to establish creditability? Or should the candidate pursue a job at a startup company?




Questions & Answers

Question 9:

What do you think has changed in the desired recruit as compared to 5 years ago? What qualities would be most desirable in the next 5 years?




Questions & Answers

Question 10:

Does academic achievement bear any significance in a candidate’s application?




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