Yesterday I had phone interviews with a pair of software engineers from Google for a position called "Software Engineer - New Grads". Earlier today, I received an email from the recruiter assigned to me that they would like me to come in to their NY office for a day of interviews. I'm a senior computer engineering major, set to graduate this May. Does anyone have any advice or stories for/about 1:1 interviews at Google they would be willing to share? I'm trying to get as prepared as possible before I head down there. Thanks in advance, everyone.

The general consensus I see is that you shouldn't prepare. Google wants to know what you know, and doesn't want to know what gamedev.net forum users know. Good luck on your interview!

Bring beer. Always helps.

Other than that, perhaps brush up on your terminology a bit. In general... if you deserve the position, you will know enough to pass the interview. Be yourself. Don't try and pretend you're not a Microsoft Loving Open Source Hating Midget, if that's what you are.

Quote: Original post by Washu

Quote: Original post by medevilenemy
Does anyone have any advice or stories for/about 1:1 interviews at Google they would be willing to share?

Bring beer. Always helps.

If you bring the beer, wait until AFTER the interview, and make sure you share with the interviewers.

Here's a few more:

Don't gorge yourself on 5-alarm chili and curries tonight. Brush your teeth before the interview. And an important note about clothing: wear it.



(As Crazyfool pointed out, if you don't know it after all your schooling then a bit of cramming won't help you.)

Quote: Original post by frob

Quote: Original post by Washu

Quote: Original post by medevilenemy
Does anyone have any advice or stories for/about 1:1 interviews at Google they would be willing to share?

Bring beer. Always helps.

If you bring the beer, wait until AFTER the interview, and make sure you share with the interviewers.

Here's a few more:

Don't gorge yourself on 5-alarm chili and curries tonight. Brush your teeth before the interview. And an important note about clothing: wear it.

Wear odorless deodorant. Make sure the clothes are clean.

Quote: Original post by frobAnd an important note about clothing: wear it.

If I were a hiring manager and someone came in without clothes on, I'd be intrigued to say the least.

Google's algorithms cannot be gamed by interview preparation. They will hire you if and only if you are the most relevant candidate.

Really, though, you'll be fine. Unless you're not Google material (for whatever position this is), in which case you're unlikely to get ready by tomorrow.

Good luck, man! Google's a great place to work by all accounts.

Hahaha, thanks all. The interview date hasn't been set yet -- probably two or so weeks from now. Was just trying to get a sense of the playing field, so to speak. Anyway, I'll be sure to wear clothes [grin]

Probably a little late to mention it...

Google's web crawling robots are programmed to detect discussion about their interviews. They really don't like people trying to cheat their hiring system. They cross-correlate such comments with the personal information they have been collecting for years.

Unfortunately, by asking for interview assistance you have become unemployable.

Expect an email canceling the interview to arrive in your gmail account soon --- even though you never gave them your gmail address.

Quote: Original post by frob
Probably a little late to mention it...

Google's web crawling robots are programmed to detect discussion about their interviews. They really don't like people trying to cheat their hiring system. They cross-correlate such comments with the personal information they have been collecting for years.

Unfortunately, by asking for interview assistance you have become unemployable.

Expect an email canceling the interview to arrive in your gmail account soon --- even though you never gave them your gmail address.

I don't know if they are that drastic but yeah they don't like anyone posting anything about their interview processes.
Well what I will say from what the people I met at Google a couple of months ago when I visited is that as long as you know your algorithms you should be good.
Then again maybe not because the second individual that I met mentioned that he wasn't hired the first time he applied right out of school. His advice was to try again after getting more experience if they don't hire you the first time.

[Edited by - daviangel on February 11, 2010 6:09:46 AM]