HN Explorer

Ask HN: How to Get into Google?

21 points by jonas_kgomo ↗ HN
Traditionally it seems there are some possible ways you could model a career that will lend you at Google, for instance, some join an Ivy League University, others create some core open source technology or startups which gets acquired, others get accredited into Google Experts Community, while others get referred. Another weird story was a person who was working for a contractor of Google and later joined them as it was acquired. I would like to know if you were starting from beginner level as a developer, how would you model your journey to best-fit the ideal Google candidate? What are some stories(or tips) you've had, or experienced.

28 comments

[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 70.0 ms ] thread
logicslave
You dont need to do any of those things. You just study algorithms obsessively. Forget about developing any kind of skillset. Go to leetcode.com and do 500 problems, then stroll into google
miguendes
That's true only if you assume that the their resume won't be tossed out.

Edit: typo

logicslave
They interview a huge amount of people. Its really not too hard to catch their eye
miguendes
I've tried a couple of times with no success. Maybe my CV is not good enough to catch their eyes.
decafninja
I've had interviews at three of the letters in FAANG (though not Google), and my resume is not exactly awesome either. You could try reaching out directly to recruiters if you haven't already. Applying via their automated online form seems to be an express trip to a black hole (this goes for most companies in my experience, not just FAANG).
username90
Are you an American? It is much harder for now Americans to get interviews at Google.
[deleted]
(comment deleted)
tudelo
+++. Went to a state University. Got offers from some FAANG's after 2 years-ish of full time work at a smaller company.

My route: Linkedin. Just setting my profile to "open to work" or whatever it is has worked in landing me some interviews.

After you get an interview (completely luck based) you need to study leetcode. IMO if you can do 200 in 1-2 months focusing heavily on medium, you will be prepared. At that point you need to ace your onsite interview by doing very well in 4/5 or so of the sessions (slightly luck based). Then you wait forever until google decides to finally give you an offer :)

ccajas
Re: getting your foot in with interviews. Mileage really varies here. I agree with you that getting an interview is very luck-based. I have no contacts in FAANG that would be strong referrals. But from my own experience, I garner more interest from recruiters passively from my job history, than from taking a more active route of applying to FAANG jobs. (And I have no history with any big or "corporate" work environments either)
[dead] magma17
if your lastname is Pichai
robertbalent
As mentioned before, work on your Leetcode skills. Be sure you can talk while solving them on whiteboard.

From books I like "Elements of Programming Interviews" and also "Cracking the coding interview", even though it's little lightweight.

Then make your LinkedIn profile nice and shiny and contact the recruiters.

speedgoose
I was told that Google can also contact you with a nice job offer.
ijuhoor
Disclaimer: Googler here. There are many ways to land a job at Google:

1 - work somewhere else then after couple of years of xp in a field try to find a job opening that matches your xp (that’s how i got in).

2 - if you are in Uni, apply for internship. We always welcome interns.

3 - apprenticeship: there is a program so that you can start working after college. I know some people went this route and are now full time employees.

4 - other ways like PhD etc...

Bottom line is: you don’t need a fancy uni (I did a state uni in france). What’s important is that you are good at what you do and you do it for yourself, not just to work in a FAANG company.

Tips: Skills that Google is looking for: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, analysis of trade offs and being a genuinely nice person.

Books that got me into Google: The Algorithm Design Manual by Skienna Grokking Algorithms by Aditya Bhargava

nyokodo
5 - Work at a company that gets acquired by Google.
draw_down
Usually you have to interview in those situations. Anyone in the acquired company who doesn't make the cut doesn't come along for the ride.
decafninja
Is this something case by case, or something recent?

I know two Googlers who were aqui-hired, and they did not go through any (technical/leetcode) interviews.

giantg2
Honestly, I wouldn't care. I think the goal of joining any specific company isn't necessarily the best. I would want to make myself a strong candidate for multiple places by focusing on whatever technology/business acumen interests me. I wouldn't really want to work at a place that I have to game the metrics to get into.
the_only_law
> I would want to make myself a strong candidate for multiple places by focusing on whatever technology/business acumen interests me.

> I wouldn’t really want to work at a place that I have to game the metrics to get into.

Unfortunately for some, the former might require the latter.

giantg2
True, a history of employment tends to make someone more employable, especially for a big name like Google.
one2know
Over about 15 years of observing who got in I would say, be a VERY conspicuous leftist. Pretend to be LGBTQ+ as that is very common in the academic world as well as large left leaning institutions such as Google. List your pronouns on Linkedin so everyone can see your signals.

I've known some that have worn VERY conspicuous clothing every day such that it can't be avoided or not talked about. Have a "hidden genius story" like you dropped out of high school but are now an idiot savant genius developer. These are all real world cases of google hires I know.

brainfog
Google, the company that funded Steve King's election campaign, is left leaning?
randomopining
Lol are they really like that?

I kind of come off as a bro or johnny bravo type. I wonder if they would hold that against me.

mraza007
Apologize in advance if this sounds dumb but can you land fulltime position in google ithout getting leetcode asked in the interview but based on your solid profile such as working on popular open source projects or being developer of a widely used framework/library .
panda88888
For SWE positions the algorithm and design interview a are mandatory. It may be different if interviewing for senior leadership positions.
42_
No. At best, they may skip a phone interview.
samfisher83
I think they interview pretty much everyone. Just put software engineer as your job tittle. You just got to grind on leetcode.
[dead] cybercraft1
We spoke with developers who worked in Google. Not only in Google but also in other big companies - from Twitter to Linkedin. Most of them are middle-aged and they have experience of working in Sylicon Valley. It means they do not have any secrets, just severe schedule and years of experience.

P.S. Perhaps, we will post an interview with one of such guys in our blog https://cybercraftinc.com/category/blog