Google is a tech giant with over 163,900 employees as of 2022, and the best way to get a chance in the hiring process is to get introduced to a recruiter at Google by one of their current or former employees.
- Google receives over 3.3 million job applications every year, which makes it incredibly tough to land a job at the company.
- The median base salary for Google employees is $123,000, with the best-paid jobs being senior technical roles.
- Each year Google hires several thousand workers in various sectors ranging from software development to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, search engine development, and tech hardware development.
Google serves search engine results to over 3 billion internet users daily, making it the largest search engine globally. Being one of the most valuable brands on the planet makes working at Alphabet a dream come true for most tech graduates. The firm has a fantastic work culture, and there’s always more room for career development in Alphabet’s tech subsidiaries.
Getting a job at Google is not easy; less than 1% of the annual applicants get interviewed and even fewer get hired. The firm only aims to hire global top talent. This guide will take you through everything you need to know on how to get a job at Google and what tech positions are available at Google.
Google’s background
Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google in 1995 at Stanford University. What began as a search engine grew into a 1.3 trillion tech titan.
In 2015 through a restructuring deal, Alphabet became Google’s parent company and its subsidiaries. Currently, Google has software, robotics, internet services, cloud computing, computer hardware, fiber infrastructure, automation, and biotechnology products.
Why is it hard to get a job at Google?
Google has a strict hiring standard as it only wants the best of the best. The firm also receives over 2 million applicants annually, which makes it tough to get a job at the company. While sifting through all these applications during the hiring process, the major considerations are the educational background and prior experience tackling big tech challenges that Google is working on.
How to get a job at Google
Optimize your job search
Google’s careers website lists all job openings at the company. You can use the career search tool to search for roles that match your qualifications and decide which ones you want to apply for. The website requires you to sign in using your Google account before you can start applying. You can also filter out the search results by department, location, education level, and job type. Google permits users to apply for three job openings every 30 days, so you can apply for multiple jobs to improve your odds of getting called for an interview.
Get your education certificates in order.
Before applying for any tech role at Google, you must ensure that you possess the required education and experience. Make sure you have your certificates in order, as the company will need to look into your educational background. While Google places more weight on having a traditional 4-year degree for most of their tech roles, you can also apply with your dev bootcamp certification.
Craft the perfect resume for each position
The next step involves writing the perfect resume and cover letter for the specific role you are applying for. One thing is clear; recruiters spend minimal time scanning through the multitude of resumes they receive daily. So it’s in your best interest that your resume immediately shines the light on your best qualities while also giving a detailed picture of who you are and why you deserve to work at the prestigious company. Remember, Google favors candidates who emphasize leadership roles and keep the resume and cover letter to one page.
Reach out to your networks
Your best bet to getting a job at Google is working with your networking channels. This is because Google’s hiring team places more trust in its existing and former employees’ opinions on potential hires. Ideally, you should approach your contacts or Google employees within your networks and ask them how to get Google’s hiring team’s attention. Ideally, the person still has a connection at Google, and they will be better lined to advise you on how to approach the process.
Ace the interviews
Google’s interview process consists of 7 steps, which take around two months to complete. These require varying degrees of preparation, especially the onsite and phone screen interviews. Here’s what you can expect during the Google interview process:
Resume screening
After submitting your application on the Google jobs portal, a Google recruiter will contact you via Linkedin or email to evaluate your resume. This step of the hiring process is just a formality to gauge whether the experience you have listed on your resume aligns with the position you applied for.
Google recruiter call
After approving your resume, the recruiter will schedule the first recruiter call that lasts around 25 minutes. During the call, you will be asked non-technical questions about your background and why you are interested in the position. The recruiter will also explain how the rest of the interview process works and address any questions you may have regarding timelines and location.
Phone screens
The Google recruitment process usually requires one or two phone screens, depending on the role. The first will be with your hiring manager, and the second one with a future peer from the team you will be joining. These typically last 45 minutes and are conducted over Google Meet. The questions will vary depending on the position.
Onsite interviews with Google hiring manager
The on site interview takes place in google’s physical offices, but in some extreme cases, they may stick to video calls. This step comprises around six back-to-back Google interview questions sessions, each lasting 45 minutes.
Hiring committee
Google relies on third-party committees to review the interview grades from each of the interviewers. The committee consists of Google employees who were not present during any of the interviews to make the whole process impartial.
The hiring committees take into consideration role-related knowledge and experience, project management experience, general cognitive ability, leadership position skills, and culture fit at the company in the qualified applicants.
Google team match
Your recruiter will get in touch with you to schedule a team match interview. During this step, you will interview with several team members to find out which team you will be in after joining Google. You may skip this step if you have already specified the team you want to work for, which often depends on the role you are applying for at Google.
Salary negotiation
Applicants who pass the interviewing process will receive a salary offer package from Google. You can negotiate for better terms during this stage, and it’s advisable to always start with a high figure and remember to negotiate all the terms.
Tech jobs to apply for at Google
Software engineer
National median wage (2021): $120,730
Google is inherently a software engineering company. Its software engineers create technologies that connect billions of people and unlock access to information. These roles revolve around web search, information retrieval, data storage, distributed computing, data structures, natural language processing, and mobile software development.
Software engineers get to work in small, versatile teams that tackle critical projects in a fast-paced industry that needs froth and evolution to overcome daily challenges. As a result, the firm only hires engineers with a broad range of technical skills with an eagerness to take on technology challenges and design software that impacts users globally. Eligibility for software engineering at google depends on educational qualifications and prior experience.
Data analyst
National median wage (2021): $82,360
A data analyst serves a critical role in any data-driven company by designing and implementing data systems. Google runs on data analytics which requires experts in data mining, data cleaning, and data visualization. Data analysts require basic coding skills in SQL and R programming to work with large data sets.
As a data analyst, you will work with statistical tools to find patterns and trends that offer valuable insights to Google. You will also work with machine learning teams to improve Google’s predictive analytics tools. To become a data analyst, you require a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a professional certificate in data analytics.
Network engineer
National median wage (2021): $120,520
Network engineers are responsible for designing, conjuring, and directing network systems installations. The position requires one to stay updated with industry standards and implement updates that improve the network’s resilience while maximizing its performance.
Google requires network engineers to design the technical infrastructure required to link up Google platforms. The company also delivers internet to millions of residents, and they require network engineers to solve problems in connectivity. The innovations required to keep Google’s network reliable are only possible with the efforts of thousands of network engineers. This role requires industry-relevant certifications and experience in designing, analyzing, and automating network technologies.
UX specialist
National median wage (2021): $100,530
User experience (UX) specialists work alongside product development teams to design user-friendly products and prototypes. The job descriptions require fathering user insights into their attitudes, behaviors, and emotions in regard to specific products or services.
Google UX specialists work with development teams to create beautiful, innovative, and intuitive products that address the user’s needs. The role may also require working alongside software engineers, content strategists, and researchers to craft products with quality, simplicity, and usability at heart. A bachelor’s degree in engineering or information technology and experience in javascript, CSS3, and HTML5 are required to become a UX specialist.
Artificial intelligence engineer
National median wage (2021): $131,490
Artificial intelligence engineers use machine learning techniques to design algorithms and applications that help a company operate efficiently and make better data-backed decisions. A substantial amount of the work in Ai engineering involves statistical analysis and designing machine learning models that can analyze large amounts of data to find useful insights.
Google Cloud Platform requires machine learning solutions that are modeled for each customer’s unique use case. As an artificial intelligence engineer, you will use TensorFlow, AI Platform, and DataFlow to design custom solutions that empower customers’ decision-making. You may also work with Google Cloud products to improve efficiency and adaptability. This position requires a bachelor’s in mathematics, information science, or related fields and experience coding in Python, Java, Go, or Scala.
Data center technician
National median wage (2021): $101,000
A data center technician installs and maintains network equipment and data servers in a data center. It’s the work of a data center technician to monitor server performance and maintain an optimal environment within the data center. They also troubleshoot server and network problems.
Google owns tens of data centers that need constant maintenance in terms of installing and configuring hardware and software upgrades. In this internet-focused environment, downtime needs to be resolved immediately, so you will also help in setting up redundancy in network bridges, switches, hubs, and routers. You will also help set up contingency plans. This role requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent fields and experience with networking protocols, server hardware, and operating systems.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is it hard to get a tech job at Google?
Yes, Google is stringent in hiring only the best talent for a few jobs, and every year, the company receives more than 2 million job applications, which makes it hard to get a callback.
What qualifications are needed to work at Google?
Most technical roles at Google require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or similar technical fields and coding experience.
Can I apply for a job at Google with a Bootcamp?
While Google does prefer a traditional 4-year college degree, in some technical roles, you may apply if you have compelled a coding bootcamp.
Does Google pay its employees well?
On average, Google pays its employees $122,914 annually, which is well over twice the national median wage in the United States.
Conclusion
Google is one of the best tech companies to work globally, and the company is renowned for its amazing employee perks. Google’s work culture is team-focused, with an environment structured to make work as comfortable and healthy as possible. If you are looking to get your dream job at Google, you should apply for a role that perfectly matches your qualifications and experiences, as you will be competing with a multitude of other applicants.