Google Interview Experience 9

Hello there! I’m a sophomore at AMITY University, Noida. I’m excited to share my recent experience interviewing for the Google STEP internship. If you’re reading this, you’re probably considering/considering applying or have received a resume shortlisting email — congratulations!

Google STEP is an amazing opportunity for second-year female college students in India, and the application process usually rolls out around mid-November or the first week of December. For more details, you can visit Google’s career site.

My Application Process

I initially learned about this exciting opportunity through my university’s placement cell. Later, I submitted my Google STEP application through the Google Career website wherein, filled in all the necessary info and uploaded my updated resume. I believe having a solid resume is key to getting noticed in the initial stages.

Your resume doesn’t need to be packed with fancy projects or huge achievements, especially if you’re just in your second year. They understand you’re still figuring things out and exploring different domains.

I also attached an optional cover letter, summarizing my achievements and expressing my eagerness to be a STEP Intern. It might not be required, but I think it can leave a good impression on the recruiters.

I applied without a referral, but I highly recommend having one ready. Networking, especially through cold emails on LinkedIn, can make a significant difference when applying for such opportunities. The worst that can happen is being left on seen or hearing a no, right? but the benefits are worth it. Luckily, there are plenty of insightful YouTube tutorials for newcomers aiming to navigate this process effectively.

Resume Shortlisting

A month post-application, out of the blue in mid-February, I got an email from the recruiter. She asked for my availability for a 15-minute phone call on a specific date.

To say I was thrilled would be an understatement. Coming from a Tier-3 college, having Google’s attention in my second year is a boost, confirming I’m on the right career track. I quickly shared my availability and expressed my heartfelt gratitude for the chance.

Telephonic Call

Going into my first-ever interview, I was pretty nervous, not knowing what questions to expect. Thankfully, the recruiter was reassuring, and our conversation flowed smoothly for about 15–20 minutes. She kicked off by asking for my introduction and then drove straight into a discussion about my projects.

Towards the end, she asked about my availability for the upcoming technical interview. After sharing my schedule, she told me about an upcoming interview prep session I needed to attend. That evening, I got all the details for the upcoming technical interview. The recruiter’s support made the process feel less daunting, and I felt more confident as I geared up for what was next.

Technical Interview Prep

Given a tight 5-day window to prepare for the Google STEP technical interview, panic set in. Considering myself at a beginner/intermediate coding level, I dove into a speed-reading spree on Medium and GeeksforGeeks for a crash course on potential questions (a slightly amusing endeavour, I must say).

Luckily, my Codess Cafe mentor connected me with her friend, a recent Google STEP intern who shared key topics to focus on — Hashing, Binary Search, Trees, Graphs, Linked Lists, Dynamic Programming, and Stack & Queues.

With this helpful advice, I went back over what I already knew and looked into a few new concepts that I felt had a chance to show up. The last two days were all about revising everything I have done so far.

For those in a similar boat, don’t stress too much. Stay calm; it’s just an interview. Regardless of the outcome, it’s a step in your journey, not the end. I mean it.

The D-Day aka Technical Interview

Unaware of who might be on the other side and the possibility of facing a strict interviewer were nerve-wracking. I would be lying if I said that I was sitting through this interview with absolute confidence.

The interview started with a friendly greeting. After introducing myself briefly, we got into the technical part. The interviewer shared a question on a Google Doc-like sheet, but I couldn’t share the details due to an agreement.

I took a moment to think about the question and gave two solutions, but both weren’t the best. I went with the first approach and started writing it down. While writing, I kept thinking about a better solution, which made me lose track a bit. At the same time, I explained my code step by step, and the interviewer gave feedback, pointing out areas to improve.

Even though I tried my best, I felt a bit unsatisfied because I didn’t provide the most optimized solution. We finished by talking about work culture, and some situational questions, and the interviewer shared his experiences at Google.

After the interview, I felt unsure and had a feeling that I didn’t do my best. As expected, I got a rejection email a week later. The recruiter mentioned that my coding skills weren’t exactly what they were looking for. But, instead of feeling down, it motivated me to work on my coding skills and get better.

Areas for the demeanour of improvement

• Strengthen my coding skills to become more proficient.
• Work on explaining both naive and optimized approaches effectively.
• Boost my confidence and reduce nervousness during interviews, remembering they are opportunities to showcase my strengths.
• Improve my communication skills, especially in conveying my problem-solving thought process.
• Incorporate a more positive demeanour, including smiling, to radiate enthusiasm and positivity during interviews.
• These are some areas I aim to improve upon at the moment.

End Remarks

I’m deeply grateful to Google for being the first company I’ve interviewed with. This experience has taught me so much and has given me clarity on areas where I can improve, and I’m determined to put in my best effort to enhance my skills!

Quote for motivation

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that count.” — Winston Churchill

If you’ve made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back. Know that you’ve got what it takes.

Give your best, and good luck.