I applied through an employee referral. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Google (Sydney) in Feb 2012
Interview
I started at Google as an intern, which required one non-technical phone screen followed by three technical phone interviews (one more than most people get). The questions here were all fairly straightforward questions of the form "Write some algorithm with some performance characteristics".
After a three month internship, I took "conversion" interviews to apply for a full time position. After a practice interview (where feedback is given - a tool to help interns prepare), I took two in-person, whiteboard-coding interviews back-to-back. I was lucky enough that the questions I was asked and my skillset intersected, and was offered a job several weeks later.
There was quite a long time between my interviews and my job offer, but my HR representitive was very communicactive and helpful the entire time, letting me know which stage my application was in.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
I don't want to leak any interview questions; but the general content of questions Google asks is no big secret. I can categorically state that there are NO stupid brain-teaser "You are shrunk to the size of a quarter" type questions at all. The questions all involve coding an algorithm. I suggest that everyone considering applying for a technical role at Google read Steve Yegge's (public) blog post about it. All you need is in there: http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com.au/2008/03/get-that-job-at-google.html
I applied online. I interviewed at Google (Ciudad de Mexico) in Jun 2026
Interview
La reclutadora con la que tenía asignada la llamada era pesima. Primero, ni siquiera recordo la fecha en la que teniamos asignada la llamada, tuve que recordarselo yo mediante correo despues de estar más de 1 hora esperando su llamada. Una vez que por fin me llamo, note que su nivel de español era muy malo, tanto hablado como para entender (desde que se agendo la llamada el mensaje mencionaba que la primera llamada se llevaría a cabo en español), por lo que apenas entendía lo que le decía, le hacia preguntas y no sabia ni como contestarme, sin duda la peor experiencia que he tenido con un reclutador, más por que tenía a Google en un pedestal. Finalmente una vez que termino la llamada (duro poco menos de 15 minutos), casi al instante me envio el correo que no seguirían con mi candidatura.
First there is a technical interview, focused on your programming skills then a cultural one focused on you fitting into their workplace. Overall the interview is of an average difficulty and it is ok to say that you don't know something
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
There was a question regarding a python based matrix
The whole interview process, from application to last interview took almost 3 months, including recruiter screen, techncial (coding) screen (the hardest for me) and the last round with 3 coding and a behaviroral one. All the interviewers where nice. I was told a month later that I had passed.
But I'm stuck in team matching, and there are very few openings. Even if you pass the interviews you're not guaranteed the job, so don't go for this option if you're actively looking for a job, it will crush your soul.