Our hiring process

Google's hiring process is as unique as its culture. We want all candidates — from entry-level to leadership — to have access to the same information and resources (after all, it is our mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful for everyone). With this in mind, here's an overview of our hiring process to help you prepare and apply for roles and internships at Google.

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Your resume

Your resume is our first look into your past experiences and impact. If you have an old resume, keep it next to you for inspiration, but start with a blank document and create a resume specifically designed for each job you want. For each position, do the following:

  • Align your skills and experience with the job description. Tie your work directly to the role qualifications (and don't forget to include data).
  • Ensure you meet the minimum qualifications (MQs) for the role you're applying to, and your resume clearly demonstrates alignment with the MQs.
  • Be specific about projects you've worked on or managed. What was the outcome? How did you measure success? When in doubt, lean on the formula, "accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]."
  • If you've had a leadership role, tell us about it. How big was the team? What was the scope of your work?
  • If you're a recent university graduate or have limited work experience, include school-related projects or coursework that demonstrate relevant skills and knowledge.
  • Keep it short. We don't have a length requirement, but being clear and succinct are key.

A word on cover letters: we don't require them, so focus your time on crafting your resume.

Who we are

Once you've taken some time to work on your resume, be sure to also get a better idea of who we are, what we're about, and what it's like to work at Google. There are lots of ways to learn about us. Check out our company and our teams sites. View our YouTube channel and our locations. Read our blog and learn about how we care for Googlers.

Apply online

We want you to focus on the jobs that delight you and match your skills. As you're browsing, you can apply for up to three jobs every 30 days so review the job descriptions closely to move through the process faster.

Consider setting up a job alert for notifications when a role matches your criteria and creating a candidate profile for personalized job recommendations. Sidenote: Most Googlers applied for other roles at Google before they eventually made it to interviews — not getting a role can often be a matter of timing, rather than a reflection of your skills or qualifications.

Interviews and more

If your application is selected to move forward, you'll hear from our Recruiting team. Typically, you can expect it to take roughly 6–8 weeks and include some of the steps below.

1

Assessments

Before moving into interviews, you may be asked to take the Google Hiring Assessment, designed to measure workstyle skills required for success in a role with us.

2

Recruiter conversations

Before diving into more in-depth interviews, you'll typically have one or two shorter conversations over phone or video with your recruiter to assess key skills.

3

Project work

Depending on the type of role, we may ask candidates to complete a small project prior to their interviews — from a case study to writing or code samples.

4

Interviews

Our process is thorough (a panel of interviews, either over video or in person with a rotating cast of Googlers), but it's also meant to be friendly, warm, and give you the opportunity to get to know us better. There aren't any brain teasers.

Structured interviewing: Every candidate is assessed using clear rubrics. We use the same rubrics for everyone being considered for that role, so that all candidates are evaluated from the same criteria.

Open-ended questions: We ask role-related, open-ended questions to learn how you solve problems. We want to understand how your mind works, how you interact with a team, and what your strengths are.

Important note: AI tools are not permitted to be used during your interviews. We want you to engage with the interviewer authentically and honestly.

Decision and offer

After your interviews are done, we'll bring everything together from your application and interviews to review. If we decide that you're the best candidate for the role, your recruiter will reach out to you with an offer. They'll walk you through our compensation structure and what kind of benefits you'd enjoy as a Googler.

Once you've accepted the offer, the Google onboarding team will walk you through badging, insurance, and so on, after which you are on your way to becoming a Noogler!

Frequently asked questions

Does Google still ask brainteasers in job interviews?
Nope and we haven't in years. Our data showed that brainteaser questions didn't predict how well someone would do on the job so we no longer ask them. Instead, we use clear rubrics to assess skills and ask open-ended interview questions.
Can I apply for multiple jobs?
Yes, you can apply for up to three jobs within a rolling 30 day window. We recommend narrowing your choices down to a few jobs that truly match your skills, experience, and interests.
Will you let me know when a job has been filled?
Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we receive per role, our recruiters aren't able to follow up with every applicant individually. Create a candidate profile on Google Careers to track your application status.
I applied/interviewed last year and wasn't selected. May I reapply?
Yes, we hope you'll continue to consider Google as an employer. Typically, we ask for folks to wait at least a year to gain additional experience before reapplying for the same type of role.
How long will the interview process take?
The process and timeline can vary by role, but typically you can expect the process — once you've kicked off interviews for a specific role — to take roughly 6–8 weeks. Your recruiter will provide a more detailed overview and timeline.
What are the application deadlines?
If a role has an application deadline, it will be included in the job description. For most openings, we accept applications on a rolling basis until the role has been filled, so apply sooner rather than later.

Interview prep

Preparing for a Google interview takes practice. Here's everything you need to walk in confident — whether you're interviewing for an engineering, business, or creative role.

What Google looks for in every candidate

All Google interviews are evaluated across four main attributes, regardless of role or level:

1. General Cognitive Ability

Your ability to learn quickly and solve novel problems. We want to understand HOW you think, not just what you already know.

2. Leadership

How you've mobilized others, driven projects, and taken initiative — both in formal roles and informal situations.

3. "Googleyness"

Adaptability, intellectual humility, creativity, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to collaborate across diverse teams.

4. Role-Related Knowledge

Relevant skills and expertise for the specific role. What you've built, accomplished, and learned in your field.

Use the STAR method for behavioral questions

Google interviewers ask open-ended behavioral questions like "Tell me about a time you..." or "Give me an example of...". Use the STAR framework to structure your answers clearly:

S
Situation
Set the context — what was happening?
T
Task
What was your responsibility?
A
Action
What specific steps did you take?
R
Result
What was the outcome? Quantify it.

Pro tip

Be specific. "I grew revenue by 23%" beats "I helped increase revenue." Quantify your impact wherever possible — numbers make your answers memorable and credible.

6 ways to prepare effectively

Prepare 3–5 strong examples

Choose real stories covering leadership, handling conflict, working cross-functionally, taking initiative, and recovering from failure. Practice telling them in under 2 minutes.

Show your thinking out loud

Google wants to know HOW you think. Talk through your reasoning as you approach problems. A clear thought process matters more than a perfect answer.

Research the role thoroughly

Understand the team's mission, Google's recent product launches in that area, and relevant industry trends. Demonstrate genuine curiosity and informed interest.

Ask great questions

Interviews are two-way. Come with thoughtful questions about the role, team dynamics, how success is measured, and what challenges the team is currently facing.

Practice out loud

Record yourself. Do mock interviews with friends. Hearing yourself builds confidence and helps you refine pacing, clarity, and conciseness before the real thing.

No brainteasers — no AI

Google hasn't used brainteaser questions in years. Do not use AI tools during interviews — we want to see your authentic thinking and communication skills.

Sample behavioral questions to practice

These are the types of open-ended questions you can expect in a Google interview:

  • Tell me about a time you had to lead a team through a difficult situation. What did you do and what was the outcome?
  • Describe a project where you had to work with someone whose working style was very different from yours. How did you handle it?
  • Give me an example of a time you took initiative on something that wasn't explicitly part of your job. What happened?
  • Tell me about a time you failed at something important to you. What did you learn?
  • Describe a situation where you had to make a decision with incomplete information. How did you approach it?
  • Tell me about a time you had to persuade someone who initially disagreed with your approach. What was your strategy?
  • Give me an example of when you used data to drive a decision or change someone's mind.

Ready to apply?

Create your Google Careers profile and start exploring open roles today.