The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Google (Pittsburgh, PA) in May 2010
Interview
I applied and was contacted by a recruiter via email about 4 weeks later. I had two phone interviews, both consisted of problem solving questions. Don't prepare for the whole "Tell me about yourself" question because they don't bother to ask. Both times the interviewer jumped right into the questions. I actually thought that my second interview went very well - much better than my first, but I didn't get past this round. I'll get them next time.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Estimate how much it would cost to put wifi in San Fran.
The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Google in Dec 2010
Interview
The recruiter wanted to know a lot about my academic credentials. Once I related a particularly high standardized test score, there was more interest and an invitation they'd like to phone screen me. The recruiter provided a set of documents suggesting things I should be familiar with with emphasis on Google Labs.
The phone screen involved several open-ended questions. None was particularly difficult. A week later, the recruiter got back to me saying they wanted to have me out for an in person interview. I hadn't heard anything for three weeks, then all of a sudden a bunch of calls, "can you schedule to be out here [in three days]", "fill out all of these forms," and so on.
The in-person interviews included several sessions of "how would you?" questions and a "no feedback" lunch in the Google cafeteria.
Overall, I very much enjoyed interviewers who engaged in back-and-forth discussion -- *like there would be in real life* -- I would love to work with these people. Two of my interviewers were playing the "you haven't read my mind, try again" game and, unfortunately, they cast votes in whether we'd move forward.
Interview questions [2]
Question 1
How would you sell a custom-made bicycle for girls 6-10 years old.
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Google in Oct 2010
Interview
A Google recruiter contacted me on the recommendations of one of my friends. I had many of the qualifications they were looking for but lacked recent software experience in the areas we discussed. I had several conversations with the recruiter and then had a phone interview with a Product Manager. I wasn't sure how it went, but finally got in touch with HR who replied that the PM thought I was "solid." They then flew me to Mountain View to have 2nd and 3rd round interviews. The schedule I experienced was much different than what they initially told me. I had been gearing up for the technical interview, but it was much like the other PM interviews.
I found it odd that the interviewers didn't seem to know each other, as they came from different groups. I would go out of the conference room they set me up in and would introduce myself and the interviewers to each other.
Later HR informed me that I lacked technical experience in their area. That wasn't a surprise given that was identified at the outset. The interviews didn't seem to elicit any of the other qualifications they were interested it. They only focused on this area where I was understandably weak.
All in all though, it was a very interesting experience that I enjoyed greatly. The people I met were highly intelligent and the energy of their passion was clearly evident. I was excited about the position and had wished that I was chosen.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Signed NDA, so I cannot divulge questions. Most were design and product development questions regarding Google's current products.