I applied online. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at Google (Mountain View, CA) in Mar 2014
Interview
First I had a quick HR interview and then a phone interview was setup with a product manager. The interviewer asked me to explain how I will go about building a video editing software for blind people. I thought my technical and creative thinking aspects were right on.
However, I messed up on some market sizing calculations, very basic percentages. I am startled at myself for that silly mistake that just got me off track. I had done these kinds of problems so very well in GMATs and GREs but messed up here, can't believe myself.
Anyway, apart from that, I thought the interview went well. I also did pretty good on coming up with ideas for business models for this video editing software. I was happy about my overall performance but kicked myself for the math calculation error. I didn't expect that this mistake and some confusion around it would cause me the job! In hindsight, I am not even sure if the interviewer was expecting me to challenge the product idea and ask questions about why would someone want to build such product with limited addressable market etc.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Google (San Francisco, CA) in Sep 2013
Interview
It was a great interview experience but I'm in my 40's and everyone there is in their 20's. I was very surprised to not see people in my age group. They will interview for months and months to find the right fit. Don't expect a fast turn around. Many told me they'd been trying years to finally land a job.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
All typical interview questions, nothing crazy like I had read about online, that was a relief.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Google (New York, NY) in Jan 2014
Interview
I was referred for the position from someone inside Google and received an email from a Google recruiter. After 15 minutes of chit chat about my resume and interests, he told me he would email me if I was to have an interview with a product manager. It was obvious to me that I was going to have one by the way he spoke and 2 minutes later I received an email from him asking me for interview times.
A week later I had the phone interview.
The interviewer was very sweet and friendly and she obviously had a lot of experience as she had been at Google for I think 4 years. She asked me about myself, so I gave her my resume pitch. She then asked me if I wanted to talk hardware or software. I said software. She asked me about an internet / software service that I used and liked OTHER THAN GOOGLE OR A GOOGLE PRODUCT. I said Netflix. Questions asked -
What are the things Netflix should measure/analyze on a daily basis?
What is their business model?
How can Netflix change its product without causing an uproar?
How can Netflix change its pricing without causing an uproar?
She then asked me about a piece of hardware that I liked to use and to explain why I liked it.
I talked about my bicycle.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What are the things Netflix should measure/analyze on a daily basis?