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My Google phone interview
Jan. 7th, 2004 03:34 pmThis afternoon I completed step one of my attempt to get a job at Google: the phone screening. The position I'm applying for is working for their AdWords department, the people who manage those discrete ads along the top and right side of the screen whenever you do a Google search. I'm trying to join the team that interacts with the AdWords customers to help them refine their ads.
The Google HR person called me this afternoon and we chatted extensively for about half an hour. She asked me the standard array of questions about my work history, what kinds of positions I am looking for and with whom, what I think my strong suits are, etc. After 10 or 15 minutes of this, the conversation wandered to casual topics, which took another 10 minutes or so; I'm certain this was calculated to see how I did generally in conversation, as well as get a feel for what kind of a person I am beyond just the resume.
Then she asked me again about what I'm looking for. The yellow "WARNING, WARNING!" light went off in my head; why was she asking me this question again with slightly different wording? I gave her a slightly differently-worded answer about wanting to be in a corporate communication job, but then followed on with a hesitant, "...but I get the sense that you're fishing for something else."
"Well yes, I guess I am really. You see..." And from there she launched into a rather personal explanation of what she has to do once she's finished chatting with me, how she has to interact with her bosses and the AdWords managers, and her desire to tell them something more than just "he wants to do a communication related job." "Frankly," she told me, "we get an awful lot of people who say that."
Aha! She wanted to know how I thought Google would fit into my life, especially as I had a long career in the mostly-unrelated field of video production. "I think I see what you're getting at. I want to communicate and be creative. But I also want to grow. I've been the button-pusher for a long time, and I've honed a lot of communication-related skills. But I want a chance to broaden my palette, and to eventually move into a position where I can lead teams of people in creative or communication related activities. Google looks like a great place for me to grow in to that."
"Ahh, that's what I was looking for," she responded.
I gave it a polite pause. "And if I may be so bold, allow me to point out that what we just did is exactly what I do. Take people's vague concepts, listen to what they have to say, then turn it into what needs to be communicated."
She gave a genuine and deep belly laugh to that. I'd completely worked her, and she hadn't even realized it until I told her. I knew I'd scored a hole in one.
Next I have to take a little at-home test that won't be a problem, and if they are satisfied with the results they bring me in for a real sit-down interview. If that goes well and they hire me, I become a contractor for 2 to 12 weeks. If that goes well I get interviewed yet again and hired full time. It's a lot of delicate steps, but my foot is on the first step of the path.
The Google HR person called me this afternoon and we chatted extensively for about half an hour. She asked me the standard array of questions about my work history, what kinds of positions I am looking for and with whom, what I think my strong suits are, etc. After 10 or 15 minutes of this, the conversation wandered to casual topics, which took another 10 minutes or so; I'm certain this was calculated to see how I did generally in conversation, as well as get a feel for what kind of a person I am beyond just the resume.
Then she asked me again about what I'm looking for. The yellow "WARNING, WARNING!" light went off in my head; why was she asking me this question again with slightly different wording? I gave her a slightly differently-worded answer about wanting to be in a corporate communication job, but then followed on with a hesitant, "...but I get the sense that you're fishing for something else."
"Well yes, I guess I am really. You see..." And from there she launched into a rather personal explanation of what she has to do once she's finished chatting with me, how she has to interact with her bosses and the AdWords managers, and her desire to tell them something more than just "he wants to do a communication related job." "Frankly," she told me, "we get an awful lot of people who say that."
Aha! She wanted to know how I thought Google would fit into my life, especially as I had a long career in the mostly-unrelated field of video production. "I think I see what you're getting at. I want to communicate and be creative. But I also want to grow. I've been the button-pusher for a long time, and I've honed a lot of communication-related skills. But I want a chance to broaden my palette, and to eventually move into a position where I can lead teams of people in creative or communication related activities. Google looks like a great place for me to grow in to that."
"Ahh, that's what I was looking for," she responded.
I gave it a polite pause. "And if I may be so bold, allow me to point out that what we just did is exactly what I do. Take people's vague concepts, listen to what they have to say, then turn it into what needs to be communicated."
She gave a genuine and deep belly laugh to that. I'd completely worked her, and she hadn't even realized it until I told her. I knew I'd scored a hole in one.
Next I have to take a little at-home test that won't be a problem, and if they are satisfied with the results they bring me in for a real sit-down interview. If that goes well and they hire me, I become a contractor for 2 to 12 weeks. If that goes well I get interviewed yet again and hired full time. It's a lot of delicate steps, but my foot is on the first step of the path.
