I submitted an online application and a recruiter contacted me a few days after. We scheduled a phone interview for a few weeks later and afterwards there was an on-site interview.
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Google (Mountain View, CA) in Nov 2012
Interview
First line recruiter is very helpful and candid about the process. He also followed up with me closely. The best recruiter I've ever met. However, the recruiter who took over the on-campus interview process was typical. Slow, non-responsive, but was courteous when we met in person on the interview day.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Asked me how I monetized a mobile app which I had supervised. Kept digging on this issue even though I've plainly stated that I couldn't figure out an effective way to monetize a socialization-based mobile app. The flow of the interview got to a snail's pace.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Google
Interview
Employee referral. Phone screen interview with a product manager from silicon valley office.
45min scheduled interview that only lasted 30mins. The interviewer was not engaged at all. Very curt and quite dismissive and interrupting manner.
e.g.
Q:"Tell me a bit about yourself".
A: "Well, I started off in a silicon valley start-up"
Q: (Interupts) "I don't want to hear anything from your CV, assume I've read it all"
A: ???!
Be prepared for:
1) Market sizing for some google product
2) A new google product, improvement -- process for designing it
Within 5minutes of hanging up HR had already written to me saying I was not progressing. I'm guessing the interviewer had typed up the feedback while he was on the call with me.
Good luck and keep your cool, you can expect a wide variety of personalities and people -- it is Google after all.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
1) Market sizing for some google product
2) A new google product, improvement -- process for designing it