I applied through a recruiter. The process took 5 weeks. I interviewed at Google (Mountain View, CA) in Aug 2011
Interview
The first two phone interviews went well, took 4 weeks. I was later called for an onsite interview. This was a program manager position, something I have done was years. Two people interviewed, one was some engineeing project manager, the other was an architect of some sort. The engineering project manager was very arrogant from the start, he was asking questions in the name of testing the edge of my knowledge, however except a few questions, many were irrelevant to the job for which I was being interviewed. He wouldn't let me think or finish my answers and asked questions that can be easily answered by looking up a manual or help available in software packages. The second technical interview was much better and I thought I did well. I got a mail saying I di n't make it. The inside of the offices didn't look very exciting or anything. I didn't see dogs or snakes or other pets. My current company which is bigger than Google and Microsoft and competes with Google in the cellphone space seemed like a much more practical and friendlier place to work for. I would rather go fulltime with my current company. I do not think I will ever interview with Google again. I recommend interviewees don't get discouraged if you are not selected.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Not many difficult questions, but the interviewer woukd not let you think and answer.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Google (Mountain View, CA) in Feb 2011
Interview
The interview went well and the team and job seemed like a great fit for me. Recruiter kept in touch through the first week and through my on-site interview, but after my last phone interview, I have not heard anything either way. Google recruiters were handling it so well but have not contacted me either way after the last phone interview.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Explain how a project in the Telecommunications industry is similar to the Software industry.
The process took 1 day. I interviewed at Google (New York, NY) in Apr 2010
Interview
The whole process took about 9 months. I interviewed with a three people in the group the position was with and got very good feedback--except that they couldn't make me an offer because I was 9 months away from my graduation date. I kept in touch with the recruited and after about 7 months got an invitation for another round of interviews. Again, I got great feedback from the recruiter but no response from her until about 6 weeks later she told me the job was offered to someone else.
The interviews themselves were very straightforward and mostly behavior. They definitely want to know if you are a fit for the company and the position. Expect to interview with people in your future team and with their business partners as well. The second round may include some casing, but those are short and simple. What matters most is how much you know about the company, the business of Google, and how well you fit with their culture.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
A case on what is the size of the domestic market for cell phones.