Recruiter reached out over LinkedIn and set up a screening call with a Product Manager. The phone screen was a couple of questions - one strategy related and one design related. The process was managed well and the recruiters involved in the loop were responsive , efficient, and helpful.
I applied online. The process took 4 months. I interviewed at Google
Interview
The process starts with a phone screen then moves to virtual onsite. In my case, only 1 of the 5 on-site panelists provided negative feedback but they prefer consensus hiring so they wanted me to match with the HM before being presented to the hiring committee to make a stronger case.
The recruiter experience was extremely positive and each of the interviewers were professional and made the interview experience enjoyable. I'm leaving a negative review because Google's interview process is entirely too slow. By the time I got to the HM match, I already had multiple offers from other places waiting for over a week. And Google was actually one of the first companies I had started talking to. They then took over 2-3 weeks to get me scheduled with an HM. Knowing how hiring works both here and at other tech companies, Google's hiring process is far more bureaucratic and is part of the reason they are so slow to make offers.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
If you were to create an automated pizza delivery service. How would you estimate the number of bots you need to deliver pizzas within your locale?
Typical product execution and strategy questions. Some additional questions about how to troubleshoot browser based security problems.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 3 days. I interviewed at Google in Apr 2018
Interview
A good experience which helped me understand the various kinds of approaches one can use to gauge the candidate. It is important to study the ethos of the company and the team you're joining if possible.