How I Landed A Job At Google At 26

Tip #1: Be Bold

I worked at Google as an Account Manager at the Dublin office for three years before resigning a year ago to take a some time off, travel in Central America and launch my own business.

Working at Google was an incredible experience.

You meet such interesting people from all walks of life and you work in an office that is so internationally diverse. We had more than 70 languages spoken on site. Plus, the perks are pretty cool, the side projects can be fun (if you’re lucky) and the summer and winter parties are so impressive in size and creativity, they can be mistaken for an actual music festival.

I didn’t have much full-time work experience prior to joining Google. I was coming fresh off a CEMS Master’s Degree in International Business. On my CV I had a year’s stint at Kraft Foods Canada and two short international internships in India and Hong Kong.

This is the story of how I landed the job. The three tips I share relate to anyone interested in applying for sales/marketing roles at Google (or any other tech company).

Tip #1: Be Bold

If you want something in life, you have to confidently go after it and play your own game. If it doesn’t workout, that’s OK. At least you know that you tried and gave it your all — and that’s the secret to living a life with no regrets.

I really wanted to land that job at Google.

After the initial phone screening call, the recruiter said that she’d like to pass me on to the next phase. So she sent me a brief business case to read over and discuss in my second interview.

The case was simple: an e-commerce retailer wants to build a digital marketing strategy — what do you recommend they do? My job was to act as their consultant and recommend a solution that meets their business objectives.

She simply requested that I “look over the case” so that “you can share your ideas and recommendations with the interviewer”.

But I saw it as an opportunity to stand out in a pool of qualified candidates. I wanted to walk into that interview already a winner who’s guaranteed his ticket into the final round.

So I played my own game.

I learned everything I could about Google’s AdWords. I spent a decent 5–6 hours reviewing their online material. I then prepared a 10-slide deck on my approach to digital marketing. I made sure to showcase my creative thinking and structured approach to consultative sales.

When it was time for that second interview, I began the call saying: “Hi Dave, I’ve prepared a short deck to showcase my understanding of the digital landscape and highlight my approach to consultative sales. The idea is to show you my logic behind how I would approach the client’s request. Can I share it with you?”

Was this against the rules? Of course not.

Was it expected? Definitely not.

He said “yes — please guide me through it.” And I could tell from his tone he was incredibly impressed with my work. The interview proceeded into a talk led by me. I turned the table around and played my own game.

I ran the interview.

So what happened?

I moved onto the final round of interviews.

I was bold. I played by my own rules — and I won.

That’s the lesson in this story. If you want something, you have to confidently go after it and be bold in your approach. Play a game — without breaking any written rules — that will set you apart for them crowd.

You have to go the extra mile.

This approach might not work 100% of the time. In some situations, there might be candidates who are simply more qualified than you in terms of work experience or expertise. That’s OK. You tried. You did your best but it didn’t work out. But you gained experience — and now you’re more inclined to succeed the second time around.

“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.” — Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

Tip# 2: Get Referred

When I joined Google, we were a team of 7. When I left three years later, we were a team of 23. I can confidently say that about 97% of those recruits were referral-based.

Get referred.

And this doesn’t just apply to Google. This applies to any tech company you wish to apply for — Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn…

Getting referred to a role moves your name an inch closer to the recruiter’s desk. And that inch can make all the difference.

From my experience, I can tell you that if there’s a match between your skill set and the role you’re applying for, a referral will get you that initial interview. It will get your foot in the door.

And trust me, Googlers (and employees of other tech companies) love to refer new candidates — they get a bonus if things work out and their referrals accept an offer from Google. So really, everyone wins.

Now, how can you get referred if you don’t know anyone who works at Google? Take a look at your LinkedIn profile. Is anyone in your network connected to someone who currently works at Google? Good. Get an introduction. Even if that individual used to work at Google but not anymore, they will always have access to current Googlers because of their extensive professional network.

We live in a small world. You will always find a friend of a friend of a friend who works at whichever company you wish to work for. Leverage those ties.

Worst case scenario, reach out to people and mention that you’re interested in a specific role. Even if they don’t know you, they will be happy to help.

I referred a friend of a friend who I had never met. Now she’s at Google and she loves working there.

Always look for a connection before you apply — it can increase your chances of locking in that initial interview.

Tip #3: Have An Online Edge — If You Don’t Already, Create One

An employer is 10x more likely to hire someone who has an online edge.

What do I mean by online edge?

It’s any online proof that you care or stand for something. It’s an online presence. An online voice. An audience. A space you created out of nothing.

An online edge is any online extension of who you are, what you believe in, or what you actively practice and create. It shows originality, creativity and passion.

It can be a blog you’ve created, a collection of articles you’ve published, poems you’ve written, drawings you’ve scribbled, or small projects you’ve worked on or tried to create. It can even be as simple as a personal website that offers nothing more than a landing page with an “about me” section.

What an online presence says to an employer is that you are not afraid to bring a different dimension. You are not afraid to test the status quo. You are not afraid to create. You value yourself and your presence in this world and you are confident to make yourself vulnerable in the process of trying something new.

You are willing to take the extra step.

You are an original.

And who doesn’t want to work with an original?

Create an edge for yourself. Create an online voice — an online presence. And that presence needs to speak louder than a simple Instagram feed cluttered with pictures of your puppy.

This obviously isn’t an absolute requirement. But in an age where the world lives online, having an online presence gives you an edge. It is verifiable proof that you have a personality that stands out — and a story to tell.

A month after joining Google, my manager told me that having my own personal website was one of the factors that stood out in my application.

My website had nothing more than a few blog entries about my travels in Asia.

But it was an online space that I created out of nothing. It was an extension of my personality. It told a story — and that story gave me an edge.

Applying to jobs as a recent graduate can be a daunting process. The research, the cover letters, the interviews, the waiting-to-hear-back period… I was there.

I applied to 66 jobs in total, and only one worked out — Google.

Always believe that good things will come your way if you work hard for them. Stay confidence in your skills and in the value you can bring to an organization. Patience and persistence is the name of the game.