Process
I applied online, and HR got back to me within one day. The interview was scheduled but then pushed out due to the unavailability of the interviewer. Finally, a date and time were set.
The interviewer had a strong accent, and I couldn't understand what he was asking most of the time. He didn't introduce himself or his role on the team, just started asking a bunch of questions.
I heard a lot of keyboard striking noise. The interviewer must have been typing during the interview, and there was also a lot of echo whenever he put the phone on speaker. The interviewer had no knowledge of the technology or role that was advertised. I did not enjoy the interview at all.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 168 interview experiences for the Google Senior Software Engineer role in United States.
Success Rate
10%
Pass Rate
Google's interview process for their Senior Software Engineer roles in the United States is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Positive50%
Neutral24%
Negative26%
Candidates reported having good feelings for Google's Senior Software Engineer interview process in United States.
Google Work Experiences
5.0
Interesting Work, Great Balance
Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee
Zürich, Switzerland
December 10, 2017
Pros: Super interesting.
Smart people.
Excellent work-life balance.
Good pay.
Cons: Super huge corporation (can be a plus too).
4.0
Great company to work for, still.
But flaws lower morale
Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee
Mountain View, California, United States
April 29, 2009
Pros: Good benefits and good salaries. Google treats its engineers very well, even in these economic times.
Very smart people, world-class engineers (quality varies from group to group, though) that make very fun co-workers whether to discuss life, politics, or engineering.
Big impact. You know the stuff you build can affect, positively or negatively, millions of users.
Cons: - Inconsistent vision. You're never quite sure what senior management is thinking, or whether they have a master plan. In fact, after working there for several years, you're beginning to think they don't. A lot of decisions are whim decisions. Projects get killed on a whim and resurrected on a whim.
- Launches & rollouts [are] extremely frustrating. A lot of launch gates & reviews, some are understandable but some are quite ridiculous. Too few people control too many aspects of things.
5.0
Friendly, brilliant people
Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee
Seattle, Washington, United States
September 19, 2014
Pros: Great community atmosphere.
Brilliant engineers who are humble, respectful, and go out of their way to help you.
The perks are seriously insane -- delicious food, world-class gyms, etc.
Unlike some other reviewers, I've had no trouble with movement around the company. I will say that I started Google with a particularly excellent and supportive team, which means I got very good peer reviews, which made transfers to other teams quite easy.
I've seen others who get unluckily placed in a hohum team and have trouble getting out.
I find work-life balance also quite reasonable, though it might help to be remote from the HQ.
Cons: Gets a bit political as you climb up the ladder. Not toxically so, but still annoying.
- 5.0Interesting Work, Great BalanceSenior Software Engineer • Current EmployeeZürich, SwitzerlandDecember 10, 2017Pros: Super interesting. Smart people. Excellent work-life balance. Good pay.Cons: Super huge corporation (can be a plus too).
- 4.0Great company to work for, still. But flaws lower moraleSenior Software Engineer • Current EmployeeMountain View, California, United StatesApril 29, 2009Pros: Good benefits and good salaries. Google treats its engineers very well, even in these economic times. Very smart people, world-class engineers (quality varies from group to group, though) that make very fun co-workers whether to discuss life, politics, or engineering. Big impact. You know the stuff you build can affect, positively or negatively, millions of users.Cons: - Inconsistent vision. You're never quite sure what senior management is thinking, or whether they have a master plan. In fact, after working there for several years, you're beginning to think they don't. A lot of decisions are whim decisions. Projects get killed on a whim and resurrected on a whim. - Launches & rollouts [are] extremely frustrating. A lot of launch gates & reviews, some are understandable but some are quite ridiculous. Too few people control too many aspects of things.
- 5.0Friendly, brilliant peopleSenior Software Engineer • Current EmployeeSeattle, Washington, United StatesSeptember 19, 2014Pros: Great community atmosphere. Brilliant engineers who are humble, respectful, and go out of their way to help you. The perks are seriously insane -- delicious food, world-class gyms, etc. Unlike some other reviewers, I've had no trouble with movement around the company. I will say that I started Google with a particularly excellent and supportive team, which means I got very good peer reviews, which made transfers to other teams quite easy. I've seen others who get unluckily placed in a hohum team and have trouble getting out. I find work-life balance also quite reasonable, though it might help to be remote from the HQ.Cons: Gets a bit political as you climb up the ladder. Not toxically so, but still annoying.
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