I interviewed at Google in the winter of 2013/2014 and again in the winter of 2015/2016.

The first time I applied, I was a senior in undergrad, and a Google recruiter contacted me. Here was that process:

• Phone interview with HR (really just a review of what to expect)
• Technical phone interview with an engineer
• Four onsite technical interviews and one lunch interview

I felt I performed poorly on at least one of the onsite technical interviews, though I felt two went really well. The material was extremely fair, given the review materials and advice provided by my recruiter. I was notified shortly after (about one week) that I would not be moving forward in the process.

Fast forward two years, and a recruiter contacted me asking if I would like to re-apply. I went through the exact same process; however, this time I was approved by the hiring committee after my onsite interviews.

I did not have any memorable "OMG I BLEW IT" moments during my onsite technical interviews. However, I did not reach optimal solutions for each problem and also made various small mistakes here and there. After matching with a manager and finally being approved by the executive hiring committee, I was extended an offer.

My advice to anyone applying is to always stay positive! Re-applying is always an option after a rejection.

I felt that getting prepared the second time around was much easier. All of my prep from undergrad helped me get back up to speed with algorithms, data structures, etc., much quicker than I anticipated.

Additionally, each time I interviewed, I felt all the questions were extremely fair. The recruiters do a good job of giving you an idea of the material you'll need to know.

Do your prep, relax, listen to your interviewer, and you'll do great!

Typical data structures and algorithms questions were asked. JavaScript-specific questions were also posed, as this was for a UI-focused role.