Google

Software Engineer Interview Experience

January 7, 2019

Positive ExperienceNo Offer

Process

Two phone calls with engineers. Typing out standard data structures/algorithms on a Google doc and explaining processes and train of thought. Typing in the doc was strange, especially while on the phone with someone; it made me uncomfortable.

Questions

Basic Data Structures and Algorithms.

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Interview Statistics

The following metrics were computed from 3,820 interview experiences for the Google Software Engineer role in United States.

Success Rate

12%

Pass Rate

Google's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in the United States is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.

Experience Rating

Positive59%

Neutral29%

Negative12%

Candidates reported having very good feelings for Google's Software Engineer interview process in United States.

Google Work Experiences

Good work-life balance with fun projects, but slow growth

Software Engineer • Current Employee

San Francisco, CA

Pros: WLB is good. There are fun projects while still having balance.

Cons: Slow to grow. It is better for mid-career folks.

Good work-life balance with fun projects, but slow growth

Software Engineer • Current Employee

San Francisco, CA

Pros: WLB is good. There are fun projects while still having balance.

Cons: Slow to grow. It is better for mid-career folks.

Great Pay, No Balance

Software Engineer • Current Employee

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pros: Salary is the main important factor, and the growth of career.

Cons: No work-life balance in work.

Great Pay, No Balance

Software Engineer • Current Employee

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pros: Salary is the main important factor, and the growth of career.

Cons: No work-life balance in work.

Still a great place just as before

Software Engineer • Current Employee

February 4, 2026

Pros: Flexibility. Focus on results. Brilliant coworkers. I got to pitch ideas to people wildly above my level and be taken seriously. Google managed to turn the ship on AI and end up with a fatter budget, props really.

Cons: There are a lot of reorgs, though with the ship changing course that's to be expected. Depending on the team, it can be very difficult to get promoted. Compliance is a gigantic time eater, and there's nothing we can do about it.

Still a great place just as before

Software Engineer • Current Employee

February 4, 2026

Pros: Flexibility. Focus on results. Brilliant coworkers. I got to pitch ideas to people wildly above my level and be taken seriously. Google managed to turn the ship on AI and end up with a fatter budget, props really.

Cons: There are a lot of reorgs, though with the ship changing course that's to be expected. Depending on the team, it can be very difficult to get promoted. Compliance is a gigantic time eater, and there's nothing we can do about it.

Good work-life balance with fun projects, but slow growth

Software Engineer • Current Employee

San Francisco, CA

Pros: WLB is good. There are fun projects while still having balance.

Cons: Slow to grow. It is better for mid-career folks.

5.0
Good work-life balance with fun projects, but slow growth
Software Engineer • Current Employee
San Francisco, CA
June 21, 2026
Pros: WLB is good. There are fun projects while still having balance.
Cons: Slow to grow. It is better for mid-career folks.

Great Pay, No Balance

Software Engineer • Current Employee

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pros: Salary is the main important factor, and the growth of career.

Cons: No work-life balance in work.

5.0
Great Pay, No Balance
Software Engineer • Current Employee
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
May 11, 2023
Pros: Salary is the main important factor, and the growth of career.
Cons: No work-life balance in work.

Still a great place just as before

Software Engineer • Current Employee

February 4, 2026

Pros: Flexibility. Focus on results. Brilliant coworkers. I got to pitch ideas to people wildly above my level and be taken seriously. Google managed to turn the ship on AI and end up with a fatter budget, props really.

Cons: There are a lot of reorgs, though with the ship changing course that's to be expected. Depending on the team, it can be very difficult to get promoted. Compliance is a gigantic time eater, and there's nothing we can do about it.

5.0
Still a great place just as before
Software Engineer • Current Employee
Kirkland, WA
February 4, 2026
Pros: Flexibility. Focus on results. Brilliant coworkers. I got to pitch ideas to people wildly above my level and be taken seriously. Google managed to turn the ship on AI and end up with a fatter budget, props really.
Cons: There are a lot of reorgs, though with the ship changing course that's to be expected. Depending on the team, it can be very difficult to get promoted. Compliance is a gigantic time eater, and there's nothing we can do about it.

Google Interview Questions

Two Sum

Find two numbers in a given array that add up to a specific target value, and return their indices. Essentially, you need to efficiently locate the pair that satisfies the sum requirement.

Palindrome Number

Determine whether an integer is a palindrome. That is, it reads the same forwards and backward.

Bit Manipulation

Add Two Numbers

You are given two linked lists, each representing a non-negative integer. Add the two numbers and return the sum as a linked list.

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