FAQs
For all students:
What do I wear to the interview?
Google is famous for providing an environment that allows individuals to be successful without wearing a suit. For your interview, wear what you feel comfortable in, whether it is a suit or more casual attire. Candidates will be evaluated on technical, cognitive, communicative and leadership skills, not what you are wearing.
Are there positions for PhDs studying disciplines outside of Computer Science?
Many Googlers hold PhDs in disciplines other than Computer Science. These fields range from Economics to Statistics, Mechanical Engineering to Psychology, and Chemistry to Zoology. We have aspirations to solve large problems and having a diversity of PhDs contributing their expertise is immensely valuable to our company.
I’d like to work abroad in another Google office. Is this possible?
Just like our millions of users, Googlers are based around the world. We think Sydney is hard to beat but for those with itchy feet, you can also apply for roles in other countries. Please note that not all positions are available in all of our offices. However, if the position is available and you have, or can obtain, work authorization, you should communicate your office preference to your recruiter after your first round interview. Fluency in the office’s national language is preferred. Further opportunities for travel are also possible once you’ve joined Google. View the international student page for links to internships and graduate roles in other countries.
I’m an international student. Can I apply?
You should hold Australian Permanent Residency in order to apply for graduate and internship positions based in Australia. International students may be considered for Sydney on a case by case basis. As an international student you can apply for internships in other countries, including the US. See the international students page for more details.
What is the interview process and timeline?
1st round interviews take place via phone or on campus. You should hear within seven to ten business days about next steps. If there is a mutual fit, candidates will be invited to Google for 2nd round interviews. The final step is the offer process. You will usually hear your status within three weeks of your 2nd round interviews. Please see preparing for your interview for more details.
I’d like Google to come and talk to my department/society. Is that possible?
Whilst we often receive more requests than we can always accommodate, we’re always delighted to be asked and will gladly discuss any requests with you. Initially contact your faculty to see if Google has already planned to come to campus. Otherwise please register your interest online.
How will I know if Google will be attending any events at my university?
If Google is holding a presentation on-campus, you should receive an email from your faculty or see posters advertising the event a week or two prior. Don’t forget to check our local calendar of events.
I know talks are always popular. Is there anyway to see them again?
Yes! Where possible, we look to post talks online so that the most people can benefit from them, and this includes distinguished speakers who talk to our Googlers as well. To find out more, go to Google’s YouTube channel and search for any of: Women@Google, Authors@Google, and Candidates@Google – view the various playlists, including Google engEDU tech talks, or subscribe to Google tech talks.
Do you provide any resources for universities?
Yes! Aside from the resources for universities page, we partner with universities on a range of initiatives, including curriculum advisory boards, open days, etc If you are a member of faculty, please contact the University Programs team if you’d like to find out more.
For Computer Science/Engineering (or closely related) students:
I heard Googlers include puzzle champions and rocket scientists. I’m neither - can I still apply?
Definitely! Googlers come from all backgrounds. In fact, most of our Nooglers come straight from finishing their Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D’s. Googlers come from a variety of backgrounds which we think helps us continue to create products people will find useful.
Who should apply for internships?
Internship opportunities are for students with more than one year of study remaining during their Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D. If for example, you are a third year B.Sc Computer Science student planning to do an Honours year, then you should apply for an internship.
Who should apply for New Graduate positions?
You can apply for a New Graduate position if you are entering the final year of your degree or have had less than one year’s industry experience post graduation. If you have more than one year’s experience post graduation, then apply instead for a experienced hire role.
How do I apply?
All applications must be made online only. You’ll be asked to complete a very short application form, attach a resume and university grade transcripts; a cover letter is optional. Overall it shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes!
What do you look for in applicants?
It’s true we look for people with great aspirations, who are passionate about their work and feel their ideas have the potential to change the world. We take students equally from all degree levels: Bachelors, Masters & Ph.D. Typical qualities in software engineers for example are: people who have broad knowledge and expertise in many areas of computer science and mathematics, who have strong programming skills, who enjoy working in a high-energy, unstructured environment on small project teams in a self-directed manner.
When are application cut-off dates?
Application deadlines are position-specific. Please check the individual positions posted on this site. Scholarships and internships have national closing dates; graduate applications are accepted year round. University-specific dates may apply if we are looking to conduct on-campus interviews at your university. Typically the application closing date is 1-2 weeks after an on-campus presentation. Presentations are typically advertised a couple of weeks in advance.
I applied outside of the cut-off dates. Will I still be considered and when would I hear?
You can still apply for a graduate position year-round. Internships are advertised selectively throughout the year so please check to see if there is an application closing date.
If I’m applying for a Software Engineer - New Grad position, which team or project will I interview for?
There’s so much diversity in the work that we do, so Google tends to hire generalists rather than specialists. As an engineering candidate, you are expected to be successful in a variety of areas, so you don’t interview for a specific team or project. When hired, we will ask for your project preferences and place you in one of your top choices.
Are there research positions for PhD students in Computer Science or similar fields?
We typically hire computer science researchers with industry experience. Google is strongly committed to supporting engineers who are interested in publishing and serving on program committees in top conferences, so we definitely hire PhD students from many different backgrounds.
For non-Engineering positions:
I studied liberal arts, not computer science. Are there non-technical roles I can apply for at Google?
Yes. Our engineers are one reason for our Sydney team’s success. However, Google looks for great candidates from all academic backgrounds. Whether you studied business, arts, law or science, we value diversity among our candidates and strive to hire individuals who can think outside the box. Please see the specific qualifications in each of our job descriptions.
For schools:
I’m not yet at University, but am considering studying Computer Science/Engineering. Which subjects are useful if I’d like to become a Google software engineer in the future?
Working at Google involves many fundamental areas of computer science, including information retrieval, distributed systems, machine learning, data mining, theoretical computer science, statistics and user interfaces. As a software engineer, a good depth and breadth of programming languages and algorithm design will give you a great foundation. To find out more, look at our resources for Schools.
Do you run any activities for schools?
We are planning a number of events to help raise awareness of careers in Information Technology and Communications (ICT) in Australia. For example, in the past we have supported Girl, go for I.T and similar events to help encourage young Australians to consider a future career in ICT. If you would like to be notified when we have a competition or event near you, please register your interest online.
