A thorough guide on how to get into this sought-after internship program featuring technical interview tips, recommended computer science courses, and program requirements.
Whether you’re applying for a full-time position, an internship program, or to be part of the company in general, it’s a well-known fact that getting into Google is difficult.
The Google STEP internship, in particular, is highly sought after. Presenting a unique opportunity to first and second-year undergraduate students for professional and technical growth, the STEP internship is especially competitive among students looking for an entry-point into the industry. Becoming a Google STEP intern provides students with a solid foundation for future positions at companies such as Amazon, Facebook, and many more.
However daunting it may seem to apply, the Google STEP internship is within reach once you have all the right information to prepare. This guide will walk you through the process of applying for the internship, from the application to the interview to the program details–we’ll be with you every step of the way!
The Google STEP Internship, or the Student Training In Engineering Program, is a summer internship created for first and second-year undergraduate students.
Throughout this 12-week program, STEP interns work on software projects with their fellow interns and gain valuable professional experience and technical training from full-time Google employees.
Like many of its other programs, Google’s STEP internship prioritizes candidates from historically underrepresented groups including (but not limited to) students from minority backgrounds, students with disabilities, and first-generation students.
If you don’t meet the requirements, don’t worry! Google provides several internship opportunities. Whether you are a self-taught programmer, a recent graduate, or even a third-year student–you’ll find opportunities at Google. Check out our guide to Google’s BOLD Internship Program and our video on Google’s software engineering internship for more information!
GOOGLE STEP INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE | How to prepare | Resouces , tips & tricks
Interviews for Top Jobs at Google
STEP Interview
I interviewed at Google (Bucharest, Bucuresti)
Interview
It was pretty straightforward – I had 2 rounds where they asked some pretty basic coding questions (they were really simple, likely because I was a freshman). I thought I did pretty well, but unfortunately I did not get an offer.
- Find duplicate strings in an array
STEP Interview
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Google (San Francisco, CA) in Dec 2021
Interview
Single interview which is a one hour phone call. You do a technical question and they judge you based of how you articulate thoughts, demonstrate coding proficiency, and problem solving.
- Longest increasing subsequence with a slight twist
STEP Interview
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Google
Interview
There were 2 back to back phone interviews ( through Google meet ) at a 1 hour gap . Both were technical – based on algorithms and data structures and questions about past projects
- Questions were leet code medium level
Question: A boolean expression is given in the form of a string. It contains one variable x; logical operators – ‘and’, ‘or’ and relational operators – ‘>’, ‘<‘ (there is no >= or <=). Find if the expression always evaluates to False. If yes, output False, otherwise if there exists at least one x such that the given expression can be true, output true.
Hint: Whenever there is only ‘or’ in the boolean expression, the result is always true. (Eg: x>0 or x<0 – There exists some x such that this is true and whatever be the latter part of the expression, it evaluates to true as only ‘or’ is present. If there is no ‘or’ present (only ‘and’ is there), then we check for the expressions – if you find at least two contradicting expressions as in example 1 (that is their solution sets are disjoint), then the output is False (as we have only ‘and’ logical operation which evaluates to False unless all the expressions are True), otherwise it is True.
Writing code in comment? Please use ide.geeksforgeeks.org, generate link and share the link here. Whats New
I have no idea how to approach the problem when both ‘and, ‘ ‘or’ are present in the expression, and I could not find such a problem anywhere on the internet.
The shortlisting was done through our university based on our resume and academic performance. I was shortlisted and had two interviews of 45 minutes, each with a break of fifteen minutes in between. Both of them were technical rounds involving hands-on coding in a shared google doc while I was on a video call through Hangouts with the interviewer from Google.
The First Step: Preparing the Application
Since specific dates change year by year, we’ve listed the approximate application cycle in the United States:
Applications for international Google STEP Internship positions have varying deadlines. Regardless of the office youre hoping to work in, check Google’s website frequently. It will help you stay updated on new postings and lean towards applying early.
The application process is fairly straightforward. Heres what you have to provide:
See Google’s website for the specific Google STEP Internship Essay Questions
Before submitting your application, follow the checklist below to make sure you have the best shot!
Make sure your resume is up to date with your most relevant experience. Make the most out of the resources at your university and reach out to trusted professionals at your career center (or equivalent) to help you in the process. Additionally, we recommend having professionals in the field review it beforehand–it could be a family friend, mentor, etc!
Gaining insider information about the program will give you a leg up when applying, whether its knowledge about the work culture or professional experience youll gain. This is a great opportunity to practice your networking skills: dont be afraid to cold-contact Google STEP interns on LinkedIn, Facebook, and so on! It’s even better if they are from your university.
Though this one seems a bit obvious, it definitely shouldn’t be overlooked! Reach out to your school’s career center to see if Google will host any information sessions or send representatives to your campus. Use the transition to digital work to your advantage and reach out to Googlers and recruiters for informational interviews.
If youre able, maintain relationships with the people you reach out to. This will boost your chance of getting a referral down the road. Referrals arent specifically required, but will give you a better chance of being discovered.
A great way to catch a recruiter’s eye is by participating in one of Google’s coding competitions. Google currently offers three types of coding competitions: Kick Start, Hash Code, and Code Jam. Coding competitions are also a great chance for you to demonstrate your skills with a specific programming language whether it’s Java, Python, or another one!
There exists no combination of words that can capture my feeling of interning at Google! After endless word-hunting and countless drafts, here’s an article narrating my journey from @gmail.com to @google.com.
Soft skills: I cannot stress enough how crucial this point is. You should be able to articulate your thoughts, use apt technical terms and communicate your solutions. I gave mock interviews for this. I got super nervous in the mock interviews initially and messed them up. With practice, I overcame that nervousness, and it helped me in the final interviews. Even if this point seems trivial to you, I strongly suggest mock interviews.
I code, design, and write. Let’s connect at linkedin.com/in/avgupt/ 🙂
Your journey to the destination matters more than the outcome. I learned a lot on mine, I hope you learn a great deal on yours 🙂
Student Training Engineering Program or STEP is an internship for Computer Science enthusiasts who are first or second-year undergraduates. The aim is to provide technical training and professional development to historically underrepresented groups in tech. You can check more details on the official website.
FAQ
How do I prepare for Google steps?
- Update your resume and ask trusted people to review it. …
- Reach out to previous Google STEP interns. …
- Demonstrate interest in Google. …
- Get discovered. …
- Review the basics. …
- Practice your strongest programming language. …
- Run mock interviews with a whiteboard and a friend. …
- Software development project.
Does Google step have a technical interview?
The next step includes two technical interviews, approximately 45 minutes in length with a 15-minute break in between. These interviews’ main goal is to find people who can think critically and solve problems, rather than have skills in a specific programming language.
Is Google step only for girls?
What questions do Google interviews ask?
- What is your favorite Google product, and how would you improve it?
- Briefly explain the difference between coding and programming.
- How do you stay accountable?
- Tell me about a time when you set and achieved a goal?
