Google’s RRK Interview Overview
What is the Google RRK interview?
Before diving into the RRK interview for the role you’re applying to, let’s take a look at what the RRK interview is and how it fits into the larger Google interview process.
1 What exactly is Google looking for?
Google evaluates its candidates on four main attributes: Role-Related Knowledge (RRK), General Cognitive Ability (GCA), Leadership, Googleyness.
Here’s an overview of each of these attributes:
These attributes are assessed across the interview process, most notably during the final onsite or virtual loop.
In some cases, candidates’ final interviews are explicitly labeled with these attributes (e.g. one GCA interview, two RRK interviews, and one Googliness & Leadership interview).
In other cases, candidates’ interviews are labeled by the skills necessary for the position (e.g. two Coding interviews, one System Design interview, and one Leadership interview), in which case the interviewers will include questions that test a combination of these attributes in each round.
Now let’s take a closer look at RRK interviews and interview questions.
Google Definition
RRK stands for “role-related knowledge.” Here is Google’s definition straight from their Career Page:
Role-related knowledge: We’re interested in how your individual strengths combine with your experience to drive impact. We don’t just look for how you can contribute today, but how you can grow into different roles—including ones that haven’t even been invented yet.
I touched on this concept in my last blog article about Google’s GCA interview process. One of the Hiring Committee’s goals throughout the interviewing stage is to get a sense of how a candidate will grow and be able to thrive as new opportunities arise within the company. Google is always evolving and they want employees who are doing the same.
2 The Google RRK interview
Google RRK interviews typically last 45-60 minutes and are run by a hiring manager, a senior employee, or the manager of the team you’re applying to join.
Here is how Google describes the RRK interview: “We’re interested in how your individual strengths combine with your experience to drive impact. We don’t just look for how you can contribute today, but how you can grow into different roles—including ones that haven’t even been invented yet.”
Here are some important points to take away from this definition:
The exact questions that interviewers ask in RRK interviews vary widely, depending on the role and team that you’re applying to join.
That being said, there are 3 general types of questions that come up across roles:
Let’s look into some examples of these types of questions, based on interview reports by real Google candidates.
FAQ
What is RRK interview in Google?
The company wants to make sure that you have the right experience, domain expertise, and competencies for the position you’re applying for.
What are the 10 most common interview questions and answers for it?
- Tell Me About Yourself. …
- Why Are You the Best Person for the Job? …
- Why Do You Want This Job? …
- How Has Your Experience Prepared You for This Role? …
- Why Are You Leaving (or Have Left) Your Job? …
- What Is Your Greatest Strength? …
- What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
How do I prepare for GCA interview?
- Use Interview Frameworks. …
- Create an Interview Story Bank. …
- Study up on and Remember Basic Facts. …
- Outline and Clarify the Problem. …
- Break Down The Problem Into Smaller Pieces. …
- Provide an Estimate. …
- Explain Why You Could or Are Wrong.
What is role-related knowledge interview?
