9 replies to this topic

[Chris Hinds]

Hi Guys.

I'm new here and have been browsing the forms. And wondered if anyone can offer any help/advice.

I have a phone interview with Google on Friday in the UK. The Internship is for: 2013 Corporate Operations Engineer

I have just received an email outlineing the next steps, with regards to the phone interview and what may be asked.

I have also been provided with a Google DOC for me to do some coding exercises on if asked too. This is where i am scared Sh***ess, I am not a coder/programmer and really not sure what to do from here.

Here is the email I received:

One of our engineers, will call you on your number ***********.
Please confirm that this date and time will work for you and the phone number is correct. The call will be conducted in English and last approximately 45 minutes. Please be aware that this is a full interview for this role. Progression to the next stage of interviews is dependent on how well you perform.

For the interview, we need you to have a computer with broadband Internet access and a current web browser. This is because we might be using Google Docs to carry out some coding exercises. This blank document allows the interviewer to see any code you write, in real time.

Please click on the link below to access the shared document Chris Hinds, PS, November 30th, 2012: (link here). You will be tested on the following (amongst others): * Any system administration experience (incl knowledge level of all operating systems) * Communication * Logic, analysis & creative problem solving.

Again, here is more information about the internship program:
To be eligible for an internship, you must be returning to university afterwards, or the internship should be a formal part of completing your studies. We accept interns at all levels of education: Bachelors, Masters and PhD.

Any help/advice anyone can offer would be great.

Chris.

[Charisma]

Not sure of specifics, but overall for phone interviews: definitely make sure you have some water nearby in case your mouth gets dry. You will be a bit nervous, but take a deep breath, and don't speak too quickly or anything. Sound confident, smile at times (sounds weird but people can sort of pick up on if you are smiling/relaxed, even over the phone) and if you have a sense of humour, it always helps if you can make them laugh, they will remember you better.

Overall just try to feel secure in your abilities and enjoy showing off what you can do.

Best of luck, and hopefully others in here will have some more specific advice for that scenario

[Chris Hinds]

Charisma, on 26 November 2012 - 17:51, said:

Not sure of specifics, but overall for phone interviews: definitely make sure you have some water nearby in case your mouth gets dry. You will be a bit nervous, but take a deep breath, and don't speak too quickly or anything. Sound confident, smile at times (sounds weird but people can sort of pick up on if you are smiling/relaxed, even over the phone) and if you have a sense of humour, it always helps if you can make them laugh, they will remember you better.

Overall just try to feel secure in your abilities and enjoy showing off what you can do.

Best of luck, and hopefully others in here will have some more specific advice for that scenario

Thanks very much for the advice

[still1]

This is because we might be using Google Docs to carry out some coding exercises.

the email says they might but I would say relax. They might not ask you to do it
Usually for interns they wont ask for complex programming but will look for analytic and problem solving skills.
They will look for the approach you take to solve a problem (Some don't even want to know if you solve it or not).

Try concentrating on these mentioned.

*Any system administration experience (incl knowledge level of all operating systems) * Communication * Logic, analysis & creative problem solving.

[Chris Hinds]

still1, on 26 November 2012 - 18:04, said:

This is because we might be using Google Docs to carry out some coding exercises.

the email says they might but I would say relax. They might not ask you to do it
Usually for interns they wont ask for complex programming but will look for analytic and problem solving skills.
They will look for the approach you take to solve a problem (Some don't even want to know if you solve it or not).

Try concentrating on these mentioned.

*Any system administration experience (incl knowledge level of all operating systems) * Communication * Logic, analysis & creative problem solving.

Thanks for the advice, i will be sure to focus on those topics that they mentioned.

[Growled]

Welcome to Neowin. This is just their standard test. Just relax and do the best you can. Good luck.

[John S.]

My brother-in-law interviewed to manage one of their data warehouses but didn't want to relocate. The interview was anything but standard. One of the questions I recall him mentioning was If you had a school bus full of ping pong balls, what method would you use to best estimate how many there are?

[tiagosilva29]

John S. said:

One of the questions I recall him mentioning was If you had a school bus full of ping pong balls, what method would you use to best estimate how many there are?

Depends: old or new ping-pong balls, what type of school bus and is it empty (no seats or gear).

 In short, the answer he wanted to hear would be: Well, I'd google it! 

[Chris Hinds]

Thanks for the advice guys I know I just need to relax and be myself. I am proud simply at the fact that i have an interview with them, it must mean something.

[neufuse]

John S., on 27 November 2012 - 01:55, said:

My brother-in-law interviewed to manage one of their data warehouses but didn't want to relocate. The interview was anything but standard. One of the questions I recall him mentioning was If you had a school bus full of ping pong balls, what method would you use to best estimate how many there are?

gawd that's almost as bad as this interview question....

If you had a baskball court of standard size, how many people would fit in the stands.... yeah that was the entire question.... well what is standard size? how are the stands configured, how may rows are there? etc etc.... but no you HAD to answer the question from what they gave you... and somehow the answer was 5,000?