ALT Google intern standing next to Android statue

ALT Collage of Google interns

ALT Collage of Google interns

ALT Samrat in front of Google logo

ALT How'd you prep for interviews: “I had 3 algorithms/coding rounds, 1 machine learning round, and 1 round focused on communication and problem-solving. For my algorithms rounds, I prepped using online code practicing websites (completing nearly 260 practice problems). For my machine learning rounds, I studied theory from my grad school notes and practiced implementing the learning algorithms from scratch (with special focus on decision trees, logistic regression, neural nets, and Naive Bayes classification).”

ALT Samrat in front of Google logo

ALT What were your interviews like: “For the algorithms rounds, my interviewers set up a scenario, and I provided a solution in my choice of coding language. My interviewers then followed up to see how my solution generalizes. They were super engaging, and helped me talk out ideas that eventually contributed to the solution. For the ML round, I was asked a theory question related to a practical real life problem. Then, I was asked to code a small ML module related to the problem we discussed. Finally, there was one last round focused on learning about my work-style and leadership.”

ALT Esin's journey to Sales at Google

ALT Describe a typical day: “Hitting my sales targets involves helping my clients solve complex business challenges. Throughout the day, I regularly consult with clients to understand their core objectives and to co-create digital marketing strategies that leverage Google's AI-powered advertising solutions. This work requires a unique combination of fast-paced dynamism and deep personal connection, allowing business partnerships and sales relationships to feel like true collaborations.”

ALT Esin in front of Google logo

ALT Interview tips? “Your thought process is just as important as your final answer. Your goal should be to show how you think, not just what you know. I also recommend mastering "Commercial Storytelling.” In a sales context, this means moving beyond product features to explain the tangible business impact those features have on a client’s bottom line. Finally, try to show that you can lead without formal authority by highlighting instances where you’ve collaborated across teams to solve a partner's challenge.”

ALT A group of five people sit and chat on the outdoor concrete steps in front of a modern building with large red and green framed doorways and a Google logo.

ALT A man in a red T-shirt sits at his desk smiling, surrounded by other coworkers working at computers in an open-plan office space.

ALT A wide shot of the exterior of a large, multi-story white building labeled "Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas" with a green lawn and trees in the foreground.

ALT An overhead view of a group of people sitting along a winding, S-shaped wooden table working on their laptops.

ALT A small, white fluffy dog sitting in a red wire basket attached to the handlebars of a bike.

ALT A person wearing a helmet and sunglasses riding a bike with a grey and white dog wearing a blue vest and pink hat on his back.

ALT A person riding a vintage-style bike with a red sidecar. A small dog with pointed ears is peeking out from the sidecar.

ALT A Corgi puppy sitting in a red bike basket. In the background, a green Android statue is on the walkway.

ALT Day in the life: Technical Program Manager at Google

ALT After a quick swim and breakfast, I log in for the day! My role involves managing the physical "veins" of the internet — such as subsea cables and dark fiber — so it’s important to stay in lock-step with our external partners on our deployment timelines. Today, I started by following up with global vendors to ensure our global network expansions stays on schedule.

ALT Next up: solution design. I’m currently working on the framework for how we acquire the circuits and connectivity needed to link our diverse internal sites to Google's backbone network. It’s a giant logic puzzle, and I love the challenge of fitting all the pieces together.

ALT My final meeting of the day involved presenting a new connectivity solution (including its cost-impact) to the senior leadership team. I then wrapped up by sending out final updates regarding upcoming circuit deliveries to our partners in our global vendor ecosystem. A lesson I’ve learned as a T/PgM is that a project is only as good as the follow-through, so I always make sure everyone has what they need to succeed!

ALT Two Googlers wearing helmets stand with their bicycles in front of a Google office building.

ALT A close-up portrait of a smiling cyclist wearing a helmet and sunglasses.

ALT A group of six colleagues smiling and posing while seated on their bicycles.

ALT I start my day with my commute to Sunnyvale. The Google shuttle is my "pre-game" space — I use this time to sweep my inbox, catch up on news, and prepare for a day of in-person collaboration with my teammates. Once I arrive at the office, I hit the gym and grab a quick breakfast.

ALT Time for my first meeting of the day: team stand-up. We use this time to set our team goals, triage tasks, and ensure our priorities are aligned. Afterwards, I head into "heads-down" mode for the rest of the morning.

ALT I then head to my remaining afternoon meetings. These include our weekly team skill-sharing session, and a 1:1 with my manager where we engage in career planning to ensure I’m staffed on projects that align with my career goals.

ALT To finish my day, I dive into my afternoon deep focus time. This is when I do my heaviest coding — turning design docs into reality. I then wrap up my work and head home for the evening!