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Here's how to get Google to hire YOU!

Last updated on: February 11, 2013 15:48 IST

Google employee Andrea Janus takes a picture with her phone as her co-worker Tracy McNeilly looks on at the new Google office in Toronto, November 13, 2012.

There's nothing special about Google that wouldn't apply to Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, or another major tech company. There are really three parts to this answer: getting the right experience, creating a good resume, and submitting it the right way.

Getting the right experience

If you come from a good school / work for a well respected company, that'll help you a ton. But anyone can boost their resume with some projects.
Build some iPhone apps, web apps, whatever!

Honestly it doesn't matter that much what you're building as long as you're building something. Good languages include Java, Python, Ruby on Rails, C++, etc.

I would encourage you to stay away from .NET. Not because .NET isn't a perfectly good tool, but there's a stigma.

Doing these projects is especially important if you're, say, a programmer for CitiBank. You don't have the right 'pedigree'. But projects will help you a ton.

You can build a fairly meaty project in one weekend. This means that with about 3 to 4 weekends of work, you can make your resume go from so-so to fantastic.

Seriously -- I've seen lots of people do this.

Participate in hackathons, build a website or portfolio. Show your experience.

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Here's how to get Google to hire YOU!

Last updated on: February 11, 2013 15:48 IST

An employee demonstrates the use of an exercise cycle, that powers a blender making a fruit smoothie, inside the employee gym at the new Google office in Toronto

Building a great resume

One page only. When you go onto two pages, you add weaker content to your resume, by definition. And when your resume is only read for about 15 seconds, it's the average content that matters, not the 'total amount of content'.

Use a real resume format. Don't create your own -- it tends to waste space and looks sloppy.

List your projects, hackathons, etc. Don't worry about whether or not something is 'resume-appropriate'. Does it make you look more impressive? Then include it.

Keep your bullets short -- 1 to 2 lines each. Bullets that are 3 or more lines look like paragraphs and won't be read.

Focus on accomplishments, not responsibilities. The first line of each bullet should be a word like built, created, implemented, designed, architected, optimised, etc.

Quantify your accomplishments. Did you optimise something? Okay, then tell me by how much.

No summaries. They don't tell me anything other than what position you're applying for and I already know that.

Here's how to get Google to hire YOU!

Last updated on: February 11, 2013 15:48 IST

A Google employee works in the kitchen beside a structure made of recycled bicycles at the new Google office in Toronto

Submitting your resume

Too many people stop with just one avenue. They apply once, and then figure that's enough. Try all available avenues.

If you're active on Github, Stack Overflow, etc, there's a chance a recruiter will come to you. But there's no reason to wait for that.

Apply online. It's tough, but people do get their resume selected that way.

Ask around to your friends. Does any work at Google? Or know someone who does? It's a huge help if someone will refer you.

Try reaching out to Google engineers on Twitter, Quora, or other social media. Remember that your first contact with them is, effectively, a cover letter. Don't just say 'Hi, I'm interested in Google, will you refer me?' Reach out to them and tell them about some of the things you've done, and then link them to your resume.

Again, this advice applies to all companies, and much of it to many positions as well