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Google EMEA Intern Insights 一 Meet Michelangelo Marchiorello, an SMB Sales intern
December 15, 2014
Our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects - not only in engineering, but across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. Interested in joining the Google team? Check out our
student positions
today and apply!
Meet Michelangelo Marchiorello, a Google intern on the SMB Sales team.
Where are you from?
I’m proud to be Italian!
Where and what did you study at University?
I received my bachelors degree in Business Administration at Bocconi University, in Milan. I recently finished my Masters in Management at ESCP Europe, a business school that gave me the opportunity to study each year in a different country and in a different language. I think that having a strong international profile is key nowadays.
What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
I’ve always been interested in working at Google. The company philosophy is what distinguished itself from the other players - placing customers and employees at the top of the company's priorities before investors and financial return.
What type of internship have you done? Give a brief description.
I interned for 6 months in the Italian Small and Medium Businesses (SMB) Sales team, at the Google Dublin headquarters for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). During that time, I worked with many Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) in my home country. As an intern I had the opportunity to get involved in projects that had a direct impact on the business, on customers and on fellow colleagues!
My first Noogler selfie!
What did your workday look like?
Every workday looked different. On quiet days, I had the opportunity to work on my projects in a very chilled out way; on busy days, I couldn’t even find the time to read through all of my emails.
8:30 AM ‒ The day starts. I would meet with some of my fellow Nooglers (other Interns or Googlers who have recently joined Google) for breakfast.
9:00 AM ‒ After a quick catch up, I would be sitting at my desk. That said, at Google there is no need to be at your desk all the time.
50 : 50 ‒ I would spend 50% of my time on Team Support activities and 50% on my projects.
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
My main project: “QBR@Scale,” is something I am very proud of. The project was a huge overall success, as it enabled a more strategic pitch for the sales representatives. I created more than 200 presentations with in-depth analysis on the past performance for many of our biggest clients. It didn’t just impact the Italian sales team, but throughout the whole of Europe, the Middle East and Africa!
At Google you have an opportunity to collaborate with people from many different backgrounds. What moment stood out to you, where diversity in the team made for better and more innovative work?
At the Google Dublin office there are more than 60 languages spoken and you can feel the international vibe all around you. The level of diversity found at Google is outstanding!
One recent moment that stood out to me was the amazing work done by the Brand Club. Every couple of weeks the Brand representatives from Europe, the Middle East and Africa meet up to discuss recent efforts on growing brand equity. It was through the diversity of the team that enabled our group to share different perspectives and points of views, tell our success stories, best practices etc.. And since the group is so diverse, in terms of needs and past experiences, everyone learned a multitude of new and better ways to do their jobs!
At Google, we say: “when you don’t find anything new to learn, it’s time to change your job”.
We all know Googler’s and interns love the food and the other perks. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
The best Google perk is being part of a group of pioneers (well ahead of early adopters) who are shaping the future of the Tech and Digital world.
We are entitled to try out the latest beta, work-in-progress software and hardware, and get to know all the latest internal and external news before anyone else. This is SO EXCITING! The apps on my phone ... my Gmail, my Google Maps, Project Cardboard ... everything gets updated on a daily basis and every update brings something new to test and give feedback on.
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
Being Googley means being available to help others, despite your schedule or level of knowledge. Being Googley means always being curious about new things and being open to learn. Being Googley means thriving in an ambiguous environment where creativity is the only compass available.
Enjoying the Dublin sun from the 11th floor terrace
What do you like most about your Google office and its locations?
Having been lucky to work in the European HQ, I really had the chance to fall in love with the facilities. Everything is designed to be functional to the employees happiness, creativity and teamwork.
Outside of being a Google intern, what are some fun things you do outside the classroom/office throughout the year?
First of all, I am a travel addict. Since working at Google, I’ve had the chance to travel to Ibiza, Milan, Istanbul, Amsterdam and Berlin.
Beyond traveling, I love almost any water sport, from sailing to kite-surfing. At Google there are groups for almost all sports and a multitude of hobbies and interests. Despite the temperature, there are always those willing to take on the cold Irish waters.
What will you do after your internship?
After my internship I’ve taken some time off to travel for a few days to Milan, Kenya and London. Can’t wait to re-charge my cultural curiosity!
In mid-January, I’m excited to come back to Google. This time, as a full-time Google employee. Yayyyyyyy!
What are your top 2 tips to potential student applicants?
Firstly, engage on as many extracurricular projects and activities as you can. These are the parts of your CV that are going to make a difference - your grades, not so much!
Secondly, don’t be scared of the interview process. If you are "a good fit" for this organization, any interview that you’ll have will turn into an engaging conversation about your life. It’s also your first opportunity to show how willing you are to learn from other people, even when under pressure. So, don’t waste the opportunity!
Interested to join the Google team? Check out our
student positions
today and apply!
Posted by Nicole Zwaaneveld, University Programs Team
Google EMEA Intern Insights 一 Meet Liana Saranga, a Turkish SMB Services Intern
November 20, 2014
Our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects - not only in engineering, but across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to look out for the different interns being featured on the blog throughout the fall!
Where are you from?
I’m from Istanbul, Turkey
Where and what do/did you study at University?
I’m currently doing a double major in Business Administration and Economics at Koc University in Istanbul.
What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
I've always been a big Google fan! I’ve grown up being amazed by Google and its products. For me, Google is the best place I could ever ask to work. It has its own unique vibe, hence the word “Googleyness”. There couldn’t have been a better place to do my internship, than in Ireland at Google Dublin (EU HQ). I was 100% sure I would learn amazing things, and advance in many ways. All in all, I have to say: I’m blessed to have had this opportunity and cannot wait to come back!!
Noogler ― new Googler ― Orientation, wearing our Noogler hats
What type of internship are you doing?
I did my internship in the SMB (Small and Medium Business) Services Turkey team. My job was to sell AdWords features to eligible customers based on their needs and provide troubleshooting for any of the problems they may potentially experience while using AdWords.
It’s amazing! To begin with, I love working with AdWords - I think it’s a brilliant tool. And I genuinely like providing special assistance to advertisers from all over Turkey on their digital marketing strategies and showing them the do’s and don’ts of online advertising. So much fun!
What does your workday look like?
During the day we have workflow tables so that we know when we need to be on hand to talk with customers. During this time I would receive calls from customers and provide a variety of support, such as: troubleshooting and account optimization, etc.
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
On top of my core job, I am most proud of my 50% project, which is to optimize the AdWords Turkey Education Channels, consisting of online platforms such as YouTube, AdWords Forum, Blog, Twitter and the G+ page. This required that I take a deep-dive into the various channels and analyze them based on their customer profile. For the final project outcome, I was able to successfully deliver a new targeting strategy.
Soaking up the Dublin sun
At Google you have an opportunity to collaborate with people from many different backgrounds. What moment stood out to you, where diversity in the team made for better and more innovative work?
I can say without a doubt that my team had people with a wide range of different backgrounds and personalities. I can’t even begin to tell you about the level of diversity at Google!
In my opinion, diversity on the team made for better and more innovative work every step of the way. I can definitely say that the Google atmosphere is created by all the different bits and pieces of these unique people.
It's time for Africa!
We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other perks. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
Besides the amazing perks (e.g. having massage appointments in the middle of the day!) I’d say that my favorite part was how valued I felt. While an intern, there wasn’t a single moment where I felt like “just an intern.” I was alway treated equally and respected by the people I worked with, no matter how senior they were ― which completely amazes me!
Also the level of liberty in this company is unbelievable. The company trusts its employees (‘us’) and does everything possible to remove obstacles that most companies have in place to ensure employee happiness and peace of mind.
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
It always rings a bell of a happy, positive, energetic person who’s in pursuit of doing something bigger and better. Always innovates, tries new things, steps out of boundaries and explores opportunities. Strives to be respectful and helpful to the people around them. Creative and open-minded! Can I go on...?!
What do you like most about your Google office and its locations?
The Google office is just unbelievable. It’s our own little utopia! It’s designed in a way to make employees happy, comfortable and peaceful. I’m so grateful for all the colorful sofas, massages and sleeping rooms!
Nugget, a Google office dog! Who say’s that love at first sight doesn’t exist?
Outside of being a Google intern, what are some fun things you do outside the classroom/office throughout the year?
I’m currently building up my travel blog, where I post movie-like videos created of my trips throughout my university years. Really looking forward to it! Other than that, as obvious as it may seem, I’m a travel addict and I try to hop on the plane as much as I can during the year!
Amazing views of Dublin City
What will you do after your internship?
I’m back to studying for one more year at university, to get my bachelor’s degree. After that, I will try my best to join the Google community once again!
What are your top 2 tips to potential student applicants?
The Google environment, the people, and the Google soul is what makes Google the unique company it is today. Therefore, learn more about Google’s culture and try to find out for yourself, not just whether you are a good fit for the company but also if the company fits you back.
Be open to new challenges and step outside your comfort zone. If you want to stand out, and be different, definitely push your boundaries and test your limits.
Interested to join the Google team? Check out our
student positions
today and apply!
EEA work authorization is required for roles supporting EEA markets.
Posted by Nicole Zwaaneveld, University Programs Team
Google Intern Insights - EMEA Intern Exchange to Mountain View
October 31, 2014
This past August, the EMEA Intern team challenged their 2014 intern class to create a video about a product they would launch if they had an unlimited budget and resources in the spirit of moonshots and 10x ideas. They needed to include their concept, resources required, potential impact and the problem it would solve.
The video was to be a maximum of 2 minutes in length, and points were awarded by a panel of engineers for product idea, feasibility, technology, innovation and impact. The prize was a fully paid week at our Headquarters in Mountain View soaking up the culture, lifestyle and general life as a software engineer in Google Mountain View.
Jakub Czarnowicz, an SRE intern in Zurich, was our winner this year, with his entry tackling how to help visually impaired people navigate everyday activities using “Google Assistance Dog” on a mobile device. We asked Jakub about his inspiration and experience:
Of all of the tech companies to apply to, why did you want to work at Google?
Google is one of the few places that allows you to grow and develop your skills as well as spend some marvelous time in awesome places. It's famous for being innovative and open for new, cool ideas. If you want to affect lives of millions of users - Google is the place to do that.
Due to that choice, my whole summer was one big series of coding, hiking, designing, sightseeing, learning and having fun. One big adventure!
In what way has Google impacted you and how have you left an impact at Google?
Surprisingly, I have learned many new things here. From coffee making and juggling to networking, software design and Go language. There are many talented, brilliant people working at Google and they are all open to sharing ideas and explaining bleeding edge technology. Just a few discussions during coffee time can teach you more than a month at the university.
It is difficult for an intern to have a big impact on such a company but I hope that my product idea from the Intern Competition would be introduced and one day I would see it running. That would be a really big achievement.
What is the most interesting/exciting thing that you have been able to do as a Google intern?
It's not that simple to decide what was the most interesting. As a "nerd" I was delighted to have an impact on Google-scale applications - thousands of instances running in data centers all over the world, millions of users, unbelievable performance and stability of services ... It's just amazing.
And then, after work, there was another kind of excitement. I fulfilled one of my biggest dreams - paragliding in the Alps. It's totally breathtaking!
How was working in Google HQ (MTV) different from working in a European office? Is there an added benefit to either?
Google HQ is different in every way. It's not an office - it's a whole district of buildings including over 30 cafes, tennis courts, swimming pools, bowling alleys and so on. There are ten times more engineers than in any other office. You need a bike to travel from one building to another. The Zurich office is a lot smaller and there are incomparably fewer places to spend your free time. On the other hand, it feels a lot more homely, it's less crowded and as quiet and peaceful as a Swiss facility can be.
Do teams work differently in different offices? Is the culture different?
Each team is different, each can work in any way the members prefer. There were two most noticeable differences between my team and the team I've spent my time in Mountain View with. First is working hours. In Zurich, many people prefer to stay up late. The office is far from being empty even at 9pm while Googlers I've met in MTV leave much, much earlier.
Another thing is the coffee culture. My team spends a lot of time chatting over a cup of a latte prepared with all the proper rituals. As a coffee lover - I really enjoy this way of spending a break.
What types of lessons/skills have you learned at Google, especially in your exchange office, that you will take back to school after this summer ends?
For me, the most important skills were independence and self-confidence. At Google, if you have an idea - you should introduce it and try to make it happen without any hesitation. Even if it's criticized and rejected, you will learn a lot and draw conclusions that will help you in the future.
During my exchange, I continued to work on my main project even though I was separated from my team. In my opinion, this was the best way to learn how to solve problems on my own and work on even the most difficult problems without any supervision.
After spending time in your exchange office, do you think differently about other office locations? Would you consider working in a different office?
Nothing changed in my way of thinking about different places - I always loved traveling and experiencing new cultures. This exchange just confirmed my beliefs that I should make full use of my youth before finishing my studies and starting work as a full time employee.
Each office is different and I would love to visit as many as possible.
You had to create a video to enter into this exchange competition. Tell us a little bit about yours and where your idea came from.
My idea was to create an app that would help visually impaired people deal with everyday activities. Even ordinary actions are challenging if you have problems with your sight. Shopping? Using public transportation? Crossing a road? If you think those are simple operations - try doing them with your eyes closed.
That is where the most marvelous ideas came from - just putting yourself in someone's else shoes and try to solve their problem in the most Googley way.
After this summer, what comes next for you?
It's hard to say. I still have two years of my masters degree so I want to come back to Poland and finish my studies. In terms of Google - my biggest dream for now is to come back as an intern to work awesome offices, such as New York or Sydney.
If you’re passionate and excited by working on cool things that matter, enjoy tackling the toughest problems in information technology and developing innovative products that make a positive difference in tens of millions of lives every day, Google might just be for you!
As an intern, you come here to build, lead, break, create, improve, shi, and shoot for the moon. Our career paths are varied. Google gives you tons of options to develop yourself, and then get out of the way and let you choose what’s best for you.
If you’re inspired by Jakub and other #googleintern stories, we encourage you to apply to our 2015 internship program. Applications are open now - apply today! We’re hiring for 2015 internships right now, click
here
to apply!
Posted by Raquel Inacio, University Programs Recruiting Specialist
Google Intern Insights 2014一Meet Vlad Muntean, an EMEA SMB Services Intern
October 28, 2014
Our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects - not only in engineering, but across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to look out for the different interns being featured on the blog throughout the fall!
Where are you from?
I'm from the amazing
Moldova
!
Where and what do/did you study at University?
I am currently pursuing my Bachelors Degree in Business Administration at the American University in Bulgaria.
What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
I got introduced to Google as a potential employer when I was a freshman at university. At that point, I realized that working at Google would be a DREAM job. In the summer of 2013 I received an email with the call for applications for
Google AdCamp EMEA
, so I decided to give it a shot and amazingly, I got in. Through AdCamp, I got the chance to take a deep dive into Google’s culture and explore Google’s career opportunities, while spending four days at Google Dublin (EU HQ).
What type of internship are you doing?
I did a Business Associate Internship at the
Google Wroclaw office
in Poland. Half of my time was spent working with Small and Medium Business (SMB) Services for the Russian Market and the other half was spent working on my project: AdWords Policies optimization.
What does your workday look like?
Typically I would use the morning to do all of my SMB Services tasks and after lunch, I would mostly work on my project, which involved analyzing data, getting in touch with Googlers in other offices and developing supporting materials for my findings.
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
Besides working on the core job related to SMB Services for the Russian Market, I completed an analysis of all of the major issues related to AdWords Policies in this Market. Based on my research, I was able to provide Google employees solutions and implementations related to providing a better user experience when it came to dealing with AdWords policies. Additionally, I managed to host two Webinars related to AdWords for the Russian speaking market. Finally, I delivered three trainings for Nooglers (New Googlers) and Full-time employees of the Russian SMB Services Team.
At Google you have an opportunity to collaborate with people from many different backgrounds. What moment stood out to you, where diversity in the team made for better and more innovative work?
I was able to work with Googlers who had deep knowledge on the subjects related to my core work and received support from the people around me, on any questions that arose during my project. Additionally, the team diversity made every working day unique, starting from people playing on the guitar when they wanted to relax and finishing with amazing travel stories from Mount Kilimanjaro.
We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other perks. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
The perk that I loved the most was the ability to work from any Google office. This option gave me the chance to travel around the region and explore some amazing cities like Berlin, Prague and Warsaw.
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
“Being Googley” is about being open to everyday awesomeness and collaboration. It’s about having a unique hobby and sharing it with other people. It's also about giving support whenever needed and loving all of the things that you do.
What do you like most about your Google office and its locations?
I simply fell in love with Wroclaw. Google was wise to place its office there. It is a super lively and a large beautiful city, while still providing you with a sense of coziness. It had anything a person needed for his or her free time, like: kayaking, aqua park, football, great pubs and restaurants, beautiful architecture and the friendliest people.
What will you do after your internship?
I’m back at university completing my senior year. Soon, I will start a part-time internship at a Marketing company in Bulgaria. I'll also be pursuing my hobby in theatrical acting.
What are your top 2 tips to potential student applicants?
First, be honest in your application. Everything you write should express who you actually are.
Secondly, be active during your student years by participating with different clubs and activities, and develop yourself through an interesting hobby.
Interested in joining the Google team? Check out our
student positions
today and apply!
EEA work authorization is required for roles supporting EEA markets.
Posted by Nicole Zwaaneveld, University Programs Team
Google Intern Insights 2014 一 Meet Megan Killion an EMEA SMB Sales Intern
October 27, 2014
Our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects - not only in engineering, but across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to look out for the different interns being featured on the blog throughout the fall!
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland!
Where and what do/did you study at University?
I’m about to begin my fourth year of Marketing and Innovation Technology at Dublin City University, which is going to be pretty hard after spending a Summer at Google! After high school, it was my dream to go to art school, but when I was offered this course I decided to give it a try. Lucky for me, I absolutely love it! It’s an awesome and super modern course that covers basic marketing practices, but also explores the cutting edge technology and design skills that are needed to become a 21st century marketeer!
What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
My Google story actually started about a year ago, when I was asked to participate in
Google Adcamp EMEA
(read my article about the experience
here
). If you haven't heard of AdCamp before, it’s 3 days of pure awesomeness! You get to spend those 3 days in the Google office, meet other students from across EMEA, attend product talks from seasoned Google employees, and explore Dublin.
I have always had an obsession with technology. More recently my focus has been on mobile and developing my mobile marketing skill set. Google is at the forefront of everything that is “mobile” and “connected” so it became apparent very quickly that this was where I needed to be.
Disclaimer: The free food, killer gym and massages did NOT play any part in my wanting to join Google (I swear) ;)
What type of internship are you doing?
I am a Business Associate Intern and am on the UK SMB Sales team for Google AdWords! I count myself so lucky to be on this team, because I am SO passionate about the product we sell. My role is to help small and medium businesses across the UK scale and grow through the use of Google's advertising solutions (it sounds amazing, I know).
The businesses that I work with come in all shapes and sizes, and no one Google advertising solution works for all of them. Adapting and developing unique online marketing strategies for each client is what makes my role so awesome! Every day is different and that is really important to me.
I am also working on Customer Education and have formed a Hangout on Air program for my team. We actually had our first live broadcast last week, which went down a storm. The customers loved it!
What does your workday look like?
Every day is different at Google, it’s what makes this such an amazing place to work. But here is what my average day could look like:
9:00 Breakfast with the Interns (Google has the best omelettes, so I usually opt for one of these!)
9.30 Work through emails
10:00 Consultation with an Advertiser
11:00 Intern events committee meeting
12:00 Lunch (Yes, it is free - all you can eat)
13.30 Consultation with an Advertiser
14.15 Consultation with an Advertiser
15:00 Training (this could be anything from Youtube, Google Shopping or Remarketing trainings)
15.30 Grab a coffee with one of my mentors
16:00 Shadow a different team (I try to spent at least two hours a week shadowing other teams)
17.00 Meeting with marketing team in Mountain View (The mountain view marketing team played a huge part in my customer education project, so I have a lot of evening meetings with them!)
18:30 TRX & Kettle Bell Class in the Google gym with my buddies
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
My biggest accomplishment was being able to plan, execute and report on our hangout on air series from start to finish. We targeted the Hangout on Air at 5000 customers, so it was a pretty big project. There were so many stakeholders and being able to manage all is something I am super proud of. My team had never done anything of this scale before and I was delighted that I successfully launched the biggest one yet! I was also able to convince other teams (such as marketing) to support us with various assets, which felt pretty awesome too!
At Google you have an opportunity to collaborate with people from many different backgrounds. What moment stood out to you, where diversity in the team made for better and more innovative work?
Diversity is one of the best things about working at Google. The ability to work with people from different places and backgrounds, gives amazing opportunities to learn from one another.
During my Internship, I was lucky enough to be elected onto the “Intern social committee” which was a small group of interns who ran internal events! The group was made up of Irish, English, Russian, Dutch and Croatian members. A moment that stood out to me, was a brainstorming session when we spoke about the events that we could potentially run! Everyones ideas were so VERY different, but all equally wonderful! I guess it was just interesting to hear about what everyone considered a “normal” or a "frequent" event in their hometown!"
We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other perks. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
When you don't work at Google, you think the perks are the best part. Speaking from experience, I can say that the best part about working here is the unique people. Being surrounded by such smart, enthusiastic and outgoing people, everyday, is incredibly inspiring. There is something fantastically interesting about every person you talk to here. You learn so much from your peers, it’s insane. Being around people like that everyday makes you the best possible version of yourself and it opens your eyes to so many different cultures, mind sets and ways of doing things.
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
I love this question! It’s something I get asked all the time! I honestly think that everyone has a different idea on what Googliness or what being Googley is, but it doesn't matter what it is or whether it's work related or not. It’s a passion that they bring to work and want to share, and use to help their work, their team, or all of Google itself.
What do you like most about your Google office and its locations?
The Google Dublin (EU HQ) is ridiculously cool! I just love it!
It spans 4 buildings and there is something totally unique about each one!
We have a gym, a swimming pool, dozens of kitchens, a bar, games room, karaoke rooms, nail bars, massage chair ... literally, you name it and it’s probably here!
My favourite area is in the Gasworks building. It has an old fashioned library, with hundreds of books and big, comfy armchairs. I get most of my blogging done there. Its just the perfect spot to plug in your earphones and get stuck into some work!
What will you do after your internship?
After my internship I am returning to college, for my final year of Marketing and Innovation Technology at Dublin City University! As much as I’ll miss Google, I’m looking forward to seeing all of my old classmates and getting stuck into some project work.
What are your top 2 tips to potential student applicants?
1.) BE UNIQUE ― Do you have any idea how many people apply for these internships? No? Well, neither do I, but I’m guessing in the thousands. So it’s important to spend some time thinking about how you're going to stand out from the crowd. Be creative when it comes to your resume, add as many links as you can to your college assignments, any project work you’ve done, videos, slideshows ... you name it! I also think having a nicely formatted resume can do wonders!
2.) GAIN EXPERIENCE ― I know first hand, that it can be tough to get good work experience as a student. Remember that experience doesn't always mean “work” experience. There are a lot of things you can do to make yourself a more appealing candidate, such as:
Enter the Google Online Marketing Challenge: this will show that you have first hand experience with AdWords and running online marketing campaigns.
Become a blogger and have your own website: blogging is a great way to raise your personal profile and share your ideas. It also shows recruiters that you are dedicated and hardworking (if you post frequently). If you set up advertising on the blog (Via Google Adsense) and tracking (Via Google Analytics) it instantly shows recruiters you have first hand product knowledge.
Interested in joining the Google team? Check out our
student positions
today and apply!
EEA work authorization is required for roles supporting EEA markets.
Posted by Nicole Zwaaneveld, University Programs Team
Google Intern Insights 2014 一 Meet Kendra Ibsen an EMEA SMB Service Intern
October 24, 2014
Our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects - not only in engineering, but across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to look out for the different interns being featured on the blog throughout the fall!
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in
Helsingborg
, a small town located in the beautiful southern part of Sweden, only 4 KM from Denmark. The geographical location enabled my mother and father to meet each other, and hence I am half Danish. For the last five years, I have lived in Stockholm. Feel welcome to visit!
Where and what do/did you study at University?
I hold a bachelor degree from Stockholm School of Economics in Business Administration and Economics and I'm currently enrolled in their Business and Management Masters Program. I’m also super excited to be going on an exchange semester at the Tsinghua University in Beijing, China in the fall of 2014.
What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
Google has always been a dream employer for me due to its innovative corporate culture, diverse employees and the fast-moving business. My infinite interest in Google developed when I read “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg, who held a high managerial position at Google. Sheryl Sandberg is my role model in business related manners, due to her interest in female empowerment. The fact that Google prioritizes diversity in its corporate climate made me even more interested in joining the organization. Furthermore, to be part of a successful tech company with corporate values that are aligned with my values played a significant factor in my motivation to apply. Since I had one year left at university, the best choice for me was to apply for an internship. Luckily for me, I got the fantastic opportunity to be part of Google team for three months.
What type of internship are you doing?
I was an intern at the SMB (small and medium size businesses) Services team for the Nordic countries. In my opinion, as an intern in the SMB Services department at Google you get the best possible internship. In services, half your time is spent working on a business development project and the other half with AdWords and customer support. As a result of this setup, I quickly learned the ins and outs of AdWords and how to troubleshoot and provide excellent solutions to our customers. I strongly developed my customer-oriented mindset, problem-solving skills and my ability to multitask.
For my business development project I was accountable for a revenue related project that required an extensive quantitative analysis. I structured, analyzed and created recommendations for how SMB Services can work more efficiently with revenue performance. I truly loved my project and all of the challenges I faced during the project path. I also got the opportunity to work closely with senior revenue Googlers on our team and across markets. From this project, I developed my quantitative analysis skills, learned how to break down a complex business issue to operational recommendations and how to structure and prioritize a project.
What does your workday look like?
I spend half of my day working on the core business giving AdWords customer support and the other half working on my project.
During my project time, I often chose to work elsewhere than at my desk, i.e. at the 13th floor which had the most beautiful view. This definitely gave me creative stimulation during working hours.
The team spirit was fantastic. We ate lunch together every single day and would regularly have fun playing ping-pong or pool.
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
I am mainly proud of two accomplishments.
Firstly, I exceeded expectations when I passed the AdWords exam after only two training days. This resulted in a very fast ramp-up and enabled me to do customer face-time after only one week (normally this takes four weeks).
Secondly, I am very proud of my project analysis and recommendations. I was successful in communicating my key findings and recommendations to my team in a very concrete way and hence, grasped their attention and execution mode. The result of my project was appreciated and the recommendations are already being implemented as part of the core strategy in the SMB Services Nordics team and will soon be launched to the entire EMEA market.
At Google you have an opportunity to collaborate with people from many different backgrounds. What moment stood out to you, where diversity in the team made for better and more innovative work?
The diverse mindset is a fact at Google. You positively face it everyday. You meet people from all countries in the world - men, women, the LGBT community, different cultures and backgrounds, engineers, business people, etc. Before coming to Google, I had never experienced such a diverse environment and I am quite sure that nothing can compare with Google’s workplace diversity. This is totally fantastic and admirable!
The most outstanding moment was when I met one of my colleagues who is blind. Despite her impairment, she conducted her work with excellence ― talking with customers, guiding them through to find different features of the product. Google facilitated her work, by providing her with special resources so she can deliver without clear obstacles.
We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other perks. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
It's definitely the people. A company can provide as many perks as possible, but the thing that impresses me the most are the people. The people you meet at Google are intelligent, helpful, humble, have a high level of social intelligence and have fantastic energy. This naturally affects the atmosphere in the office landscape in an extremely positive way.
At Google many different communities exist and as a feminist and as a person with a high interest in female empowerment, I attended different female events and talked to many successful women at Google. This provided me with insights into how I, as a woman, can potentially reach my goal to become an executive in the future. As a young woman, it was extremely interested in talking to women in senior-level positions and I appreciate and admire how much time these women invests in collaborating and chatting with us.
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
For me, it means being innovative, humble, open and to have positive energy.
What do you like most about your Google office and its locations?
That’s a difficult question since the
Google Dublin (EU HQ) office
in Ireland is totally amazing. If I am forced to choose, it would have to be the different relaxing/creative areas, where you can work or just have a coffee with your colleagues.
Being a Googler means being a part of a big and lovely family. I spent all my spare-time with other Googlers. We explored the beautiful nature of Ireland, the fun nightlife and partook in the delicious food.
What will you do after your internship?
I will complete my masters degree and try to handle all of the recruiters that are contacting me after joining Google :)
What are your top 2 tips to potential student applicants?
(1) Be personal but professional; and
(2) Keep it simple, with a very results-oriented mindset.
Interested in joining the Google team? Check out our
student positions
today and apply!
EEA work authorization is required for roles supporting EEA markets.
Posted by Nicole Zwaaneveld, University Programs Team
Google Intern Insights 2014 一 Meet Martin Zaborowski, an EMEA SMB Services Intern
October 23, 2014
Our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects - not only in engineering, but across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to look out for the different interns being featured on the blog throughout the fall!
Where are you from?
I’m from
Lübeck, Germany
- a lovely little city north of Hamburg. If you haven’t been there: GO, it’s beautiful! :)
Where and what do/did you study at University?
I did my Bachelors in ‘International Business Administration’ at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), The Netherlands. I’m currently enrolled in a Masters program in Business Information Management.
What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
At Google, you can truly be yourself. You can dress however you like and express yourself freely, without having to worry about being judged. Everyone I’ve met at Google has been nothing but welcoming and open-minded. The people at Google are really amazing!
What type of internship are you doing? Give a brief description.
I’m doing a 3 month Business Associate Internship in the SMB Services team at
Google’s Wroclaw, Poland office
. As a native German speaker, I joined the DACH team, which means that I work with customers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We support small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) in their marketing activities using Google AdWords. At its core, this entails understanding their business environment, discussing the goals of their online efforts, setting up AdWords campaigns and analyzing their results.
At my workstation, chatting to a client
What does your workday look like?
It starts with an awesome breakfast! After my morning glass of fresh orange juice and some fruit, I would usually support our customers either by calling, emailing or having a chat. When I don’t know the answers, I can always consult with my colleagues, which is important to really understand all underlying issues and learn. On average, I would also have a couple of hours a day to work on my intern project, which in my case was focused on increasing our customer satisfaction. I looked into past data, found patterns, interviewed people from different offices and departments, and had meetings to keep all stakeholders updated.
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
It would have to be when I presented my project findings to my team and management at the end of my internship. It was really exciting to share what I had been working on over the past few months ― knowing that the work I’ve put into my project was really insightful to them.
Motivational Message
What moment stood out to you, where diversity in the team made for better and more innovative work?
Time for balloons!
This would have to be planning a TGIF (Thank Google It's Friday!) with the other interns. We were a group of students from all over Europe with different backgrounds and experiences. The input from so many diverse people certainly made the planning a very creative process, with many different ideas and thoughts being picked thrown on the table in making the 'Intern TGIF' a summer highlight.
For me it’s really important that a workplace is international and has diversity. I greatly appreciate that Google provides me with just that. It’s really awesome!
We all know Googler’s and interns love the food and the other perks. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
Assuming that you, as the reader, already know all about the amazing food, gym and massages, my favorite part of Google is how amazing the people are. I’ve made so many friends and have had such amazing times. Speaking of time, time flies when you’re at Google. Really, it’s that much FUN!
Enjoying the Google swings has also been one of my favorite parts.
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
It's kind of hard to define. But ultimately, what it comes down to is: being an open-minded, social and caring individual (perhaps mixed with a little bit of craziness).
What do you like most about your Google office and its locations?
When I found out that Google imports German products like "Club Mate" or "Fritz Cola" for us, I couldn't quite believe it. This was just the cherry on the cake. Or more like the softly baked Oreo cookie on my cake, as I'm not actually a big fan of cherries. Anyhow, the office is amazing! I remember how on my first day when I was given an office tour, I was just walking around with my mouth wide open, not quite believing this is where I'd be working over the next months.
Highlights: the relaxing room with its massage chair, the fact that we have an office dog, and the central location of the office with a view over the city.
Outside of being a Google intern, what are some fun things you do outside the classroom/office throughout the year?
This year I have dedicated myself to music by joining the 'Acapella Project' at my university and starting piano lessons. It's my goal to be able to play a couple of my favorite songs on piano and sing along to them, by the end of the year.
What will you do after your internship?
I’m going on exchange for my Masters in Canada, for about half a year. As sad as I am that my internship is over, I’m super excited about living in North America for a while. And who knows, maybe I’ll return to Google faster than I think ;)
What are your top 2 tips to potential student applicants?
1. Believe in yourself! It sounds cheesy, but it’s really important. Once you’re in the recruitment process, you must believe that you have the ‘googleyness’ they are looking to see in you (because you do!), show them what an engaged and caring person you are. Google isn’t all about having the best grades; it’s much more about being an engaged worker with ambition.
2. This might sound a bit dull, but prepare well. Depending on what internship you’re applying for, the questions might vary of course, e.g. if you’re applying for SMB Services/Sales, you should familiarize yourself with the relevant products, be clear about your motivation, your aspirations ,etc.
I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you! :)
Interested in joining the Google team? Check out our
student positions
today and apply!
EEA work authorization is required for roles supporting EEA markets.
Posted by Nicole Zwaaneveld, University Programs Team
Google Intern Insights 2014 - Meet Elizabeth Davis
October 2, 2014
From Google Glass to Project Loon, Adwords to Docs, our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects. Interns also work across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights.
Meet Elizabeth—a sophomore majoring in Computer Science at Stanford University. She participated in our Summer Trainee Engineering Program (STEP) in Zurich this past summer on the Google Security Team. Among her many responsibilities as a Google intern, Elizabeth, along with another intern, launched a Google Women in Engineering (GWE) Mentorship program. Read on to learn more about Elizabeth.
Tell us one fun, outlandish fact about you!
I played football when I was four years old. I was a pretty incredible running back, if I say so myself.
What has been your path to your current internship at Google?
I actually just started coding less than a year ago. I took a few classes in college and found that Computer Science was pretty fascinating to me, and programming appealed to my extremely logical yet creative approach to problem solving. I looked into internship opportunities with various tech companies and was pleasantly surprised to receive an offer to work for Google in the Zurich, Switzerland office!
I was extremely excited to have the chance to work for Google and visit Europe for the first time. I’d been very inspired by Google’s incredible commitment to innovation especially when applied to a social cause. They’ve been leaders in the movement towards bringing more diversity into the tech industry and are working on projects that are centered on increasing accessibility for users in developing countries. Google is making an impact in fields I deeply care about which made it such an appealing company to work for. And having the opportunity to work on a diverse team, with people from so many different countries and cultural backgrounds, has been an invaluable experience.
What’s the best part about working with your team?
Objectively speaking, my team is awesome. Everyone is really close, so much so that we’ve all eaten practically every meal together at Google this summer. I’m amazed at how well my teammates work together professionally and how many of them have formed close personal relationships with one another. Our entire team just went together to Mallorca, Spain, which goes to show just how much fun we have together inside and outside of the office.
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
One of my favorite moments was getting to present my project at the EMEA Tech Intern Summit. I was given the opportunity to share my project with interns from all over EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). However, I’m extremely proud of the women’s mentorship program that I co-founded and launched this summer.
Can you tell us a little bit more about the Google Women in Engineering (GWE) Mentorship Program you launched?
I, along with Alice Chang, a fellow intern, noticed a need for a program that would connect Nooglers and interns to the women’s network and community within Google Zurich. Working at Google is great in that if you ever have an idea or something you’re passionate about, everyone encourages you to pursue it wholeheartedly and see where you can take it.
We were able to talk to senior-level Googlers involved in diversity initiatives about our project proposal and to discuss how to go about designing such a program. We then did everything we needed to do to get the program off the ground: recruit experienced mentors from diverse professional backgrounds in Google Zurich, create a formal curriculum for the program, organize the dates, and match all of the mentors and mentees to ensure a successful and rewarding relationship. We are just about to complete our first mentorship cycle which we’re incredibly excited about.
Ideally, how would you expand this program?
We’ve contacted ambassadors in two other Google offices and we’re working with them to implement the program in their locations as well. We’re hoping to expand the program to all of the Google offices, and increase the number of Nooglers worldwide who are able to cycle through the program.
What impact has this mentorship program had so far that you’ve noticed?
So far, the program has definitely cultivated a greater community between experienced female Googlers and Nooglers like us! We had an amazing luncheon with all of our participants. It was a lot of fun to discuss the importance of mentorship and to initiate conversations about how to succeed as women in the tech industry.
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
Being Googley means celebrating your own diversity. It means embracing who you are—academically, professionally, culturally, and personally—and contributing your individuality to a diverse team. You are an incredibly unique, weird, and valuable individual. Own it, welcome the uniqueness of everyone around you, and come together to spark innovation.
If you could give one piece of advice to potential student applicants, what would it be?
Candidates shouldn’t be discouraged if they don’t have as much experience as others. Take it from someone who just started out programming, and who has definitely felt that overwhelming feeling when it seems like everyone around you has been coding since they were in diapers. If you work really hard and are willing to take on the pretty steep learning curve, you can be just as successful as a software engineer at a company like Google.
Outside of being a Google intern, what are some fun things you do outside the classroom/office throughout the year?
At school I’m involved in the CS 198 Section Leading program which is an opportunity for undergraduates to help teach introductory computer science courses. I also work with the Black Student Union and Society of Black Scientists and Engineers which promote community, achievement, and support among African American students within Stanford and in the surrounding communities. Otherwise, I love to play beach volleyball, read, and binge-watch TV shows.
Best conversation in a MK/cafe/elevator?
The best conversation I remember having was when I was eating dinner in Milliways Cafe and casually talking to a woman who was sitting across the table with her kids. Later on that night, I realized that I’d had dinner with Susan Wojcicki! Not recognizing her kept me from fangirling so it was probably for the better.
Dream Google office to visit?
So far I’ve been to the Mountain View, New York, Zurich, and London offices. I’d love to see the office in Sydney, Australia though!
Best intern event you’ve attended?
Definitely Noogler Prom. Nothing beats fancy dresses paired with Noogler hats.
Our technical internships for summer 2015 are now open! Apply here:
http://goo.gl/7nmfXO
Additionally, follow Google Students on Google+ and use the hashtag
#googleinterns
to keep up with Intern Insights.
Posted by Maggie Hohlfeld, University Programs Team
Google Intern Insights 2014 - Meet Josep Ballester
September 15, 2014
From Google Glass to Project Loon, Adwords to Docs, our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects. Interns also work across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to stroll through the blog to check out other interns who have been featured on the blog throughout the summer! Also, our technical internships for summer 2015 are now open! Apply
here
.
Josep Ballester studies Industrial Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain.
Tell us one fun, outlandish fact about you!
I have a twin brother.
What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
I initially applied for a Google internship because of my love for Google products. I believed that Google would allow me to work on cool things with exceptional people. When the opportunity to intern came, I took it without a doubt.
What team are you working on at Google? Can you provide us with a high-level description of your summer project?
I work on the Small and Medium Businesses (SMB) Services team, helping advertisers improve their businesses. My specific project revolves around improving customer satisfaction.
What’s the best part about working with your team?
They are always easy to work with and we've all become good friends.
Outside of being a Google intern, what are some fun things you do outside the classroom/office throughout the year?
I love to travel. It really doesn't matter where. I just like to learn new things and meet new people. I also really like to ski.
We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other benefits. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
First, the people. Everyone is super kind and helpful. I also like the fact that interns work right alongside full-time employees.
Best overheard conversation in a MK/cafe/elevator
I once had breakfast next to a Googler I didn’t know and we ended up chatting. A few days later, I found out that he’s an important manager.
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
Throughout my internship, all of the customers I’ve interacted with have given me positive feedback.
Dream Google office to visit?
Headquarters in Mountain View, California.
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
Being Googley means always thinking about what you can do to improve things. Be involved in what you like and what you do.
If you could give one piece of advice to potential student applicants, what would it be?
First of all, apply! Don’t be afraid and also apply as early as possible. Make sure to prepare for the interviews and don’t forget to be yourself!
Best gFit class?
It’s not a class but having a swimming pool in the office is awesome!
What were your biggest concerns when relocating for the position when it comes to accessibility?
The public transportation and housing accommodations in Dublin. You have to be comfortable in order to work well!
If a student with mobility restrictions were reluctant to consider a position at Google, what would you tell them?
That there's no need to worry - Googlers are very helpful. Also, Google’s buildings are the most accessible buildings I have ever been in ... seriously.
Want to learn more about internships at Google? Check out our
Student Careers Site
. Additionally, follow
Google Students
on Google+ and use the hashtag #googleinterns to keep up with Intern Insights this summer.
Posted by Maggie Hohlfeld, University Programs Team
Google Intern Insights 2014 - Meet Jocelyn Schulz
September 12, 2014
From Google Glass to Project Loon, Adwords to Docs, our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects. Interns also work across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to stroll through the blog to check out other interns who have been featured on the blog throughout the summer! Also, our technical internships for summer 2015 are now open! Apply
here
.
Tell us one fun, outlandish fact about you!
For a few years during my childhood, I would go to the pet store and buy feeder mice just so I could raise them and give them a life that didn’t involve becoming a snake's dinner.
What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
I interned at Google in Mountain View during the summer of 2012 and had a good experience. The next summer, I interviewed again for a Google internship. After having a bad experience during the interview that was out of my control, I decided to cut my losses and declined a second interview. I looked for other opportunities after it didn't work out with Google and ended up receiving a Turing Fellowship for the summer. It allowed me to intern for a startup in NYC and I had a fantastic time. If any advice were to come out of this, it would be to apply for internships as early as possible! Especially if you're applying for a smaller internship program. The earlier you apply, the more hosts are available for you to potentially match with, and the more buffer time is available should something go wrong along the way.
What has been your path to your current internship at Google?
I was briefly introduced to computer science in high school and thought artificial intelligence was really cool. I decided to become a CS major in college, and then applied for my first Google internship as a freshman on a whim. The summer after my sophomore year, I was awarded a Turing Fellowship and matched with an ed-tech startup in NYC called Knewton. I interned at Knewton for the summer and then stayed on as a part-time software engineer during the school year. I really liked working in the city and wanted to get a taste of a slightly different focus, which is where my current internship on the Cloud team at Google comes in.
What team are you working on at Google? Can you provide us with a high-level description of your summer project?
I’m working on the Google Cloud Platform, specifically within Developer Projects. My main project this summer was to integrate projects so that users can manage their Cloud Projects right from the command line.
Favorite Doogler?
The beautiful Harlow, even though she breaks my heart by living on the other side of the continent in SF.
What’s the best part about working with your manager? What about your team?
My manager, Dave, is really goofy and easy to talk to, and he always has great input. The rest of my team is on the west coast and Google makes it easy to work remotely, so I was lucky enough to spend a few weeks visiting them. They range from sassy to stoic, but each and every one is so kind, approachable, and beyond intelligent, which are invaluable qualities in a co-worker.
Best gFit class?
That’s really tough. I’ve tried the majority of the ones here in NYC, and I have to say the classes I will miss the most are Kerry Ann King’s wacky, yet brilliant themed boot camps, and Stephen Moore’s invigorating yoga.
We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other benefits. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
This internship has been my favorite so far because I'm genuinely happy to go to work everyday. There are two perks that contribute to this: 1) I love my team. I went through a few rounds of host-matching before I found one I thought I'd mesh with, and though it was a bit nerve-wrecking, it made all the difference in my desire to go work each day. 2) The fitness classes are way too good. It's great to be able to spend an hour a day just clearing my head and then conveniently go right back to work.
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
I was able to complete my project about a month early and release it to Google users to test. Getting positive feedback and questions about it from other Googlers I didn't even know was such a good feeling, since it affirmed that my work actually mattered and helped people. I'm excited for it to be publicly available.
Best intern event you’ve attended?
The NYC kick-off summer intern event was a boat cruise. But we were actually on a dock. There was a small boat tied off, but we weren't allowed on it!
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
To me it simply means being a good person and having a desire to make users' lives easier.
If you could give one piece of advice to potential student applicants, what would it be?
Practice your technical interview skills! If you know your stuff and can express that eloquently, you'll kill it.
Want to learn more about internships at Google? Check out our
Student Careers Site
. Additionally, follow
Google Students
on Google+ and use the hashtag #googleinterns to keep up with Intern Insights this summer.
Posted by Maggie Hohlfeld, University Programs Team
Google Intern Insights 2014 - Meet Alice Chang
September 10, 2014
From Google Glass to Project Loon, Adwords to Docs, our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects. Interns also work across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to stroll through the blog to check out other interns who have been featured on the blog throughout the summer! Also, our technical internships for summer 2015 are now open! Apply
here
.
Alice is a rising junior at the University of Chicago majoring in Computer Science and Economics. Her hometown is Rockville, MD!
Tell us one fun, outlandish fact about you!
In the fifth grade, I won a pie on Pi Day for reciting one hundred digits of Pi.
What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
The Summer Trainee Engineering Program (STEP) internship in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) was a great option for me, as it’s targeted at underclassmen seeking industry exposure to tech. Working in Zurich has been an invaluable learning experience - it’s shown me just how much international collaboration goes into so many of my favorite Google products. Not to mention, the “Zoogle” office itself is just plain crazy and fun.
For such a large, multinational corporation, I’ve found that Google does a surprisingly good job at retaining a startup-like culture. Googlers are constantly working on new and innovative projects (Google Fiber! Project Loon!), and they’re encouraged to pursue ideas that are different and wacky because you never know what might lead to something awesome. Moreover, I’m incredibly appreciative of the fact that Google is spearheading the diversity in tech movement through initiatives, such as
Made with Code
.
What team are you working on at Google? Can you provide us with a high-level description of your summer project?
I’m working with YouTube MDx (Multi-Device Experience) here at Google. We strive to make the YouTube viewing experience available across a variety of device platforms. For my project, I am making the multi-user experience on YouTube TV more engaging and social by delivering specific forms of visual feedback in response to user actions.
What’s the best part about working with your manager? What about your team?
My manager, Johnny, is super friendly and supportive. He had a fairly hands-on mentality toward this internship so I didn’t spend excessive amounts of time studying codelabs, but instead was able to pick up the skills I needed by jumping straight into my project. At the same time, he’s a treasure trove of knowledge and is always only a ping away. The level of autonomy and creative flexibility I’ve been given has been highly empowering. I constantly feel like my voice and vision are heard at design meetings and one-on-ones.
On Friday afternoons, right before TGIF, my team always has “video time.” Basically, this involves streaming funny cat videos and movie trailers on the big TV screen in the office. Granted, the unofficial Google motto is “Dogs are cool, cats are evil,” but something about being a YouTuber seems to make one partial to felines...
Outside of being a Google intern, what are some fun things you do outside the classroom/office throughout the year?
I’m really passionate about CS initiatives. At school, I’m currently working with a team to start a UChicago chapter of FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science), which is a Duke-founded program that encourages elementary school girls to engage in STEM. At UChicago, we’re launching FEMMES with the specific mission to target the CS gender gap. We’re currently gearing up for a student-led day-of-coding event for next spring, where we’ll introduce girls from local low-income schools to CS through hands-on activities and mentorship.
Additionally, I’m involved with an entrepreneurship and innovation group called EnvisionDo. Earlier this year, we brought in Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian to speak to the student body about Internet entrepreneurship. Aside from that, you can find me spiriting for our Maroons on the UC Cheer Team!
Best intern event you’ve attended?
The Intern Pub Quiz was great. It took place during the intern summit, when a ton of tech interns from all over EMEA came to Zurich to meet and mingle. We competed in a bunch of kooky categories - what’s that close-up, name that sound, etc. - for three hours! Everyone was yelling and laughing and jumping around by the end. And best of all, my team won! The prize? A swanky Google swag bag ... and eternal glory, of course.
We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other benefits. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
I love how laid-back the culture is. At the end of the day, we’re all here for the same reasons: to deliver a great product and make some real change. Like I said, there’s definitely a startup-y feel to Google, yet the systems are incredibly structured and precise, and they teach you a lot about working in a massive codebase. Furthermore, Googlers are really friendly and open to questions. I learn something new every day!
What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
Participating in ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) has been a huge source of enrichment. Ever since coming to Google, I’ve been fairly involved with GWE (Google Women Engineers). Last month, I was even given the opportunity to moderate a panel at the first-ever Zurich women’s summit! It was incredibly empowering to be in a room full of such ambitious, accomplished women. GWE at Zurich have a go-getter “If you can dream it, you can do it” attitude in terms of pitching and planning events, so currently, I’m working on implementing a female mentoring program for Nooglers. It’s crazy to see how much responsibility you’re allowed to take on as an intern. I love that we have the opportunity to make a real, tangible impact.
Best meal at Google so far?
The feta “salad” that started randomly appearing one day was pretty darn incredible. It was basically enormous blocks of feta cheese mixed in with the occasional olive.
Dream Google office to visit?
Krakow. I hear the bathrooms have hot tubs!
What does “being Googley” mean to you?
Being Googley means embracing the spirit of innovation. It means always questioning existing methods and ways of doing things in order to arrive at a brand-new, creative solution. It means keeping an open mind to new ideas and opinions, even when they differ from your own.
If you could give one piece of advice to potential student applicants, what would it be?
Just be yourself. Google celebrates differences, so take whatever makes you special and run with it. Don’t feel like you have to fit into a standardized template for tech. That being said, one concrete piece of advice is to prepare yourself mentally for the interviews. Coding on a whiteboard or over the phone requires a slightly different mentality, so give yourself the best chances possible by doing a few mock interviews in a realistic setting before the real deal.
Want to learn more about internships at Google? Check out our
Student Careers Site
. Additionally, follow
Google Students
on Google+ and use the hashtag #googleinterns to keep up with Intern Insights this summer.
Posted by Maggie Hohlfeld, University Programs Team
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