Google, Inc.

STEP Intern

June - September 2021 • Pittsburgh, PA

What I liked

Lots of freedom, many things to learn, and high impact! Google has a great work-life balance and lots of support for employees even at home. It’s a very supportive work environment as well.

What I wish was different

I wish it were longer! Additionally, there were a few access issues, since it was the first year allowing interns remote access to the Google code base.

Advice

Make sure to learn as much as you can and meet as many people as possible!

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Finance

June - August 2021 • Mountain View, CA

What I liked

Innovative company, smart people, lot's of bonding events, fairly easy work load

What I wish was different

My manager had more time to communicate with me and kept me in the loop that I wasn't on track with expectations

Advice

Check in with your manager and take mid point evaluation seriously. I had all good reviews besides taking initiative enough and working through ambiguity. This led to me not getting the return offer.

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Software Engineering Intern

May - August 2021 • Mountain View, CA

What I liked

The hands-on experience.

What I wish was different

The internship was remote, I wish it would have been in-person / hybrid.

Advice

Believe in yourself! I thought I wasn't good enough to be an intern at Google, but I applied anyway. And it all worked out in the end.

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Software Engineering Intern

June - September 2021 • San Bruno, CA

What I liked

I really liked the team I was on. Everyone was open to helping me and were incredibly nice. The WLB was good as well.

What I wish was different

I wish that the internship could have been in-person.

Advice

Take advantage of the time you have there. Set up coffee chats with anyone and everyone. Attend any talks that interest you.

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APMM Intern

June - September 2021 • San Francisco, CA

What I liked

I had an amazing team, the company had a supportive culture, and I was compensated well.

What I wish was different

I wish the internship were hybrid rather than entirely remote.

Advice

You get out of your experience what you put into it, so go into it know what you want and ensure you get it. Additionally, speak with as many people as you can inside and outside of your department.

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Information Technology Intern

June - August 2021 • Ashburn, VA

What I liked

Great management, culture, and WLB

What I wish was different

Remote work felt a little isolating

Advice

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Software Engineering Intern

May - August 2021 • San Antonio, TX

What I liked

Daily mentorship from professionals in the industry

What I wish was different

Participating in more workshops and courses outside work hours.

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if you feel less experienced or capable - mentors expect you to learn and grow!

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STEP Intern

May - August 2021 • New York City, NY

What I liked

This was my first software engineering internship and it really opened my eyes to what I will most likely be doing after graduation! I really loved the mentorship and support that was a part of the program and am so happy I had the opportunity to do it!

What I wish was different

I wish it was in-person, but do to the pandemic, it was all virtual. Even though it was online, they did a good job at making it interactive and fulfilling.

Advice

Don't get so bogged down with doing your work 24/7. Make time to explore all of the network, social, and fun events that they have to offer!

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Software Engineering Intern

June - August 2021 • Mountain View, CA

What I liked

A very organized, well-supported experience! I learned a lot and got to make real contributions that I felt were important for the team I worked for. I also got a lot of ownership over my project, including designing it from the ground up.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Engineering Practicum Intern

June - September 2017 • Seattle, WA

What I liked

company and team culture

What I wish was different

Project was a lot of busy work

Advice

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STEP Intern

May - August 2020 • Austin, TX

What I liked

The team I interned with were open and very friendly. It didn't matter that I was an intern, they treated me like a peer. The team felt like my second family. I also loved the various networking events that were held online. I had the opportunity to learn about people's previous experiences at other companies. Resume building, technical interview practices and career guidance were also some of the great resources the company provided to help its interns in the job application process especially for college graduates that were applying to other places as well. I had a wonderful time at Google, the company did so much but I can only mention a few.

What I wish was different

An in-person internship would have been invaluable. I learned a lot just chatting with engineers online but I heard the hallway experience is much better (after all, it was designed to give engineers from different teams the opportunity to meet and interact). Next summer is going to be virtual as well with no chance of an in-person interview. I wish this wasn't so but with the ongoing pandemic, I can only sigh and hope to work from an office someday.

Advice

When in doubt, ask questions. All the engineers pointed out how pleased they were with me when I asked them questions about my project (technical and non-technical), their work, what the team does on a normal day, and even about their college experience. Googlers are eager to share their knowledge with you so give them the opportunity to but before you ask any question related to your project, you must show them the effort you put in.

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Engineering Practicum Intern

May - August 2018 • San Francisco, CA

What I liked

I loved being able to have first-hand experience in the corporate workforce. It gave me the chance to focus my learning on important aspects that my school's curriculum did not cover.

What I wish was different

I wish I had taken advantage of the new city that I was living in. There is so much to do and so much to see if you make yourself available to it.

Advice

Do not stress! Internships are a learning experience. As long as you can measure your personal growth, you have done well.

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Program Participant

July 2020 • San Francisco, CA

What I liked

I enjoyed learning new concepts and ways to visualize the universe.

What I wish was different

Something that should have been different was the quantity of game nights offered.

Advice

In the second week, start earlier on assignments than the first week, as they begin to become difficult.

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Backend Software Engineer

May - August 2020 • Sunnyvale, CA

What I liked

What I wish was different

I wish it was in-person.

Advice

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Software Engineering Intern

June - September 2020 • Pittsburgh, PA

What I liked

I got to work with two other interns, and had a lot of agency on my project. Everyone I interacted with was also nothing but supportive.

What I wish was different

Being online was tough (it was a remote internship), especially with team members in different time zones.

Advice

If you're interning at Google, try reaching out and chatting with random teams that sound interesting to you - you can learn a lot from others at the company!

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Software Engineering Intern

May - August 2020 • Sunnyvale, CA

What I liked

Team and culture was great, encouraged work-life balance

What I wish was different

Wish it was in person

Advice

Try to separate work from the rest of your life in a remote setup

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HR Intern

June - August 2020 • Mountain View, CA

What I liked

I felt very supported by my teammates and supervisors

What I wish was different

Advice

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Engineering Practicum Intern

May - August 2019 • Mountain View, CA

What I liked

Great benefits and nice people.

What I wish was different

Wish housing was provided by Google and the project was slightly more interesting.

Advice

Look for a project that you think is interesting and try to tell your recruiter your interests.

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STEP Intern

May - August 2020 • Boulder, CO

What I liked

I loved the support, given every STEP intern has 2 hosts, 2 other interns in your team, and a mentor.

What I wish was different

This was the first year remote, so there were a lot of differences from the original format, but it's all about being flexible.

Advice

You'll be working with some of the most talented and experienced people out there. Reach out to people, don't be afraid to schedule meetings just to get to know someone. Especially as a woman of color, it was important to me that I sought out other black, female employees to learn about their experiences in the workplace, and really understand the culture of the company.

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Quantitative Finance Intern

May - July 2020 • Beaumont, TX

What I liked

I loved having autonomy over my projects and their progress!

What I wish was different

I wish it hadn't been virtual.

Advice

Don't be afraid to reach out to people, on your team or otherwise! Make sure when you do schedule time with others, to be clear about your agenda and what you'e hoping to gain from the meeting.

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