Welcome to the tenth installment of our blog series “My Path to Google.” These are real stories from Googlers, interns, and alumni highlighting how they got to Google, what their roles are like, and even some tips on how to prepare for interviews.
Today’s post is all about Aurelie Chazal. Read on!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I grew up in Clermont-Ferrand in France and had a bit of an unusual academic path. I first did a Bachelor’s in Applied Foreign Languages with English & Mandarin and then went on to do a Master’s in New Media Communication. I always joked I was a Googler before joining Google, because I was good at finding things online but I never actually had any contact with Google before I was hired two years ago.
What’s your role at Google?
I’m part of the gTech organization within Google, and I support our biggest app advertisers when they have technical issues or complex questions around AdWords. I had almost no experience with AdWords when I started, and I love the fact that I got the chance to become a real expert in my product area within two years on the team.
In addition to my day-to-day support role, I’m also very involved with diversity and inclusion, and I currently lead a project meant to empower small, LGBT-owned businesses by teaching them the basics of online marketing.
What inspires you to come in every day?
The people on my team are, without a doubt, my biggest source of inspiration and motivation. I had heard that working at Google meant being surrounded by smart, open-minded people, but I never actually thought it would play that big of a role in my wellbeing at work. This is the first job where I can fully be myself and have so much fun while doing my job!
Can you tell us about your decision to enter the process?
When I applied for a job at Google, I was working for a small Polish startup. I was the only non-Polish person and the only girl on a team of around 10 people. I had always been interested in joining Google, but what really pushed me to apply is that I knew I needed to move to a more diverse working environment if I wanted to be happier at work. I didn’t think I’d actually have a chance to be hired at Google, but I saw an opening and decided to go for it.
How did the recruitment process go for you?
I found out there was a job opening in the city I live in through an expat Facebook group. I wrote to the girl who posted about the opening with my CV, and she sent my CV to the Google recruiters. I got an email back a few days later, asking to set up an initial phone interview. The process was really smooth after that. I did one more phone interview and three on-site interviews at the end. While some questions were tough, I don’t remember receiving any “trick” questions. The entire process was really enjoyable, and the conversations I had during the interviews were an amazing sneak peek into what it’s like to work on the team.
What do you wish you’d known when you started the process?
I wish I had known a little more about what the day-to-day job looked like. My one recommendation to anyone who starts an interview process with Google would be to try and get in touch with Googlers working for the team you’re looking to join and ask them what a typical day looks like for them. It’s the best way to get the right expectations about the job and prepare for the interviews.
Can you tell us more about the resources you used to prep?
I went through recent articles from the Inside AdWords blog and tried to remember 2-3 upcoming changes that were announced, along with the potential challenges and opportunities that would come with them. This was specific to my experience, as my job was going to be with AdWords, but my goal was to find topics to discuss that would be relevant to me and the job I was applying for in case I got any questions about Google.
To finish, do you have any tips you’d like to share with aspiring Googlers?
Research the position you are applying for and prepare! Your academic background, your grades, your previous work experience, etc. won’t matter as much as you showing motivation and interest in the company and the position you are applying for.
Don’t be the one putting yourself down. You really have nothing to lose by trying, so apply, do your research, and don’t give up if you get one or two rejections. Sometimes, timing isn’t in your favor, or the team you applied for wasn’t the best fit for you. It doesn’t mean you are not a fit for Google as a whole!