Welcome to the eleventh 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 Olumuyiwa Adenaike. Read on!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Africa's largest city. Growing up, I was always intrigued by science and math, and this inspired me to move to the US right after high school to major in computer science at DePaul University in Chicago. Outside of work, I like to stay active as much as I can by playing soccer, basketball, and lifting weights. I also enjoy cooking new dishes from time to time.
What’s your role at Google?
I am a Software Engineer (SWE) on the Google Now quality team, which ensures that we are serving users with content they are interested in. A cool project that I am currently working on uses Machine Learning to predict what content to show the user depending on their interaction with the app.
What inspires you to come in every day?
I am inspired every day by the product I work on. Knowing that millions of people all over the world use and depend on what I help build makes me always eager to work and learn new things. I am also inspired by my team members who share my eagerness, as well as their deep technical knowledge and expertise. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from them every day.
Can you tell us about your decision to enter the process?
I was interested in Google because of the principles the company stands for, such as fairness and equity, freedom of speech and information, and charity. Also, I knew the best minds were at Google, and in order for me to move forward in my career, joining Google was the best choice.
How did the recruitment process go for you?
I was contacted by a Google recruiter during my senior year in college. I went through the process while I was studying for finals, so I was anxious the entire time. The hiring process was smooth, and although I had a lot of interviews, I was happy with the outcome at the end.
What do you wish you’d known when you started the process?
I wish I had spent more time on personal projects and also on larger collaborative projects throughout my college years. I feel that would have helped me learn to get my points and ideas across better in the interviews.
Can you tell us more about the resources you used to prep?
I spent a lot of time practicing algorithm-based questions for the technical interviews. I also did research about the position and met with other software engineers at Google to get advice on navigating the process. In addition, I had a practice interview with a Google engineer, which really helped me have a better idea of what to expect.
To finish, do you have any tips you’d like to share with aspiring Googlers?
Spend a good amount of time honing your skills and refining your craft. It is important that you believe in yourself and your abilities, as they will speak for you during the interview process and in your day-to-day work. Also, don't be discouraged if you don't make it; there are many people at Google who got hired after several tries.
Want to learn more about the Engineering Residency? Watch our video, or head over to g.co/EngResidency. Ready to apply to the residency? We're currently accepting applications at https://goo.gl/rhBmj1.