Google Internal Transfer (process, tips, prep)

Google highly encourages internal job transfers for career growth. However, depending on the type of transfer you’re aiming for, it can be a complex process. It’s vital for your career as a Googler that you make the optimal move and that you go about it the right way.

In this article, we’ll be talking about how internal transfers work at Google. We’ll also give you tips on how you can successfully handle internal transfers, questions you can ask yourself to know whether you’re making the right move, and how you can prepare.

We’ve written this guide in collaboration with Valentina, a career coach who spent 12 years at Google, moving internally and leading global initiatives across Business, Product, and UX Operations.

Here’s an overview of what we’ll cover:

• How internal transfers work at Google
• Questions to ask yourself before changing roles or teams
• How should you handle an internal transfer at Google?
• Internal transfer interviews at Google
• How to prepare

Right, let’s get started!

1. How internal transfers work at Google↑

An internal transfer at Google is typically a lateral move rather than a promotion, meaning you’re staying on the same level as your current role. 

Google prioritizes internal hires so it has a separate job board dedicated to internal job openings. That being said, if you’re an internal candidate, you may be a priority, but you’ll still be up against external candidates. So in case there’s a more qualified or suitable external candidate, there’s a chance you might not get the role.

How easy is it to transfer internally within Google? Ex-Google PMO leader Valentina says, “Internal transfers at Google follow a structured process, but the steps can vary depending on the role, team, and organization.” 

Generally, you’ll need to stay in your current role for at least a year and get your manager’s approval before you apply for an internal transfer. After that, the process differs based on the type of internal transfer applicable to what you want to do.

Below are the four different ways you can internally transfer within Google.

1.1 Ladder transfers within the tech org↑

Ladder transfers are career transitions within Google’s tech org, or switching from one tech role to another, like software engineer (SWE) to product manager (PM) or program manager (PgM) to technical program manager (TPM). 

This type of internal transfer focuses a lot on “ladder alignment,” which means proving you have the skills for the new role. Ladder alignment requires sharing artifacts, such as links to past work to show you’re already building experience in your target area. There may be a step down in level (though not always in compensation) as Google places great importance on technical skill alignment. You’ll also undergo a formal review by an internal committee, similar to what external candidates go through.

In her Medium article, Ex-Googler Heather described the ladder transfer process she went through going from data scientist to product manager. She had three interviews and put together a transition application packet with three to five support letters from people who attested to her PM competency. 

1.2 Project transfers in the tech org↑

Project transfers involve moving to a new team but staying in the same role, like transferring from a PgM role on Google Maps to a PgM role on Google Search. Valentina says they’re “a great option if you want to switch things up without a lot of red tape.” 

These transfers usually just require lighter interviews with the hiring manager and team members.

1.3 Role transfers in the sales/business org↑

Rather than focus on ladder changes like the tech org, Google's sales/business org tends to do role transfers instead. Valentina describes this role transfer process as more streamlined than a ladder transfer, but the conversations are more in-depth than those of a typical project transfer.  

For this type of transfer, the decisions are left to the hiring team, and formal review committees are not involved.

Tech-to-business transfers are easier compared to business-to-tech transfers where the ladder and skills alignment are stricter.

1.4 Growth transfers↑

Most internal transfers at Google are lateral moves or involve staying at the same level, but occasionally “growth transfers” or switching ladder levels, happen. 

According to Valentina, “Unlike many companies where internal postings align with specific levels, Google’s process focuses more on skill development and alignment, so growth transfer opportunities are the exception rather than the rule.”

She adds that this kind of transfer depends on an internal candidate’s ability to demonstrate readiness for a bigger scope and impact expected with senior leadership roles.

2. Questions to ask yourself before changing roles or teams↑

Now that you know more about how internal transfers work at Google, you need to make sure that it’s the right move for you. 

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before planning your internal transfer. We’ve based this on Meta’s blog on the topic, but we think it’s a good checklist for self-reflection regardless of your company.

2.1 What are you looking for in your next role?

While an internal transfer is not as drastic as resigning, it’s still a major decision so you don’t want to take it lightly. Reflect on what is lacking in your current role that has made you want to leave. 

Additionally, Ex-Google PMO leader and career coach Valentina advises, “Be clear about your why. Know why you want the transfer and how it fits into your long-term career goals.”

Is there a particular problem that you can’t solve in your current role or team but which you can in the new role or team? Have you heard about a new project that you want to take an active part in? 

You have to know what’s exactly driving your decision to switch roles or teams so that you don’t just jump into a new one blindly. 

2.2 Which role or team will give you room to grow while leveraging your strengths?

As you look through job opportunities within Google, be on the lookout for opportunities where you can learn new skills and use your current skillset or strengths. 

For example, in this Life at Google blog, Allison described how she made the switch from a product operations manager at gTech to a YouTube Ads product manager. She already had experience working with PMs at YouTube Ads, so she could leverage that knowledge. She also had a background in consulting and systems engineering and had an MBA, which helped her in her new role. The switch to PM allowed her to learn more about product solutions and strategy.

2.3 Would you be excited to learn the skills your new role requires?

Now, apart from finding opportunities where you can learn new skills, a more important question is, would you enjoy learning in this new role?

A good way to find out is to get involved in any capacity before making the full-time transition. For example, ex-Googler Heather shared how she worked out an arrangement with her manager where she was working 50% of her time in her current role as a data scientist and 50% of her time as a PM. 

Google used to have the 20% time policy, which encouraged employees to work on passion projects 20% of their time at work. Now most employees jokingly refer to it as 120% time and say that it no longer exists as it was originally intended. However, if you’re keen to make a ladder transfer, we think it’s worth doing in your own time so that you’ll have some artifacts to share during your internal application.

2.4 What skills or strengths have people noticed in you?

If you’re still not quite sure what roles or teams are a good fit for you, talk with your manager or colleagues. Set up coffee chats with them and be open about your plans. They might be able to point you in the right direction, tell you about your own strengths you may not be aware of, or even connect you with Googlers in other teams who’ve made the same transition you’re looking into.

3. How should you handle an internal transfer at Google?↑

After reflecting on and deciding that an internal transfer is the right move for you, it’s time to finally take the leap. But what’s the best way to handle it? We have a few tips:

3.1 Maintain a good performance rating in your current role

The hiring manager of the team you want to transfer to will want to get a sense of how you are as a team player. Of course, they’ll get an idea from your interview, but you can bet they’ll be asking your current manager as well. 

So even if you’ve outgrown your current role or it’s not a good fit for you, you still have to strive hard to leave a good lasting impression.

3.2 Get approval from your manager

You can prepare for your internal transfer quietly without first telling your manager if you haven’t made any concrete moves yet. But if you’re about to apply for an internal transfer, you’ll need to get approval from your manager first. 

A good manager should help you with your overall career growth, even if it means losing one for the team (at least temporarily). You should work through the transition with them so that if your internal transfer pushes through, no one will be left in the lurch.

3.3 Leverage your network

Working at Google, you’ve surely had the opportunity to collaborate with many different teams. Leverage your connection with them. Most of the time people are more than willing to help you with your career goals.

You can also book a session with one of the Google career coaches on our platform. Getting the perspective of a person who worked at Google in the role you want to switch to could be valuable as you navigate this career move.

3.4 Find teams you’re interested in

Don’t just apply to a new team just because it’s different. Do your research and find the teams working in spaces you’re interested in, whether it’s in AI and machine learning, data security, cloud computing, etc. Valentina advises, “Take the time to network with hiring managers and teams you’re interested in. Informational interviews go a long way.”

3.5 Upskill or work on projects related to your coveted role

We’ve mentioned the 20% time policy for working on passion projects related to your role. You should also upskill further by reading up and staying updated on the latest tech related to the role or team you want to transfer to. You can also get certifications or audit courses.

This is important, especially for ladder transfers within the tech org, where you’re required to have artifacts that highlight your experience and alignment with the new role.

3.6 Apply through the internal job board

Don’t just reuse the resume that got you into Google. Be sure to tailor-fit your resume to the internal job post requirement, and highlight the skillset that you can bring to the role.

As an add-on: write a cover letter expressing your passion for the role. Here’s a good example of a cover letter that worked for an internal transfer at Google. Be sure to convey what excites you about the new role, and what you’ll be bringing to the table.

3.7 Treat it like an external move

Valentina advises internal transfer candidates to treat the entire process as if they’re external candidates. "Even though it’s an internal transfer, interview prep is key, especially if you’re switching ladders or orgs."

4. Internal transfer interviews at Google↑

The types of interviews you may encounter will differ depending on the kind of internal transfer you’re planning, as we’ve mentioned above. 

If you’re transferring to a different role or ladder altogether, you can get started by reviewing one of our interview prep guides for the top roles at Google. Find the one that's relevant to the role you're transferring to below:

• Google software engineer
• Google product manager
• Google data engineer
• Google data scientist
• Google machine learning engineer
• Google site reliability engineer
• Google technical program manager
• Google technical account manager
• Google program manager
• Google product marketing manager

If you’re staying in the same role but switching teams or projects, here are a few example questions you might get during your informal interview with the hiring team:

You can practice answering these questions using a method we recommend in our Google behavioral interview guide.

5. How to prepare↑

Now that you know all about internal transfers at Google and you’ve decided it’s the perfect career move for you, here are a few ways you can prepare to make your transition successful:

5.1 Find out the requirements for your internal transfer

“Start by figuring out whether you’re looking at a ladder transfer, project transfer, role transfer, or org transfer, since each path has different requirements,” Valentina advises. We’ve described a bit of the process for each type of transfer, but it’s best to directly check in with the internal hiring group for the exact process. 

5.2 Update your resume

Match the job description of the role you’re applying for, and highlight the skills from your current role that will help you perform. If you’ve been working on projects related to the role you’re switching to, make sure to feature them in your updated resume. To really polish it up, you may also want it professionally reviewed by our resume review coaches.

5.3 Brush up on your interviewing skills

If you’ve successfully landed a role at Google before, you’ve surely got the interviewing chops. But they may have gotten rusty especially if you haven’t interviewed in a while. 

Whether you’re interviewing for a ladder transfer or a simple project switch, you’ll still want to brush up on your interviewing skills. Get started with our Google interview guides and then move on to mock interviews to practice what you’ve learned.

Try to schedule mock interviews with other Googlers you know. But if their schedules don’t match with yours, you can consider doing mock interviews with ex-Googlers on our platform.

5.4 Find a career coach or mentor

Internal transfers, whether it’s transferring to another project team or fully transitioning from one role to another, are a big deal. You want to make sure that you’re making the right decision, and once you’ve made the decision, that you can build a solid plan of attack.

That’s where a career coach comes in. With a career coach by your side, you can confidently move forward in your career. They can give you actionable advice on how to best handle your internal transfer at Google and what skills you need to highlight and learn to make yourself a strong internal candidate. 

Even if you haven’t yet decided on your next steps, a career coach can help clarify your path for you, opening you up to opportunities at Google you may not have considered.

Check out our career coaching services and browse our platform’s roster of coaches with experience at Google. Search by industry or role to get the right match for you. You can see the coaches' hourly availability and book your online session in a couple of clicks.