Samantha got an offer as a Product manager II at Google

Name Samantha S

New Position Product manager II L5 at Google

Location Los Angeles, California (USA)

Date of Offer October 2020

Coaching Sessions 4

What most excites you about your new job?

That I'll be building a new product at Google in a high-priority area of the business.

Where were you previously?

I was Senior Product Manager at Tinder. After four years there I felt it was time for a change, but I wanted to stay at a large company to keep working on big scale problems.

What was your preparation strategy?

I created a study guide for myself based on sweeping the internet for best practices, frameworks, interview guides, etc. I watched all of the mock interviews I could find on YouTube, and finally worked with (coach) Bryant to practice and assess the areas I needed to spend more time focusing on.

What was the hardest part of the interview process?

Preparing for the technical interview. I don't have an engineering background, so I spent a lot of time brushing up on data structures, algorithms, and system design.

What advice would you give to other candidates?

Create a structured learning plan and schedule. Focus on one area at a time to become comfortable. Watch all of the mock interviews you can and do your own assessment of what makes a good vs. great answer. Improve your weak areas enough to get by, but double down on making your strong areas really stand out. And finally, practice with an experienced coach who can give you great feedback!