Cover Letter for Google Application

LFC Murphy

Hi there,

Seen a job advertised by Google and am interested in applying. The process is online and they stste that the Cover Letter is optional.

I've "googled" cover letters and found the people use querky cover letters when applying.

My question: As these examples were US based, is the same true of the Irish outfit or are they more traditional over here

Thanks

Mr. Loverman

If I were you I would just use your cover letter to really sell yourself. Why? It's safer.

If I received a CV with a quirky cover letter I would think the person is possibly a risk. And HR people tend to be way more conservative than me.

LFC Murphy

LFC Murphy wrote: »

Hi there,

Seen a job advertised by Google and am interested in applying. The process is online and they stste that the Cover Letter is optional.

I've "googled" cover letters and found the people use querky cover letters when applying.

My question: As these examples were US based, is the same true of the Irish outfit or are they more traditional over here

Thanks

Don't bother applying directly, it will invariably go nowhere, connect with someone you know on LinkedIn who works there and deal with them directly...

I don't want to be a condescending prick here but "seen" and "querky" = incorrect tense for the former and incorrect spelling for the latter

ABajaninCork

Actually, I agree. Use the spell-checker, and get someone to read over it before you send.

LFC Murphy

Ok ok..... spell checker isn't on my phone... And yes I also agree so no rolling eyes here.

Anyway I have no contacts within Google. Would an agency be a better route?

Thanks for the help and comments

MadsL

Good luck, but prepare yourself for a colossal waste of your time.

A friend of mine (highly qualified HR, director capability really) had to endure some twat picking his toenails during her ninth interview, and was told 30-40 interviews are not uncommon.

google seem to feel they can waste everyone's time massively in search of their 'cultural fit'.

Ask yourself if you really, really want to work there.

ABajaninCork

Do you have a profile on LinkedIn? That's what TheEntrenpreneur was talking about. If you don't then you need to build one ASAP. Then when choosing companies to follow, choose Google, Microsoft, IBM, whatever takes your fancy. Try to connect with HR people within those companies.

You can try through an agency, but most of the multi-nationals recruit directly and do not use them. In fact, some of them bin agency applications straight away and don't bother to read them...

MadsL

MadsL wrote: »

Good luck, but prepare yourself for a colossal waste of your time.

A friend of mine (highly qualified HR, director capability really) had to endure some twat picking his toenails during her ninth interview, and was told 30-40 interviews are not uncommon.

google seem to feel they can waste everyone's time massively in search of their 'cultural fit'.

Ask yourself if you really, really want to work there.

Complete and utter tosh.

To the OP, what I'd recommend is searching on LinkedIn for someone who works there and asking them what the story is with hiring. They're in the know. Just don't bother applying directly.

And I'd contact people who are doing the job you want and ask them...

The likes of Google use agencies at times for temp roles and not for permanent roles. Having said that, a temp role can sometimes get your foot in the door. A friend of mine got in that route.

LFC Murphy

Thanks folks.

I do have a profile on linkedin and actually the job was mailed to me via my saved criteria. Just never contacted people before for this, just seems cheeky to bug someone, or am I missing the true purpose of the service??

LFC Murphy

LFC Murphy wrote: »

Thanks folks.

I do have a profile on linkedin and actually the job was mailed to me via my saved criteria. Just never contacted people before for this, just seems cheeky to bug someone, or am I missing the true purpose of the service??

If you don't ask you won't get!

People get a nice hefty referral bonus so don't feel bad about bugging them...if you're the right profile, they'll send you through otherwise they won't.

LFC Murphy

Deleted User wrote: »

If you don't ask you won't get!

People get a nice hefty referral bonus so don't feel bad about bugging them...if you're the right profile, they'll send you through otherwise they won't.

Thanks for the advice

April O Neill

MadsL wrote: »

Good luck, but prepare yourself for a colossal waste of your time.

A friend of mine (highly qualified HR, director capability really) had to endure some twat picking his toenails during her ninth interview, and was told 30-40 interviews are not uncommon.

google seem to feel they can waste everyone's time massively in search of their 'cultural fit'.

Ask yourself if you really, really want to work there.

I have to wonder how people ever get hired by them. And what do the hirees have that makes them so great? It's just a girl I knew in college works there, and to be frank, she's a right eejit.

I doubt I'll ever apply there, the hoop-jumping process is ridiculous.

April O Neill

April O Neill wrote: »

I have to wonder how people ever get hired by them. And what do the hirees have that makes them so great? It's just a girl I knew in college works there, and to be frank, she's a right eejit.

I doubt I'll ever apply there, the hoop-jumping process is ridiculous.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/2013/snapshots/1.html

I think they've a right to be picky tbh...

April O Neill

Deleted User wrote: »

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/2013/snapshots/1.html

I think they've a right to be picky tbh...

That's common knowledge, old news.

My point is, based on some people I know who work there, they aren't all that picky!

April O Neill

April O Neill wrote: »

That's common knowledge, old news.

My point is, based on some people I know who work there, they aren't all that picky!

Old news for sure as they've won it years in a row now but the point is that's why they're as picky as they are.

Anyway, you get gob****es everywhere. Google is no different, they're invariably intelligent gob****es but you get far less of them in the place. If they were all gob****es, the company wouldn't be where it is year after year.

Moonbeam

if you know anybody their apply through them.

MadsL

Deleted User wrote: »

Complete and utter tosh.

Have you or anyone you know ever interviewed or worked with Google?

The friend I mentioned AND my wife have.

The interview process is well documented. http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/students/joining/

http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1112880314/google-rethinks-hiring-process-062113/

http://www.google.com/about/jobs/lifeatgoogle/hiringprocess/

Google have trimmed the hiring process in recent years. But still may involve a minimum of 5-6 interviews.

MadsL

MadsL wrote: »

Have you or anyone you know ever interviewed or worked with Google?

The friend I mentioned AND my wife have.

The interview process is well documented. http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/students/joining/

http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1112880314/google-rethinks-hiring-process-062113/

http://www.google.com/about/jobs/lifeatgoogle/hiringprocess/

Google have trimmed the hiring process in recent years. But still may involve a minimum of 5-6 interviews.

I know too many people working for Google

Good luck, but prepare yourself for a colossal waste of your time.

It's not a colossal waste of time, I mean what a stupid thing to say. How is getting a job in the best company in the world a colossal waste of time? Do you expect it to just be handed to you?

A friend of mine (highly qualified HR, director capability really) had to endure some twat picking his toenails during her ninth interview, and was told 30-40 interviews are not uncommon.

30 - 40 interviews? As I said, complete tosh man!

google seem to feel they can waste everyone's time massively in search of their 'cultural fit'.

It's not a waste of time. They have a difficult hiring process and rightly so, when they're the best at what they do, they can hire whoever they like.

cloudatlas

When sending in a speculative C.V. for a general position is it enough to briefly summarise your experience in a a paragraph in the email and attach your C.V. or should you also attach a cover letter. I was looking at a job the other day that asked for a resume be sent for general applications.

MadsL

Deleted User wrote: »

I know too many people working for Google

How many interviews did it take them, and at what level are they working?
Too many? How many should you know?

It's not a colossal waste of time, I mean what a stupid thing to say. How is getting a job in the best company in the world a colossal waste of time? Do you expect it to just be handed to you?

Best company in the world??? Lol. Where are you getting that from?
I expect some respect on both sides of the hiring process, my friend gave respect, but received none.

30 - 40 interviews? As I said, complete tosh man!

Google have trimmed hiring practices recently, but it is still a lengthy process.

It's not a waste of time. They have a difficult hiring process and rightly so, when they're the best at what they do, they can hire whoever they like.

Any company can hire whoever they like in this economy pretty much.

I'm setting expectations, I've heard so many people excited and delighted to get an interview with google when the reality is that getting an interview is barely one step forward from seeing the job advertised.

MadsL

MadsL wrote: »

How many interviews did it take them, and at what level are they working?
Too many? How many should you know?

Majority of people in Dublin have gone through 5 - 10 interviews.

Best company in the world??? Lol. Where are you getting that from?
I expect some respect on both sides of the hiring process, my friend gave respect, but received none.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/

I expect respect on both sides too and what happened to your friend seems unfortunate.

Google have trimmed hiring practices recently, but it is still a lengthy process.

Rightly so.

Any company can hire whoever they like in this economy pretty much.

Yeah not arguing with that.

I'm setting expectations, I've heard so many people excited and delighted to get an interview with google when the reality is that getting an interview is barely one step forward from seeing the job advertised.

Yes it's the very first step but more often than not, if they're the right fit, they'll get the job. The standards are high, that's no secret. I've met some strange people who work for Google but I've met far more in any other company I've had dealings with...as i said before, you still get gob****es, but far far less of them and they're invariably intelligent (which doesn't make a difference if they're still a prick!) but it means they can do the job they were hired for.

Same As

OP what role are you interested in and I can shed some light for you perhaps?

LFC Murphy

Same As wrote: »

OP what role are you interested in and I can shed some light for you perhaps?

Hi and thanks. I've sent you a PM.

LFC Murphy

Well I made contact with a HR person via LinkenIn and sent by CV and letter. She replied thanking me for making contact and that she has forwarded it to the person dealing with the role.

Will keep you updated.