Securing a job, as the saying goes, often depends on not just what you know, but who you know. Software engineer Goutam Nair shared with Business Insider how both a strong resume and effective networking were essential in landing his role at Google.
Nair revealed the resume he submitted and the LinkedIn cold outreach template he used to connect with recruiters and software engineers at Google. Here are some key takeaways from his process:
1. Emphasise Relevant Projects and Publications
If you don’t have much professional experience, highlighting contributions to open-source projects on platforms like GitHub can make a significant impact. Nair advises focusing on engineering projects and explaining them concisely to show potential employers your applicable skills.
2. Showcase Results and Impact
Nair learned the importance of quantifying the results of his work. Rather than simply listing responsibilities, he suggests illustrating how your efforts made a difference. For example, instead of saying “Worked on building a recommendation model,” he recommends saying, “Developed a recommendation model that increased user engagement by 5%.”
3. Keep it Concise
Nair advises keeping your resume to one page, focusing on relevant skills and experiences tailored to the specific role. Use action verbs like “developed,” “built,” and “designed” to create a dynamic and results-focused resume.
4. Be Selective with Skills
While it’s important to list skills, Nair warns against overloading your resume with skills you’re not proficient in. Listing unfamiliar skills could hurt your chances in technical interviews, where you’ll be expected to demonstrate expertise.
5. Networking: Cold Outreach Works
Although Nair was eventually contacted by a recruiter for his Google role, he had laid the groundwork by sending cold outreach messages to hiring managers, recruiters, and engineers at target companies. His message was simple and direct:
“Hi <name>,
I’m a <role> working on <brief description of your work>. I’m interested in <target role> at <company> and would love to connect to learn more about opportunities.
I have also attached my resume here. Let me know if we can chat!
Thanks,
<your name>”
Nair believes the key to successful networking is persistence—sending many cold emails increases your chances of getting a response.
6. Interview Preparation
For his Google interview, Nair faced multiple rounds of technical coding and problem-solving interviews. He prepared by reviewing online forums for advice, practising technical skills, doing mock interviews with friends, and learning from other interviews at different companies. Unlike some other tech firms, Nair found that Google focused more on problem-solving from first principles rather than expecting a perfect solution.
