Top Google Interview Questions

Review this list of 867 Google interview questions and answers verified by hiring managers and candidates.
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +9

    "By increasing the number of paid users, I assume we mean that we want to increase the % of DAUs who pay for YT Music. First, we need to understand the Youtube Music play here. Youtube Music was carved out of Youtube because Spotify and Apple Music were getting popular. Users were listening to music on Spotify instead of on Youtube, threatening ad revenue for Youtube. Therefore, Youtube Music was born as a standalone app, where users could listen to the music ad free from anywhere anytime. In"

    Priyansh J. - "By increasing the number of paid users, I assume we mean that we want to increase the % of DAUs who pay for YT Music. First, we need to understand the Youtube Music play here. Youtube Music was carved out of Youtube because Spotify and Apple Music were getting popular. Users were listening to music on Spotify instead of on Youtube, threatening ad revenue for Youtube. Therefore, Youtube Music was born as a standalone app, where users could listen to the music ad free from anywhere anytime. In"See full answer

    Program Sense
    Product Strategy
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +12

    "Clarifying question: why would Google consider sunsetting Gmail? Is there an opportunity to make a case against sunsetting or has the executive decision already been made and we're truly looking for a flawless sunset? If decision has already been made - why? Is this a global decision or country-specific? If the answer from interviewer is that the decision is open to debate, pivot case toward identifying the problem that causes leadership to even consider sunset. Then analyze and propose ways to"

    Anonymous Sparrow - "Clarifying question: why would Google consider sunsetting Gmail? Is there an opportunity to make a case against sunsetting or has the executive decision already been made and we're truly looking for a flawless sunset? If decision has already been made - why? Is this a global decision or country-specific? If the answer from interviewer is that the decision is open to debate, pivot case toward identifying the problem that causes leadership to even consider sunset. Then analyze and propose ways to"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Strategy
  • +9

    "Designing a system to deny services to requests from banned IPs involves integrating real-time IP checking with your service architecture. Here’s a detailed outline of how you can design such a system: System Design Overview The goal is to ensure that your service can efficiently check incoming requests against a list of banned IPs and deny access when necessary. The system will leverage an external API, security.gov.x, to determine if an IP address is blocked or allowed. **Key Compone"

    Palak A. - "Designing a system to deny services to requests from banned IPs involves integrating real-time IP checking with your service architecture. Here’s a detailed outline of how you can design such a system: System Design Overview The goal is to ensure that your service can efficiently check incoming requests against a list of banned IPs and deny access when necessary. The system will leverage an external API, security.gov.x, to determine if an IP address is blocked or allowed. **Key Compone"See full answer

    Software Engineer
    System Design
    +2 more
  • +2

    "Before diving into answering this, I would like to ask some clarifying questions - High Level - What is the mission, goal, target for this year for WhatsApp? Assumption answer - 10X growth in users Do we have any road map where we can see it with more details? Yes we wish, it is kind of all over the place Do you know how far we have come from the start of the year to achieve that target? Yeah we have done some progress but not much Which quarter are we in? 1"

    Umang S. - "Before diving into answering this, I would like to ask some clarifying questions - High Level - What is the mission, goal, target for this year for WhatsApp? Assumption answer - 10X growth in users Do we have any road map where we can see it with more details? Yes we wish, it is kind of all over the place Do you know how far we have come from the start of the year to achieve that target? Yeah we have done some progress but not much Which quarter are we in? 1"See full answer

    Execution
    Product Strategy
  • +4

    "Form what I know I would state the following two points: Only 20% of google's $180B revenue comes from non-ad revenue sources. Google Cloud is a big part of Google's revenue diversification efforts. Google cloud at $13B is still under 10% of total revenue. Google cloud is at position 3 compared after Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure. Typically only top 2 platforms take majority of stake in a lot of businesses. Google Cloud's Goal: Become one of the top two Cloud platforms in the world by deep"

    Venkateswara reddy K. - "Form what I know I would state the following two points: Only 20% of google's $180B revenue comes from non-ad revenue sources. Google Cloud is a big part of Google's revenue diversification efforts. Google cloud at $13B is still under 10% of total revenue. Google cloud is at position 3 compared after Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure. Typically only top 2 platforms take majority of stake in a lot of businesses. Google Cloud's Goal: Become one of the top two Cloud platforms in the world by deep"See full answer

    Product Strategy
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  • +14

    "Clarifying questions: Open metrics - Number of times users open the google document on a given day 10% decline - is it a gradual decline or steep decline? (since when) Do we witness decline from a specific geography? Decline for consumers or enterprise customers? Decline from web or mobile app? Review logs or bug reports to check if there are customer issues reports Internal Determine if a particular release is causing the issue Review other metrics to check if fewer do"

    Sahil A. - "Clarifying questions: Open metrics - Number of times users open the google document on a given day 10% decline - is it a gradual decline or steep decline? (since when) Do we witness decline from a specific geography? Decline for consumers or enterprise customers? Decline from web or mobile app? Review logs or bug reports to check if there are customer issues reports Internal Determine if a particular release is causing the issue Review other metrics to check if fewer do"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Execution
    +1 more
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +1

    "Provided an example from my work history where I asked to move the Go-live date to prevent launch date failure."

    Namu - "Provided an example from my work history where I asked to move the Go-live date to prevent launch date failure."See full answer

    Product Manager
    Behavioral
    +2 more
  • +8

    "Since you have indicated that the drop has been from the past few days and it is the sales drop. Assumption 1: It is not a gradual decrease and something that has been seen in the last few days. My assumption is the e-commerce site is a google store site where google sells all the products. At a very High-level the decline in sales could be caused by customers buying less on the site, customer churn, or decline in new customers, higher cart abandonment rate, checkout process. I would struc"

    Dev S. - "Since you have indicated that the drop has been from the past few days and it is the sales drop. Assumption 1: It is not a gradual decrease and something that has been seen in the last few days. My assumption is the e-commerce site is a google store site where google sells all the products. At a very High-level the decline in sales could be caused by customers buying less on the site, customer churn, or decline in new customers, higher cart abandonment rate, checkout process. I would struc"See full answer

    Execution
    Analytical
    +1 more
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +14

    "Okay, so before we start discussing how to design this platform, I have a few questions I need details on. Clarification Questions: What do you mean by "Podcasting Platform"? Producing a platform and releasing it online takes several steps (Ideation, scripting, equipment selection, recording, editing, choosing a platform to release, etc.). Are we looking at any specific step here? - Free to Assume Am I PM at Google designing a Podcast Platform as a tool inside existing Google Pro"

    Pranay N. - "Okay, so before we start discussing how to design this platform, I have a few questions I need details on. Clarification Questions: What do you mean by "Podcasting Platform"? Producing a platform and releasing it online takes several steps (Ideation, scripting, equipment selection, recording, editing, choosing a platform to release, etc.). Are we looking at any specific step here? - Free to Assume Am I PM at Google designing a Podcast Platform as a tool inside existing Google Pro"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
    +1 more
  • +3

    "Clarify the question. Any specific system? Will study the related systems in the environment. Will define the goal, attributes of the system, stakeholders expectations, problems this system is going to address in case these things don't exist already. With the above two steps, I Will come up with a draft of the System KPI. Will run it with leadership, stakeholders and will incorporate feedback. In parallel, will come up with quantification on these performance factors. Fina"

    Anonymous Krill - "Clarify the question. Any specific system? Will study the related systems in the environment. Will define the goal, attributes of the system, stakeholders expectations, problems this system is going to address in case these things don't exist already. With the above two steps, I Will come up with a draft of the System KPI. Will run it with leadership, stakeholders and will incorporate feedback. In parallel, will come up with quantification on these performance factors. Fina"See full answer

    Program Sense
    Analytical
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    Video answer for 'Merge Intervals'
    +37

    "const mergeIntervals = (intervals) => { const compare = (a, b) => { if(a[0] b[0]) return 1 else if(a[0] === b[0]) { return a[1] - b[1] } } let current = [] const result = [] const sorted = intervals.sort(compare) for(let i = 0; i = b[0]) current[1] = b[1] els"

    Kofi N. - "const mergeIntervals = (intervals) => { const compare = (a, b) => { if(a[0] b[0]) return 1 else if(a[0] === b[0]) { return a[1] - b[1] } } let current = [] const result = [] const sorted = intervals.sort(compare) for(let i = 0; i = b[0]) current[1] = b[1] els"See full answer

    Software Engineer
    Data Structures & Algorithms
    +6 more
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    Video answer for 'Design a key-value store.'

    "Simple file system ( Hash Map , LSM trees), and consistent hashing. I failed to discuss about conflicts ( Versioning)"

    V V. - "Simple file system ( Hash Map , LSM trees), and consistent hashing. I failed to discuss about conflicts ( Versioning)"See full answer

    Software Engineer
    System Design
    +2 more
  • +22

    "How many shampoo bottles are sold in the US annually? Assumption: Shampoo for both male and female consumers Population of US (330Mn) Considering 50:50 Urban Rural breakdown Urban: 165Mn Rural: 165Mn Considering only 10% of Rural consumers will be using shampoo, which gives 16.5Mn people Urban: 165Mn Considering 50:50 Male Female breakdown Male: 82.5Mn Male consumers using shampoo: 60% = 49.5Mn Male consumers not using shampoo: 40% = 33Mn Female: 82.5Mn Female consumers using shampoo: 80%"

    Saurao D. - "How many shampoo bottles are sold in the US annually? Assumption: Shampoo for both male and female consumers Population of US (330Mn) Considering 50:50 Urban Rural breakdown Urban: 165Mn Rural: 165Mn Considering only 10% of Rural consumers will be using shampoo, which gives 16.5Mn people Urban: 165Mn Considering 50:50 Male Female breakdown Male: 82.5Mn Male consumers using shampoo: 60% = 49.5Mn Male consumers not using shampoo: 40% = 33Mn Female: 82.5Mn Female consumers using shampoo: 80%"See full answer

    Estimation
  • +10

    "Would be better to adjust resolution in the video player directly."

    Anonymous Prawn - "Would be better to adjust resolution in the video player directly."See full answer

    Software Engineer
    Data Structures & Algorithms
    +4 more
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +7

    "This question can be answered in two different ways: a. Strategic b. Product Sense Since , the question is which product you would work upon , it is likely a product strategy question , where interviewer is trying to find about how would you go about selecting the product to solve for. Another approach would be to clarify on the two approaches from the Interviewer. Can ask your hierarchy in PM role [ APM/PM/ Sr. PM / GPM ] and then approach this. Candidate : Do you have any specific goal"

    Vivek S. - "This question can be answered in two different ways: a. Strategic b. Product Sense Since , the question is which product you would work upon , it is likely a product strategy question , where interviewer is trying to find about how would you go about selecting the product to solve for. Another approach would be to clarify on the two approaches from the Interviewer. Can ask your hierarchy in PM role [ APM/PM/ Sr. PM / GPM ] and then approach this. Candidate : Do you have any specific goal"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Strategy
  • Google logoAsked at Google 

    "For a mature product, I would do the following - Review the list of backlog items Meet with stakeholders and business owners to verify the relevance (are they still valid? esp. for new feature request) Break down the backlog list by a. Product improvements b. New features c. Operational Resiliency Do a 70-30 split with New features+Product Imp =70%, Resiliency =30% Prioritize by impact/scale and effort (team's capacity) by quarter Revisit Quarterly For a new product - Start"

    Amishr - "For a mature product, I would do the following - Review the list of backlog items Meet with stakeholders and business owners to verify the relevance (are they still valid? esp. for new feature request) Break down the backlog list by a. Product improvements b. New features c. Operational Resiliency Do a 70-30 split with New features+Product Imp =70%, Resiliency =30% Prioritize by impact/scale and effort (team's capacity) by quarter Revisit Quarterly For a new product - Start"See full answer

    Behavioral
    Product Strategy
  • +3

    "Goal/Vission of company Understanding of Whatsapp -> Whatsapp platform for people where they can connect with people remotely, they can chat with them, they can do a video call, they can send pdf, location, contacts, etc. Basically, clarify your understanding of WhatsApp. Whatsapp Goal -> connecting the people remotely in a hassle-free manner Vission 3-4 years down the line -> More engagement and retention of the users. For this vision what is the user's intended action Define"

    Anonymous Muskox - "Goal/Vission of company Understanding of Whatsapp -> Whatsapp platform for people where they can connect with people remotely, they can chat with them, they can do a video call, they can send pdf, location, contacts, etc. Basically, clarify your understanding of WhatsApp. Whatsapp Goal -> connecting the people remotely in a hassle-free manner Vission 3-4 years down the line -> More engagement and retention of the users. For this vision what is the user's intended action Define"See full answer

    Analytical
  • +2

    "Referring to https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/03/23/15-strategies-for-balancing-competing-stakeholder-priorities/?sh=7c82aa68262f Understand the conflicting priorities and align it with the goal/ objectives and the company mission. Start with the Least Common Denominator between the conflicting priorities to come to a commonality and start from there to objectively approach the next imp priority Always keep communication on and be transparent with 'equality' an"

    Pramod V. - "Referring to https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/03/23/15-strategies-for-balancing-competing-stakeholder-priorities/?sh=7c82aa68262f Understand the conflicting priorities and align it with the goal/ objectives and the company mission. Start with the Least Common Denominator between the conflicting priorities to come to a commonality and start from there to objectively approach the next imp priority Always keep communication on and be transparent with 'equality' an"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Behavioral
    +4 more
  • +17

    "I am assuming current situation where public transport have restarted but uber pool is yet to start. Assuming it's Bay Area = I am considering internet penetration to be 100% . pop = 8 million (2M per age group) age group that would use uber (20-80 , under 18s can't ride) x age group that can afford uber ( low:mid:high income = 20:50:30 meaning 80% of each qualifying age group can afford uber) x people per household in need of transportation (3 people per household, 2 cars on average per househ"

    Ananya M. - "I am assuming current situation where public transport have restarted but uber pool is yet to start. Assuming it's Bay Area = I am considering internet penetration to be 100% . pop = 8 million (2M per age group) age group that would use uber (20-80 , under 18s can't ride) x age group that can afford uber ( low:mid:high income = 20:50:30 meaning 80% of each qualifying age group can afford uber) x people per household in need of transportation (3 people per household, 2 cars on average per househ"See full answer

    Estimation
  • Google logoAsked at Google 

    "performance issues and sudden spikes on input requests by scaling techniques and optimization."

    Srini K. - "performance issues and sudden spikes on input requests by scaling techniques and optimization."See full answer

    Product Manager
    Technical
    +5 more
Showing 101-120 of 867