google interview - google india - google process, hiring committee and offer stages

Hello All, Wanted to share my experience of recently going through the extremely manipulative and cumbersome Google interview process - For the role of Technical Program Manager role, Google Cloud Team... Please beware - for all those applying in future.... > Google sourcing recruiter reached out - via LinkedIn - had a smooth process - introductory call - approved-moved to phone screen round>approved>moved to 1st telephonic interview with senior team member>approved>assigned dedicated recruiter>recruiter arranged 3 more onsite rounds---- this process took 2 weeks >At the next step - recruiter kept suspense, and kept me hanging - but finally gave superficial update that the feedbacks are positive and I'm moving to hiring committee stage! > This process post onsite took 2 more week - so overall, I had already spend more than a month of time effort and follow ups on the process.... > After this STRAIGHT 3 WEEKS OF NO UPDATES - DESPITE BEING TOLD - YOUR PROFILE IS ALREADY SELECTED BY HIRING MANAGER, THIS ROLE IS HIGH PRIORITY, AND WE HAVE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR FOR YOUR APPLICATION AS WELL...... On follow ups.....during the 3rd week.... I have been told the process is dreadfully slow right now since google is slowing down due to covid - so since its been 3 weeks, in next week or so, I might hear back the HC answer, but the final outcome and offer if made, might be weeks and weeks, no guarantee when the process might finish! Recruiter says lot of offers are due in last 4-5 weeks for even the candidates who have cleared HC.. and overall process is too cumbersome for even recruiters in current situation! So now it had reached a stage after nearly 5 weeks of cumbersome follow ups and going through their every whim - that I would have been happy with just an honest and transparent response! > Viola---- desperate follow ups - results.... Infact they are now saying that even if HC approves you - we might just keep you on hold and come back with actual offer in few months if the SVPs dont give approval for this role - although it has been established as a priority 0 - high priority role and they will not cancel the position its very much a needed headcount! Its so contradictory in itself, I was not sure I might actually even wait for their final reaching out! >Now... it was at a stage where I was told they would have my packet with HC last week itself...Last week here means week 3 of no response... not present tense... I have a feeling they are not disclosing correct reason, and holding off sending my packet to interview other candidates and have more options before HC.... Unfortunate, but I feel the recruiter said there was good chance of mine being approved and they might be wanting more options instead of offering me straightaway..... > I was absolutely correct I guess! They kept holding off sending my packet to HC - and kept on increasing candidate count ------ and actually when it was sent to HC..... following happened!!! Soooooo.... all the BS that I was conveyed... 1. The SVPs have decided to put the position on hold - apparently recruiter, hiring manager and director all want and state and push and have gotten the position cleared as "high priority" YET - they haven't had an approval from SVPs and are saying the position is on hold until SVPs send approval/confirmation to go ahead and generate offer for any hires 2. The packet was still submitted to hiring committee yesterday - and the hiring committee has responded that "to be considered for LEVEL 4 - they want to schedule 2 more rounds of interviews!" 3. Apparently, the interview feedback from 1 interview was gauged as "strong knowledge, but some answers weren't put forward concisely - and interviewer "had to ask follow up questions - but answers weren't found interest arousing by the interviewers" - and hence - to see if in the next 2 rounds I can "arouse interest through my answers" in interviewers, they want to schedule 2 more rounds! ---- Now this I feel is extremely ridiculous! They aren't even considering Level 5 position - just for L4 - they want candidate to go around in circles like this!! 4. The Hiring manager has given written statement from his side to hiring committee apparently, that my experience and profile matches his role perfectly - and he wants me on board - but is dissappointed in this additional interview feedback - and as per the recruiter ----- the HM has asked to convey it, that there's no point in going through additional rounds until the "SVPs approve the position first - and they internally sort out their priorities, and confirm position and it is definitely un-holded" Also..... the interviewers aren't remotely connected to your field/domain... I had marketing, and electronics hardware related team people interviewing me - who had no idea about my cloud background or my program management relevance.... so "to sound interesting to them", was like load of BS to me 5. Soooooo... the recruiter states.... "we are keeping your application and profile active, but please don't wait, in case anything better comes, please take it, we don't know when the position will be approved - it could be 2 weeks or it could be 2-3 months... but we will still reach out to you - once we have definite approval that position is not on hold and have SVP approval - and as soon as we have that we'll schedule the 2 additional rounds ASAP - BUT MEANWHILE WE'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO INTERVIEW OTHER CANDIDATES!" 6. Also ---- the original recruiter who was handling my position has left google, this new lady from India office - just calls in anytime, no scheduled calls no notifications, if I go and confirm time to speak, despite confirming time - at that time - she says, oh I have a meeting we'll speak a couple of hours later.... and infact asks me to call her randomly, instead of her having to call me!!! says, can you call me friday - can you call me at 1? can you call me at 3!!!! This is another ridiculous twist - not sure if I find it hilarious or demotivating! Sooooooo.... all in all, 2+ months of my time seems wasted, ALL - statements made by them, contradict themselves - every statement is contradictory to previous one - I am not sure I should trust, and in all honesty, I am not going to wait for them to come back or I am not even sure if I want to go ahead and be keen on Google anymore! A lot of people on blind told me - that they are deliberately keeping you waiting - not rejecting you - but keeping you on radar and still trying to find other candidates and will offer you only if they dont find others ----- and all this BS about your feedback is positive, but still we are holding you from HC till we keep on more options - and position is on hold - but still we are interviewing more people, so we will not send you a formal rejection---- but keep you hanging, and later, go with some internal candidate - but never formally reject you so that we can keep you anxious and reach out to you in future for some lowball offer for some random role.... I thought people on blind are being quite pessimistic... but Guess What... BLIND WAS CORRECT!!! Google was manipulating me all along, post completion of onsite, and every statement was contradicting the other, and nothing was conveyed formally or on email - deliberately keeping open end at their side.... and even now, although I know they are playing with my time and effort - on conversation - the assigned second idiot recruiter lady is portraying that my application is open - even if position is on hold - although I have clearly been told the truth by other recruiter!!!!! That it is all lies, they are just lazy to carry out more rounds - and are looking to close position internally - and present new profiles to HC - and although position is on hold, it is only conveyed to me, to other candidates its not conveyed, in case they like them more and want to process faster!!!! and all this for them wanting to downlevel me, after 10+ years of experience... to L4!!! So people.... please beware, be wary, be careful of the amount of time, effort and energy - and heart and soul that you put in to @Google - especially @Google India - with random recruitment teams based in their Singapore office!!! Please be careful! #google #googleamazon #googleads #googlerecruiter #googlerecruiterfeedback #googleindia #googleinterview #googleinterviewfeedback #googleinterviewquestions #googlecloud #offer #googleoffer #googlehiringcommittee