Become the applicant Google can't turn down Cracking the Tech Career is the job seeker's guide to landing a coveted position at one of the top tech firms. A follow-up to The Google Resume, this book provides new information on what these companies want, and how to show them you have what it takes to succeed in the role. Early planners will learn what to study, and established professionals will discover how to make their skillset and experience set them apart from the crowd. Author Gayle Laakmann McDowell worked in engineering at Google, and interviewed over 120 candidates as a member of the hiring committee – in this book, she shares her perspectives on what works and what doesn't, what makes you desirable, and what gets your resume saved or deleted.
Apple, Microsoft, and Google are the coveted companies in the current job market. They field hundreds of resumes every day, and have their pick of the cream of the crop when it comes to selecting new hires. If you think the right alma mater is all it takes, you need to update your thinking. Top companies, especially in the tech sector, are looking for more. This book is the complete guide to becoming the candidate they just cannot turn away.
- Discover the career paths that run through the top tech firms
- Learn how to craft the prefect resume and prepare for the interview
- Find ways to make yourself stand out from the hordes of other applicants
- Understand what the top companies are looking for, and how to demonstrate that you're it
These companies need certain skillsets, but they also want a great culture fit. Grades aren't everything, experience matters, and a certain type of applicant tends to succeed. Cracking the Tech Career reveals what the hiring committee wants, and shows you how to get it.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Life at the World’s Greatest Tech Companies 1
Life at Infinite Loop and Microsoft Way 2
The Differences 4
Big versus Little: Is a Start-Up Right for You? 5
The Job Title: What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? 8
It’s Not for Everyone 11
Chapter 2 Advanced Positioning and Preparation 12
A Positioning Framework 12
University 16
Graduate School 21
Career Graduate Degrees 22
The MBA 23
Part-Time Graduate Programs 27
Work Experience 28
Extracurriculars 30
Questions and Answers 33
Chapter 3 Getting in the Door 37
The Black Hole: Online Job Submission 37
Getting a Personal Referral 39
Career Fairs 41
Professional Recruiters 42
Additional Avenues 44
Networking 46
Social Networking 49
Questions and Answers 51
Chapter 4 Resumes 55
How Resumes Are Read 55
Nine Hallmarks of a Powerful Resume 55
The Structure 63
How Do I Shorten My Resume? 69
Resume Action Words 70
Questions and Answers 73
Chapter 5 Deconstructing the Resume 77
Resume # 1 77
Resume # 2 78
Resume # 3 79
Resume # 4 81
Chapter 6 Cover Letters 83
Why a Cover Letter? 83
The Three Types of Cover Letter 84
The Structure 85
Five Traits of a Strong Cover Letter 87
The Daring A+ Cover Letter 89
The Traditional A+ Cover Letter 90
The So-So Cover Letter 91
Questions and Answers 92
Additional Resources 93
Chapter 7 References 94
How References Are Used 94
Whom You Should Select as a Reference 95
Make a Good Reference Great 96
When Things Go Wrong 97
What If Your Bad Reference Is Your Former Boss? 98
Questions and Answers 99
Chapter 8 Interview Prep and Overview 102
Interview Questions 102
The Tech Interview Culture 103
Do Your Homework 104
Working with Your Recruiter 107
Communication and Behavior 109
Special Interview Types 113
After the Interview 116
Following Up with Your Recruiter 118
Dealing with Rejection 119
Questions and Answers 119
Additional Resources 122
Chapter 9 Define Yourself 123
The Pitch 123
Why Should We Hire You? 126
Why Shouldn’t We Hire You? 126
Why Do You Want to Work Here? 128
Why Are You Leaving Your Job? 128
Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? 129
What Are Your Strengths? 130
What Are Your Weaknesses? 131
Layoffs, Firing, and Unemployment 131
Questions and Answers 134
Chapter 10 Behavioral Questions 136
Evaluation 136
Mastering the Content 137
Mastering the Communication 140
Common Mistakes 143
Five Example Questions 144
Questions and Answers 150
Chapter 11 Problem Solving 153
Types of Problem-Solving Questions 153
Estimation Questions 154
Design Questions 160
Brainteasers 162
Questions and Answers 170
Additional Resources 172
Chapter 12 The Programming Interview 173
What’s the Point? 173
What’s Expected—And What’s Not 174
How They Differ: Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Amazon, Yahoo, and Apple 175
How to Prepare 176
Must-Know Data Structures, Algorithms, and Topics 177
Coding Questions 178
Algorithm Questions: Four Ways to Create an Algorithm 184
Object-Oriented Design 188
Scalability Questions 188
Testing Interviews 190
Questions and Answers 193
Additional Resources 196
Chapter 13 Getting into Gaming 197
The Culture: Is It All Fun and Games? 197
Job Positions: What Can You Do? 198
College Candidates 201
Reaching Out and Getting In 202
Personality Fit 204
The Gaming Interview—Three Tips to Doing Well 206
Questions and Answers 207
Chapter 14 Women in Tech 211
On Men and Allies 211
The Harsh(ish) Reality of Being a Woman in Tech 212
Advice for Women from Women (and Allies) 214
It’s Friction, Not Obstacles 218
Questions and Answers 219
Chapter 15 The Offer 221
How to Evaluate an Offer 221
How Can You Negotiate an Offer? 228
Tricky Issues: Deadlines, Extensions, and Declining Offers 233
Questions and Answers 237
Chapter 16 Crafting Your Career 242
Define Your Career Path 242
Being Great 243
Manage the Review Process 244
Play a Bit of Politics: Build Strong Relationships 247
Identify a Mentor 248
Promotions and Raises 249
How and When to Quit 252
Questions and Answers 255
Chapter 17 On Luck, Leverage, and You 259
Index 261
