How to Answer "Why Do You Want to Work at Google?"

An Ex-Google PMM's take on product marketing.

Hi, my name is Henry, and in this post, I'll show you how to answer one of the most common interview questions: "Why do you want to work at Google?"

Why Do You Want to Work at Google?

Is it the money, the free food, or the prestige? These are all understandable answers, but to really stand out, you’ll need to take your response a step further. From my experience, there are three effective ways to answer this question.

1. Talk About the Mission Statement

Google’s mission is to "organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful." However, don’t just repeat this verbatim—frame it in your own words and explain why it resonates with you.

For example:

"I want to work at Google because I love the work you're doing to bridge the world's information gap. The products you're building, like Search, Gmail, and Maps, help people access information easily and connect with one another. Google is truly changing lives, and I want to be part of that mission."

2. Highlight a Product You’re Passionate About

If there’s a Google product you’re passionate about—especially if it’s relevant to the role you’re applying for—this is a great way to stand out. Be specific about why you love the product and how you see its future potential.

For example:

"I want to work at Google because I love Google Translate. I use it to learn new languages and connect with people from different cultures. I believe there’s so much more potential with Google Translate, especially given that there are over 7,000 languages worldwide. I would love the opportunity to help shape its future."

3. Emphasize Google’s Culture

If you know someone who works at Google, mention them! This shows that you’ve done your research and have a personal connection to the company’s culture.

For example:

"I want to work at Google because I’ve heard it’s a great place to learn, grow, and make an impact. When I talked to my friend Biola, he had only good things to say about the culture—how people are smart, friendly, and above all, 'Googley.' I believe I have that 'Googleyess,' which to me means having a growth mindset and going the extra mile when helping others."

Wrapping It All Up

To recap, there are three powerful ways to answer "Why do you want to work at Google?"

1. Talk about Google’s mission statement and why it resonates with you.

2. Highlight a product you’re passionate about and how you can contribute to it.

3. Emphasize Google’s culture and how you embody the "Googliness" factor.

Feel free to combine all three elements if you can do so concisely!

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