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Quick question: as an "new-grad" applicant with two internships AND an internal referral, my application to Google was categorically rejected on the basis that

Quick question: as an "new-grad" applicant with two internships AND an internal referral, my application to Google was categorically rejected on the basis that they are "no longer hiring fresh undergraduates for the Software Engineer position". No initial phone screen, just an automatic email. Given that this self-taught dev was given an interview, would I be better off applying without listing my CS degree and just highlight professional experience, GitHib, etc and say I am "self-taught"?

neivin 9y ago
I know at least 3 people who are starting at Google this year in new grad positions. Maybe you just didn't make the cut?
- ghost-monk 9y ago
  Quite possibly. Had a mock interview with one of their senior engineers on campus who was impressed and referred me, so I was surprised at being rejected before even the initial phone screen. The rejection email mentioned a new policy of "no new grads (bachelors) for fulltime SWE". Also possible that I was referred to a particular position which doesn't consider new grads. Do you happen to know if your acquaintances get hired on as fulltime SWE or something different(SRE, residency, etc)?
vmarsy 9y ago
What position was this for? Maybe they have a quota of new undergrad from a specific school per year (If they assume that every school they go to has at least X% of candidates) or an overall quota. "no longer hiring fresh undergraduates for the Software Engineer position" might only be for your school for this year. Also most companies would consider "fresh undergraduates" people graduating soon or who graduated less than 12 months ago so you still have time. In general you don't want to spam a company for the same position, it's good to wait for 8-12 months before re-applying, so if your desired position usually accept fresh new-grad, you might want to retry before [your graduation date + 12 months] but after at least ~8 months. > Given that this self-taught dev was given an interview He isn't a fresh undegraduate, check out his linkedin, he seem to have around 2 years of Dev experience, and 3 of freelance. So he probably didn't fall in the "new grad" track.
- ghost-monk 9y ago
  > he seem to have Dev experience [...] probably didn't fall in the "new grad" track Good eye. Makes a lot more sense. > What position was this for? Maybe they have a quota ... The generalist full-time Software Engineer position. That seems likely, though the wording in the rejection email made it seem like they were permanently winding down recruitment of undergrads for that position. Everything worked out, as I landed a solid SWE gig at a great company. It just threw me for a loop to think that having a recent graduation date would hurt my application when compared to a non-CS "self-taught" candidate. Thanks for the reply, the info you cited clarifies the situation completely.
- deleted 9y ago
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neivin 9y ago

I know at least 3 people who are starting at Google this year in new grad positions. Maybe you just didn't make the cut?

ghost-monk 9y ago
Quite possibly. Had a mock interview with one of their senior engineers on campus who was impressed and referred me, so I was surprised at being rejected before even the initial phone screen. The rejection email mentioned a new policy of "no new grads (bachelors) for fulltime SWE". Also possible that I was referred to a particular position which doesn't consider new grads. Do you happen to know if your acquaintances get hired on as fulltime SWE or something different(SRE, residency, etc)?

vmarsy 9y ago

What position was this for? Maybe they have a quota of new undergrad from a specific school per year (If they assume that every school they go to has at least X% of candidates) or an overall quota. "no longer hiring fresh undergraduates for the Software Engineer position" might only be for your school for this year. Also most companies would consider "fresh undergraduates" people graduating soon or who graduated less than 12 months ago so you still have time. In general you don't want to spam a company for the same position, it's good to wait for 8-12 months before re-applying, so if your desired position usually accept fresh new-grad, you might want to retry before [your graduation date + 12 months] but after at least ~8 months. > Given that this self-taught dev was given an interview He isn't a fresh undegraduate, check out his linkedin, he seem to have around 2 years of Dev experience, and 3 of freelance. So he probably didn't fall in the "new grad" track.

ghost-monk 9y ago
> he seem to have Dev experience [...] probably didn't fall in the "new grad" track Good eye. Makes a lot more sense. > What position was this for? Maybe they have a quota ... The generalist full-time Software Engineer position. That seems likely, though the wording in the rejection email made it seem like they were permanently winding down recruitment of undergrads for that position. Everything worked out, as I landed a solid SWE gig at a great company. It just threw me for a loop to think that having a recent graduation date would hurt my application when compared to a non-CS "self-taught" candidate. Thanks for the reply, the info you cited clarifies the situation completely.
deleted 9y ago
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