When it comes to landing a job or internship at Google, your resume plays a critical role. It’s your first impression—and possibly your ticket in. Fortunately, Google’s own recruiters have shared their insider tips to help applicants put their best foot forward.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to create a resume that stands out—whether you’re applying for a technical, engineering, or business role at Google. You’ll also find specific formatting advice, tailored examples, and strategies to showcase your skills and impact.
Start with the Basics: Simple, Clean, and Clear
Before diving into sections and bullet points, begin by keeping your format clean. Use a consistent design with readable fonts, clear sizing, and even spacing. Stick with black text for clarity, although other readable font colors are acceptable. And always save and send your resume as a PDF.
Your contact information, including a professional email address, should be placed at the top. While objective statements are optional, if you choose to include one, make sure it’s relevant to the role. References aren’t necessary either.
Resume Length Tip:
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For business and internship roles, aim for one page.
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For technical and engineering roles, you can extend to two pages—if needed.
Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs and double-check for typos. A simple error can cost you a golden opportunity.
Pro Tips for Technical Candidates
If you’re applying for an engineering or technical role, make sure to:
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List your programming languages right at the top.
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Highlight your GitHub profile or any open-source contributions.
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Show your passion for tech and commitment to improving your skills.
Structuring Your Resume Sections
Think of your resume as a story about your professional journey. Each section should be clearly marked and easy to follow.
1. Education
For students and recent graduates, your Education section should come first. List all post-secondary institutions, degrees, and majors, starting with the most recent.
Always include:
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Graduation date or anticipated date in month-year format (e.g., May 2024).
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Your GPA, if you’re a current student or recent grad.
Don’t worry—GPA is just one part of the bigger picture. Google evaluates the entire profile.
2. Experience
Your Experience section should take up the bulk of your resume. This can include:
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Full-time or part-time jobs
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Internships
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Research, teaching, or tutoring
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Personal, class, or group projects
For technical roles, also include:
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Hackathons
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Coding competitions
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Mobile or web app development
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Open source experience
List each entry in reverse chronological order and include:
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Job title
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Employer
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Dates worked (in month-year format)
When writing bullet points, be concise. Use action verbs like developed, designed, managed, debugged, or created to describe your contributions. And always tailor your resume to the job description by mirroring key terms used in the posting.
Pro Tip: Highlight relevant skills or keywords by using bold or italics.
And remember—focus on impact. Don’t just list tasks; show results.
3. Showcasing Impact with Data
Use this simple formula for crafting impactful bullet points:
Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]
For example:
Increased server query response time by 15% by restructuring the API.
This sentence is short, data-driven, and directly shows value. Whether you improved an algorithm, added hardware, or implemented machine learning, share measurable outcomes.
4. Business Roles? Focus on Results
Business candidates should also use this formula. For instance:
Grew revenue from 15 SMB clients by 10% quarter over quarter by mapping new software features to their business goals.
This communicates your skills in client management, revenue growth, and aligning technical tools with business needs—all in one sentence.
5. Leadership & Awards
Include any relevant leadership positions, scholarships, honors, or recognitions. And yes, use the same “X, Y, Z” structure.
Example:
Selected as one of 230 participants nationwide for an 18-month development program for high-achieving Black and Latinx tech talent based on leadership potential and academic success.
These entries showcase more than just accolades—they show character and initiative.
6. Final Section: Let Us Know Who You Are
Google encourages applicants—especially students—to share a bit about themselves. This optional section can include:
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Involvement in student or multicultural organizations
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Academic or community groups
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Leadership roles
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Publications, papers, patents, or presentations
Be specific and show how these experiences have shaped you.
Final Thoughts
Crafting a standout resume for Google takes effort, but it’s entirely within reach. Focus on clarity, structure, measurable impact, and relevance. Tailor your resume to each role, use data to highlight results, and let your personality and passion shine through.
And when you’re ready, visit careers.google.com to explore open roles and internships.
