AI Consultant, Google Cloud Professional Services

Interview Preparation Guide

Introducing the Google Cloud Platform Team

The Google Cloud Platform team helps customers transform and evolve their business through the use
of Google’s global network, web-scale data centres and software infrastructure. As part of an
entrepreneurial team in this rapidly growing business, you will help shape the future of businesses of all
sizes and use technology to connect with customers, employees and partners.

The Google Cloud Customer Success team is responsible for effectively introducing clients to Google
Cloud Platform and to Google Workspace, and assisting them from inception to production. We solve
challenging and complex technical problems - from infrastructure migration, to network optimization,
to security best practices, and much more. Check out this video to learn more about the Delivery
Center and Professional Services Organization teams.

The Role

As an AI Consultant, you will work directly with Google’s most strategic customers on critical projects
to help them transform their businesses using AI/ML technologies. You will help them develop, deploy,
and manage custom AI solutions in production using Google Cloud technologies. You will provide
technical project management, consulting and technical aptitude to customer engagements while
working with client executives and key technical leaders to deploy solutions via Google’s Cloud
Platform. You will also work closely with key Google partners servicing top accounts to scope
engagements, manage programs, deliver consulting services, and provide technical guidance and best
practice expertise. You possess a background in developing AI solutions applying key industry tools,
techniques and methodologies. To be successful, you know how to navigate ambiguity, you are a
technical expert in your field, and you can deliver customer success. You also possess excellent client-
facing communication and project management skills.

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Hiring Process

You will go through 4 virtual interviews (over Google Meet) in total. The 4 interviews will cover the
following areas:
● 60 mins - Role-Related Knowledge x2
● 60 mins - System Design or Coding (based on candidate’s preference)
● 45 mins - General Cognitive Ability (Problem Solving)+ Googleyness & Leadership

General Tips

Many of the questions asked in Google interviews are open-ended because we want to see how you
engage with a problem. The specific questions will depend on your interviewer, but the ultimate goal is
the same – to understand how you think. Are you methodical, structured, logical, and holistic in your
thinking?

When you are asked a technical question, talk through your thought process and your approach to
problems and solutions. You are encouraged to ask clarifying questions. Many of our initial questions
do not have enough information for you to answer. We are trying to see how you gather requirements,
in the same way you would be expected to interact with customers in this role. Ask specific questions if
you need more clarification.

As we have discussed, AI Consultants at Google require a combination of both business and technical
skills, so you should expect both types of questions in your upcoming interview.

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Interview Focus Area 1: Role-Related Knowledge (RRK)

The Role Related Knowledge (RRK) interviews consist of 4-5 role related questions from a mix of
hypothetical and behavioural approach. Behavioural questions can be drawn from examples of your
past experiences while hypothetical questions are situations that you may have not experienced yet.

We will be testing if you have the skill sets required to be successful, rather than knowing everything.
This means we'll look at how you can contribute today as well as how you can grow yourself in the
future to progress your career forward. The RRK for this role would test you on a broad range of your
general consulting/project management and technical skills that are needed to excel in the role. While
this list is not necessarily exhaustive, it should be a good guide to help you prepare. Also, don’t panic if
you are not well-versed in all of these areas. A little preparation can go a long way.

Machine Learning - Understanding of some common Machine Learning algorithms and their use
cases. You should also understand the underlying maths and be able to troubleshoot Machine Learning
systems. Having an understanding on the deployment of Machine Learning solutions in production and
at scale will help further along with experience explaining technical concepts to non-technical
audiences.

Databases/SQL/NoSQL - Prepare on data modelling fundamentals, database architecture/efficiency,

SQL commands/syntax including analytical functions, complex query design, etc.

Cloud - Have a broad understanding of cloud technologies and GCP in general. Click here to visit the
Google Cloud Blog. It will be a good idea to be familiar with Google Cloud Platform, our customers, and
the trends within the Cloud Industry. Research our industry dynamics and current/recent industry
events (hint: use Google News). Take a listen to the Google Cloud Podcast put on by Googlers. Also
familiarise yourself with other Google products before your interview. Know how to simply describe
these and how you might potentially discuss the benefits with our clients. Finally we recommend
registering for a free trial account here.

Migration - As an AI Consultant, you will be helping some of the world’s biggest organisations migrate
their workloads to GCP. You should be broadly aware of the different migration methodologies and
paths to Cloud. You should be able to demonstrate ability in Cloud Migration strategy, planning from
scoping to delivery and post support for the customer on behalf of the Delivery Center team.

Troubleshooting - Interviewers are looking for a logical and structured approach to problem solving
through production ML systems. Make sure you understand the questions and ask appropriate follow-
up questions to the interviewer if you need clarification. A big part is finding out what the actual
problem is and breaking it down into specifics.

Project Management - While the majority of interviews are tech focused, we typically will dive into

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your past projects. The project management interview questions cover hypothetical practical questions
on effectively leading end-to-end projects. This will include topics around applying the right framework,
navigating complexity and ambiguity and delivering results. We want to see how you manage
challenging clients, navigate through ambiguous situations and prioritise workload accordingly. We also
want to see overall solid program management and governance knowledge.

Cloud - Have a broad understanding of cloud technologies and GCP in general. Having a basic
understanding of different deployment and scalability scenarios in Cloud is also nice to have. Click here
to visit the Google Cloud Blog.

Interview Focus Area 2: General Cognitive Ability (Problem Solving) Interview

This interview is designed to understand how you solve problems. The interviewer is interested in
observing the data-driven approach you take to identify a logical recommendation to a problem with an
ability to support your solution. For the GCA questions, interviewers will be evaluating your problem-
solving and critical-thinking skills. In these scenarios, there may not be any right answer; they are mostly
curious about how you think, approach challenges and come up with solutions. You will be assessed on
your ability to Understand the problem, Prepare, Identify Solutions and back up with Supporting
Solutions on your "why" and success. measures metrics. We want to see that you're able to think short
term and long term solutions. Check out GCA Tips on Youtube. In summary, think about a logical
framework for problem solving, and apply in this interview!

This attribute is designed to evaluate how you solve problems. There are no “right” or “wrong” GCA
solutions; rather, we’re interested in observing the data-driven approach you take to identify a logical
recommendation with the ability to support your solution.

We suggest following this 4-step framework:

1. Understand: Show you understand the problem by asking clarifying questions to get additional
context. If you don’t get a direct answer to your question, leverage assumptions to begin creating
tangible information to work with.

2. Prepare: Prepare by verbalising the data needed to identify a solution — this may include existing,
historic or new data. Be clear about where you might seek existing data points or how you might gather
new information.

3. Identify a solution: Feel free to weigh out options, but ultimately articulate your recommendation.

4. Support your solution: What was the outcome or result? Explain how you would track effectiveness
over time.

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Interview Focus Area 3: Googleyness & Leadership Interview

This interview will focus mainly on your leadership qualities and ‘How You Think’. We want to make sure
this is a place you’ll thrive, so we’ll be looking for signs around your comfort with ambiguity, your bias to
action and your collaborative nature. Be prepared to talk about how you would support a team to help
them navigate tough challenges and changes. Think about how to effectively lead in a non-hierarchical
team environment and what your personal leadership style is. Check out Prepare for Your Google
Interview: Leadership.

Key assessment areas:

1. How You Think/Decision Making - Questions designed to see how you think on your feet and
your approach in dealing with complexity and ambiguity. We will assess your ability to use data
in your decision making and to make difficult decisions. How do you make decisions and what
do you use to make informed decisions (i.e data, consultation etc.)?

2. Leadership - Following on from the previous round, there might be more questions on how you
would handle complex projects, deal with internal issues, and work in ambiguity.

3. Client/Stakeholder Management/Customer Empathy - How would you engage with clients

that need a complex migration, or need you to help them to design a system but don’t have the
knowledge of how it works? We want to know that you put the customer first, think about what
is best for them, but also are able to push back stakeholders when necessary.

Tips:
1. The Hiring Manager wants to know if you are the best person for this job. Can they envisage
working with and managing you? Do you show initiative and have the ability to think on your
feet?
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Ensure you clarify questions you don’t fully understand and ask
for more data if you need it. Make assumptions if you need to, but make them out loud so your
interviewer is aware.
3. We aren’t always looking at the end result. Often, we are trying to see the steps you take to get
to a solution, the reasoning and decisions you make (essentially, the journey is just as important
as the outcome).

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Next Steps

It usually takes interviewers about 3 to 5 business days to submit feedback following an interview. As
soon as the recruiter completes the feedback review with the hiring manager, they’ll make sure to
reach out to you to provide an update regarding next steps!

You may receive an Experience Survey asking you for feedback/satisfaction on my overall
communication throughout the process. My colleagues and I strive for a perfect report card, so please
let me know if you have any questions or concerns throughout the process. If you don't get a survey, I
am happy to personally take your feedback. That’s it! I promise to take great care of you and will be
updating you every step of the way, but please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any
questions.

Additional Resources

Company - Google
The Google story
Life @ Google
Google Developers
Open Source Projects

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