How to Ace the Google GCA Interview | Tips from a Former Google GCA Interviewer and Hiring Manager

Coach Erika is a top 1% interview coach. I teach people how to refine resumes, turn recruiters into champions, and woo interviewers with powerful career storytelling. 93% of my clients land top-tier jobs at elite companies including Google, Spotify, Airbnb, and more.

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🧠🧠 What we Cover

Google's GCA Interview is tough to crack, and there's not a lot of good information out there about this unique type of interview at Google.

In this video, I teach you how to ace your GCA interview, starting with teaching you why the GCA interview exists and why it matters, what interviewers are looking for, and the best framework for answering Google GCA questions.

1️⃣ Why Google asks GCA questions 🧠
2️⃣ Adjusting your mindset on GCA questions (from candidate to peer)
3️⃣ What it means to share and show your cognitive abilities (clarifying questions, thinking (big) out loud, simplifying and stating assumptions, synthesizing)
4️⃣ 3 Most Common Types of GCA questions (your opinion about a future state, estimation questions on steroids, and (nearly) impossible scenarios).
5️⃣ A framework to answer GCA questions
6️⃣ Example GCA question with an example answer 👽
7️⃣ 💸 (Bonus) 💸 Handling interviewer follow-up questions

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What's Next & More Resources

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#googleinterview, #googleGCA, #gcainterview

[nataliakrissy]

I never comment on videos lol but I just wanted to say thank you for all this advice! I am in my 3rd round of interviews and have a non-technical GCA interview scheduled for tomorrow and this video has definitely provided valuable insight. I have been practicing week on sending people to Mars, opening up a bakery shop, and opening up a Google office in Bangalore, India. I'm feeling very prepared! Thanks!

[Wise_World]

This is the feedback I got from my GCA interview: If you're preparing for a higher-level role (like IC5 or above), focus on limiting the number of questions you ask and make sure they align with the level you're interviewing for. Your assumptions should demonstrate that you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals expected at your job title.

[YourNameHere]

Love your perspective. Treating the interviewer as a partner working through an impossible task together really makes me feel a lot more comfortable about this interview.

[SatriaHardinata]

OMG this is so mindblowing the way that you can tackle the question and develop that idea and expansive thinking. It is the real definition of jaw-dropping. Thank you so much for such educative and informative knowledge, Erika. I am learning a lot from you. Crossing my fingers and pls Wish me luck with my phone interview with Google next week.

[TakuyaShimada-ge]

Each step was explained in detail and was very helpful.

[BNBTony]

Absolutely amazing video! This has been extremely helpful and informative for me and has helped ease some anxiety as I prepare for an upcoming interview process. Thank you so much!

[deminitrix]

The way you effortlessly answer the question Is amazing. As I practice my GCA interview for google, I find myself getting better but I realize that I’m most strong with /simplifying and not really the clarifying questions. Not sure how to start being able to ask clarifying questions 😭

But it’s also an apprenticeship so not sure if it’ll be as extensive as this

[roderickmccleary]

Hi Erika - awesome video, so thorough and helpful for candidates. I saw in a comment that you were interviewing folks for Product/ENG roles. I am doing my GCA interview for a sales role, would you say the themes you've laid out in this video will be similar to the Sales GCA interview?

[mezza]

I am having my first ever interview on 1st Sept 2023!! I am so nervous and excited at the same time. I think I am going to have fun with the interview and do my best!

[ParrotPodo]

Hi Erica! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience.
I found this one as I searched for Google's interview process.


Recently, a friend of mine who is a former Google employee recommended me to apply for Google as a marketer(currently open position) in a local Google office.
I was hesitant when I heard it from that friend for the first time because of my age (47, 20+ years in marketing). But as I get to understand more about Googliness and the culture Google has, I get to wanting to work with the great team and to give it a try at least.

I'm not sure if I will even get a chance for the interview, but still, through this video, I've gained the confidence to think I could do this.

Thanks a lot!

[YoyoCowboy]

Thankyou so much Erika, I have good ideas now to handle these sorts of questions, they seem overwhelming and unsolvable at first!

[keranafamily]

Thank you! I think removing the background music would help. What we want to hear is your voice!

[akashdambhare]

Hi Erica, Thanks alot for this amazing video, the video helped me to understand the concept and got really good example question, I've applied for Salesforce Analyst role do you think I should be preparing all 3 types of questions?

[patrickdevlin]

Thanks for this guide Erika, I would have bombed my interview tomorrow without this. Any special tips or advice for neurodivergent candidates?

[shishirjaiswal]

Hi Erica, I am interviewing at the firm next week and the role is in Finance Operations, the job is first in the country as they are trying to expand at different locations and it is directly with the hiring manager, what type of questions do expect and how to address those?

[maurodipatimperu]

Hi Erika, first of all, many thanks for this video. I wonder why my recruiter didn't provide this information.
Next week I am going to have the round of 3 interviews: rrk, gca and googliness. I'am applying for a TAM lead role. What type of GCA questions do you recommend me to study the most?
Also, do you think it is to late for coaching?

[realhtoenbaddie]

Hi, i applied for the Google Bold internship (Google Cloud) and I was wondering what type of questions do you think they'll ask me in regards to GCA and Behavioral?

[obrienortega]

Thank you Erika for this informative video. Question, are Google GCA panel interviews?

[lyndaboularas]

Hello Erika, I have an interview for an account executive engage position. What would you advise me, I an quite confident about myself but I would like to have a too for this exact role if you don’t mind 🙏🏻❤

[CoachErika]

Interviewing at Google? Share your experience with GCA questions! Also, feel free to ask any lingering questions you have about GCA questions in the comments!👇