I Got Hired: Software Engineer at Google

Posted on: 13 February 2023 by Samantha Riella in Graduate stories

Andrew Georgiou is a class of 2021 Computer Science graduate, now working as a Software Engineer at Google.

How did you hear about the role?

I heard about being a software engineer when I was in year 11 and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do in the future. I had always been into programming since I was 11 years old on the family computer but didn't even think about jobs in programming until I was 16 years old and I was told I could not do chemistry at A level which stopped me pursuing medicine.

How did you get to where you are now?

I set goals for myself and was not afraid to take one step back to take two steps forward. I originally went to John Moores for Computer Science as I did not achieve the A levels to attend The University of Liverpool and after a year I found I was doing really well but struggling to hear back from any interviews for internships. I made the decision that I had to improve this to achieve my goal and decided I could do this by going to a better university for me. I went back and completed a foundation course at Carmel College which enabled me to study Computer Science at The University of Liverpool. From there I completed a spring internship at Barclays which led onto 2 summer internships with them. I then started my own company doing freelance website development for local businesses. I just kept applying to jobs I wanted and stayed persistent even when rejected. I worked really hard to compete and attain the highest grades I could on my course. I received offers from a few companies but my goal was set on getting a job at Google who I was struggling to even attain interviews with. I decided I needed to improve my situation and put all my effort into an application for a masters. I recently completed my masters at The University of Cambridge where I specialised in Natural Language Processing. Once there I kept my goal of working at Google in mind and interviewed for a software engineering position their back in January, I had been revising and working hard at practicing for coding interviews over the past few years and was lucky to achieve my dream role this year.

What has been your best experience as part of your role?

I really just enjoy the fact that I am working with lots of nerds like me at my current job. I am working with a team of brilliantly minded people who are making me a better developer by just working with them.

What has been the most challenging part of your graduate journey?

The most challenging part for me was trying to balance too much in my final year. I was applying for many jobs and doing lots of interviews while at the same time I had chose mainly subjects with coursework which was all due around the same time. U tried to run multiple clubs at the same time and it ended with me feeling really burnt out. I would just say that it is alright to ease off the extra-curriculars and focus on your studies in the final year. You have unlimited time to apply for jobs and can always seek external help when it comes to running or taking part in clubs.

What are your top tips for other students and graduates?

1. Get involved early with lots of clubs and activities, it will not only help you meet new people but also help you find hobbies or interests you might have never known you have.

2. You don't have to do a year in industry to secure a good job. Summer internships or online certificates are really good for your CV and they take a lot less stress and time to complete.

3. It is okay to take a step back if it helps you achieve your goal.