How to Prepare for the Google GCA Interview
May 27, 2021
I get so many questions from my clients regarding the GCA interview at Google. It is one of the most important steps of Google’s interviewing process. Candidates must be prepared for open-ended and, at times, random questions the GCA interview may present.
GCA stands for “General Cognitive Ability.” Google wants to know how well you can solve problems. This is the purpose behind the GCA interview. To understand this process, I have broken it down into 5 key stages that will help you be better prepared.
Item #1: The Why
First, you need to understand why Google is asking you these GCA questions. They are testing your cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills. Google is a complex company with a lot of moving pieces, and they are looking for candidates who can keep up in such a fast-moving environment.
What they don’t necessarily tell you is that they are also interviewing you for future positions. The Hiring Committee is looking to identify how and where you fit into the company from a long-term perspective. What is your potential trajectory at Google? Would you be a good hire for any role that may come your way as your career progresses?
Item #2: The What
Google wants you to succeed at the GCA interview. I always recommend going to the source when you are preparing. Review Google’s website and understand their concepts and practices. They aren’t looking to trick you with open-ended GCA questions. They simply want to see if you can problem solve and navigate ambiguity.
Google defines GCA on their website as:
General Cognitive Ability: We ask open-ended questions to learn how you approach and solve problems. And there’s no one right answer—your ability to explain your thought process and how you use data to inform decisions is what’s most important.
The trend to watch for in 2021 is behavioral questions in a GCA interview. The goal is to really drill down into what you did and what you would do differently.
Item #3: The How
Next, let’s look at the GCA interview process and how you can be best prepared. I break it down in to 3 main areas of focus:
- Frameworks—You must come into your interview with planned frameworks that will allow you to stay organized and narrow your focus. If you don’t have a prepared strategy or plan, you may struggle with GCA interview questions.
- Practice—Take the time to practice your GCA interview and walk through sample GCA questions. Sit down with an interview coach or even just a friend or colleague. Practicing is such a useful exercise on so many levels.
- Physical—What is your physical method for problem-solving? Do you like pen and paper, a whiteboard or on a laptop? You want to make sure you get approval from your interviewer to use your preferred method. Having a plan is key.
Item #4: The Application
As you practice for your Google GCA interview, you will want to walk through all the problem-solving stages that you would expect to go through during the actual interview. Make sure you are communicating your ideas and methodology clearly. Also, get a clear understanding of the GCA question being asked before you start diving into your problem-solving process. Never be afraid to question the questions and get all the data you need. Many GCA questions and scenarios can be interpreted in different ways. You may end up having to make some assumptions during the problem-solving process. That’s okay. Just get as much information and insight as you can—look before you leap!
Come into your GCA interview with a plan, but be adaptable along the way as different variables can come into play. Take your time and stick to your frameworks. Lastly, remember that not all GCA questions require a concrete solution. It’s mostly about the process itself. Your thought processes and cognitive skills are really what matter most to Google.
Item #5: The Answer
Share your answers, explain your methodology and clearly communicate your solutions. The GCP (Google Cloud Platform) is a complex system and Google is expecting to see high-level thinking from any candidate. Show them what you can do and how you do it. This is what the hiring committee wants to see.
This is just a basic overview of Google’s GCA interview process and the preparation you should be doing. Please check out my full video on this topic below, along with a couple supplemental videos featuring sample GCA questions and other information you will want to know.
Additional Resources:
For more resources visit my website - Practice Interviews and check out our AI Practice Interview App.
