Preparing for Your Google Administrative Business Partner (ABP) Interview

What is the best way to get hired for an Administrative Business Partner (ABP) at Google? I spoke with current ABPs, former ABPs and ABP candidates to determine the most effective interview strategies. Here are the items to consider:

Item #1—Early Stages

The two most important data points for ABP roles are networking and your resume. Don’t be afraid to reach out to potential fellow colleagues to ask for advice. Most people I talked to said they were able to network effectively and received a lot of good, helpful advice. However, I always recommend the give-first model. Offer something in return to make it worth their time, and of course be willing to pay it forward.

As for the resume, it’s a good idea to study the job description and build your resume to reflect the Google ABP position. Another important point to remember is that your interviewers can and will ask you about anything you put in your resume. Be careful what you write and be prepared to address it during the interview process.

Item #2—Responsibilities/Traits

Below are some of the key responsibilities that I have identified as being critical attributes for ABP candidates:

• Calendar management, meeting agendas and booking travel
• Organizing, planning and managing events
• Handling any facilities and equipment requests
• Processing and approving expense reports
• Identifying team goals and partnering with other team members on business-related projects

These are some critical traits they look for in this role:

• Confidence
• Judgment
• Versatility
• Organization
• Planning
• Prioritization
• Anticipation
• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Confidentiality

Being a partner also means being flexible and adaptable. As an ABP, you have to establish your voice and make your presence known to stand out from other candidates.

Item #3—Interview Structure

The interview process for an ABP role at Google is very similar to many other roles at the company. You’ll go through the initial recruiting screen. You’ll have your RRK, GCA and Googleyness & Leadership interviews. Lastly, the team match stage will be the most unique to the ABP position. The ABPs I’ve talked to equated the team match process to dating. You have to be prepared for a longer process, with challenging questions as they assess your team match potential.

Item #4—Communication

It should go without saying that communication is the foundation for success in ABP roles. Your communication style needs to start with confidence, and you will want to display your ability to communicate effectively when faced with difficult scenarios. The hiring manager should believe in your ability to handle a number of items, including:

• Making quick decisions
• Anticipating needs
• Proactively addressing operational and administrative issues
• Working at a fast pace
• Adapting and adjusting quickly
• Using strong judgment
• Handling multiple tasks
• Communicating with varying personality types

Item #5—The Calendar

This is the most important item to understand. Your ABP interview will entail questions that put you in real-life scenarios where you have to adapt to scheduling and coordination challenges. They will ask what you would do if something happens and throws off the schedule. Your response strategy will be key. Come in with a really good plan. Ask clarifying questions. Stick to your frameworks. You may even be able to pre-plan solutions and think about common scenarios that may be presented. This is where your networking can help you get a sense of the questions that might be asked.

Item #6—Organization/Prioritization/Time Management

Think about organization, prioritization, and time management in correlation with your overall communication and approach. All these skills will be vital to landing the Google Administrative Business Partner role.

Item #7—Team

If you are thinking about wearing the partner hat, you have to always think about the entire team you are supporting. The team concept is very important at Google and the word “team” will come up a lot during your ABP interview. Remember to tie your solutions and responses back to how your specific actions as an ABP will help your team as a whole.

Item #8—Sample Question & Answer

I encourage you to watch my full video on this subject by clicking on the link below. I walk through a full sample ABP question and answer to give you a better idea of how you can prepare for this interview process. Watch the full video here:

For more resources visit my website -  Practice Interviews and check out our AI Practice Interview App.