Google Corporate Development and Strategy
Hey guys,
I know this forum is largely for wall street related posts but I have seen some posts creep around here about internships and jobs at Google from time to town.
So from anyone who is working/has worked at the GOOG, can you tell us what your experience was like? What you were doing? And since you are on this forum, why you picked it over the traditional finance track?
What does someone need to do to score a a job with one of their strategy teams and what is the work environment actually like (I know we constantly here about how creative it is and the massages and the gourmet meals and the slides and the beer on Fridays yada yada, what's the real deal)?
Thanks so much, best responses get SBs
Google Business Strategy Description
Goolge describes the role of the division:
Deliver the analytical insights our leaders use to enable us to innovate. Whether it’s identifying acquisitions and investments, monetizing strategies for products, or developing partners in emerging markets such as Africa and India, Business Strategy Googlers anticipate opportunities and execute programs critical to Google’s short- and long-term growth.
CorpDev at Google is a little unusual; it is filled with JDs. Even most of the former bankers/consultants have JDs. I am honestly not sure why. Google doesn't really acquire companies as much as it does Intellectual property and/or particularly talented engineers, so perhaps they do not often need a large integration team.
Breaking Into Corporate Development or Strategy
While Google often takes interns into these divisions - they do not convert interns to full time.
Google's Corp Dev hires undergrad interns but does not hire for a full-time spot post-undergrad. Even their interns do not receive return offers to the Corp Dev department.
How to Get a Position at Google Ventures?
Google Ventures is the venture capital arm that sits within Google. Details about the hiring process are detailed by our users below:
I know that Google Ventures hires almost exclusively from other areas of Google (product management, etc). Google Corp Dev also hires almost exclusively from within and also from top banks and other industry firms (Apple, Intel, Facebook, etc).
They hire internally, but also poach venture capital guys and entrepreneurs. It's a pretty eclectic group, to be honest; the whole department is around 30 people (I think).
Want to read more about corporate development? Check out this detailed thread by a corporate development associate answering questions.
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I have covered this pretty extensively in the following thread...post any specific questions you have there.
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/the-other-road-corporate-developm…
^^^ You must read his thread if you are looking for a job in corp dev/strat. But, more specific for Google, my impression is they don't hire students into their corp dev/strat departments. I was curious about this myself so I looked through Google's job site and it seems they want some prior experience before taking you into the dev/strat groups.
Second OhYeah, they take experienced hires period. Even the undergrad interns placed in BizOps were told from the beginning that they wouldn't be able to convert into that group for full-time even if they were spectacular performers.
BillBank, sounds like you have some real knowledge on Google. Do you know the path to corp strat/dev in Google, through the company? What would be the best entry level job to take, at Goggle, if I wanted to move into strategy or corpdev down the line. Thanx.
Any info on Google Corporate strategy team? Coming in say after 2 years in consulting? What the team is like hours, pay etc?
I know an Associate Strategist and a few Product Managers at Google. Keeping in contact because they're interested in my IBM background and I might look around after I get promoted to Senior Consultant. So here's what I know so far.
I know the salary is over 100+k all-in, but it's not as much as I'd make if I stayed in consulting. I don't care though.
Within strategy, there's several areas. Adwords, secondary products such as Google Apps, and there's a pseudo think-tank group that comes up with idea...just to give you an example. Your actual location is based on your group.
Yah, out of undergrad it IS possible. I interviewed for it (can't say anything about the interview because they made me sign a NDA) but I only got interviewed due to an internal referral. It's similar to the RAMP program in that most of the picked people come from referrals by higher-ups.
Business development? I know nothing about that.
and FYI, if you're going to interview for Google positions, you better know about the tech industry. Why Google over Intuit, which is known to have an amazing leadership program. Or Kickstarter, which is more business-aligned for non-engineer applicants. Throwing out the whole "Google" brand will get you dinged so fast. People just want to work at Google because it's sexy, and that's something recruiters told me they sniff out for. "Why is this person applying to Google when there is no alignment?"
Google Corporate Development & Google Ventures (Originally Posted: 04/06/2011)
Does anyone know if Google Corporate Development or Google Ventures hires undergrads directly? A LinkedIn search tells me that many are post-MBA or have worked in other areas of Google and then switched over.
Any insight would be much appreciated - thanks.
I know that Google Ventures hires almost exclusively from other areas of Google (product management, etc). Google Corp Dev also hires almost exclusively from within and also from top banks and other industry firms (Apple, Intel, Facebook, etc).
Your best bet to get in is to go work in some other capacity at Google, blow the doors off and get noticed.
Ahh, yeah that's what I figured. Thanks
I like that last post: "blow the doors off and get noticed."
nicely put sir.
Google's Corp Dev hires undergrad interns but does not hire for a full-time spot post-undergrad. Even their interns do not receive return offers to the Corp Dev department. I have no info for Google Ventures.
Interesting. Any insight as to why this is the case?
a friend who's a rising junior was offered an interview in Goog corp dev. Don't think they take interns for FT though
I know Bus Dev at Google will occasionally take a undergrad intern, but I have not heard of CorpDev taking any, and certainly not for FT. Google BusOps and Strat has so far made only 1 hire straight from ugrad.
CorpDev at Google is a little unusual; it is filled with JDs. Even most of the former bankers/consultants have JDs. I am honestly not sure why. Google doesn't really acquire companies as much as it does Intellectual property and/or particularly talented engineers, so perhaps they do not often need a large integration team.
People with the more common background on this board (ex-MBB/banker types) typically go to BusOps and Strategy.
As for ventures, they hire internally, but also poach venture capital guys and entrepreneurs. It's a pretty eclectic group, to be honest; the whole department is around 30 people (I think).
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