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.

West Coast Rainmaker - Equity Research Associate:
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.

MaturationOfShane:
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:

CapK - Private Equity Partner:
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).

West Coast Rainmaker - Equity Research Associate:
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.

Need Help Preparing for Consulting Case Interviews?

Land at an elite consulting firm with the most comprehensive case interview prep in the world. The WSO Consulting Interview Prep Course has everything you’ll ever need to land the most coveted jobs.

Consulting Case Interview Prep


 

^^^ 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.

"Sincerity is an overrated virtue" - Milton Friedman
 

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.

"Sincerity is an overrated virtue" - Milton Friedman
 
Best Response

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?"

 

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.

- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 
CaptK:
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

Proboscis
 

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.

http://thematurationofshane.wordpress.com
 
MaturationOfShane:
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?

Proboscis
 

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).

 

At veniam explicabo aliquid perspiciatis fugit et. Quia quam et repellat iusto impedit vitae. Odit nesciunt pariatur cumque impedit repudiandae eum illo dolore.

Proboscis

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”