Preparing for a Google Cloud Application Engineer or Professional Services Telephone Interview

During a Google Cloud Application Engineer or Professional Services telephone interview, candidates can expect a mix of technical, behavioral, and situational questions. This article will provide you with a comprehensive guide to help you prepare for what you might encounter.

Technical Questions

Technical questions in these interviews often revolve around cloud concepts, Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services, architecture and design, programming and scripting, and troubleshooting.

Cloud Concepts

- Explain the differences between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. - What are the key components of Google Cloud Platform (GCP)?

GCP Services

- Describe how you would use Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) for container orchestration. - How does Google Cloud Storage differ from Google Cloud SQL?

Architecture and Design

- How would you design a highly available application on GCP? - Discuss how you would implement security in a cloud application.

Programming and Scripting

You might be asked to write a small piece of code or a script. Be prepared to demonstrate your familiarity with languages like Python, Java, or Go.

Troubleshooting

Be ready to give an example of a problem you encountered in a cloud environment and how you resolved it.

Behavioral Questions

Behavioral questions are designed to assess your soft skills and how you handle various situations in a professional environment. Common types include teamwork and collaboration, problem-solving, and adaptability.

Teamwork and Collaboration

- Describe a time when you had to work closely with a team to achieve a goal. - How do you handle conflicts within a team?

Problem-Solving

- Tell me about a challenging technical problem you faced and how you approached it. - How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects?

Adaptability

- Describe a situation where you had to learn a new technology quickly.

Situational Questions

Situational questions test hypothetical scenarios that you might encounter in a professional setting. Examples of these include:

Client Interaction

- How would you approach a client who is hesitant about migrating to the cloud? - If a project is falling behind schedule, what actions would you take to get it back on track?

Project Management

- How do you ensure that project requirements are met and stakeholders are kept informed?

Preparation Tips

To excel in your interview, follow these preparation tips:

Understand GCP

- Familiarize yourself with GCP services, best practices, and recent updates.

Review Projects

- Be prepared to discuss your past projects, focusing on your role, the technologies used, and the outcomes.

Practice Coding

- Brush up on coding skills relevant to the position and practice coding problems.

Behavioral STAR Method

- Use the STAR Situation, Task, Action, Result method to structure your responses to behavioral questions.

By following these guidelines and preparing thoroughly, you can demonstrate your qualifications and fit for the role. Good luck!