Tier 3 to Google 40LPA | 2024 Batch Pass Out

Summary

Shreya Narayan, a graduate from a Tier 3 college, shares her inspiring journey to becoming a Google Software Engineer. Despite initial setbacks, she pursued web development, excelled in coding contests, built a supportive peer group, and secured internships at Goldman Sachs. Shreya emphasizes the importance of early career exploration, mastering DSA, having a strong peer network, and maintaining the right mindset for interviews. Her story is a testament to determination and the power of leveraging connections and opportunities.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Shreya Narayan, despite joining a Tier 3 college, aspired to work at Google, inspired by its California headquarters' features like free food and pet-friendly environment.
• 💻 Shreya started coding during the COVID-19 lockdown after her JEE exam in 2020, learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React by following YouTube courses.
• 🤝 She found a like-minded peer group in college through shared interests in coding contests, which was crucial for her learning and motivation.
• 🏆 Shreya and her team won the Smart India Hackathon and UNESCO India-Africa Hackathon, showcasing her competitive programming skills.
• 💼 Shreya secured internships at Goldman Sachs, enhancing her resume and gaining valuable industry experience with a stipend of 1 lakh per month.
• 🔍 To crack Google, Shreya utilized LinkedIn Premium to network with professionals, sending personalized messages and highlighting her achievements.
• 🎯 She emphasized the importance of Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) in technical interviews, practicing extensively on platforms like LeetCode and Codeforces.
• 📈 Shreya's proactive approach to learning, participating in hackathons, and building a strong network played a significant role in her successful job search.
• 🗣️ She advises freshers to start early, focus on DSA, find a supportive peer group, maintain a positive mindset for interviews, and build professional connections.
• 🎉 Shreya's journey from a Tier 3 college to Google serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that with determination and the right approach, one can achieve their career goals.

Q & A

What inspired Shreya to dream of working at Google?

Shreya was inspired by a video of Google's California Headquarters she watched in standard 10, which showcased the interior, free food, pets at work, and everything that fascinated her.

When did Shreya start coding and what technologies did she learn?

Shreya started coding after her JEE exam in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She followed a course on YouTube and learned HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React, eventually covering the MERN stack.

How did Shreya find a peer group in her Tier 3 college?

Shreya found a peer group by posting in a college group asking if anyone participated in Codeforces contests. Eventually, she connected with a few others who were interested in contests, forming a supportive circle.

What was Shreya's experience participating in the Smart India Hackathon?

Shreya and her team won the Smart India Hackathon after competing in three rounds in Coimbatore. This victory led to an opportunity to participate in the UNESCO India-Africa Hackathon.

How did Shreya secure internships at Goldman Sachs?

Shreya secured internships at Goldman Sachs through the Engineering Campus Hiring program, which had a CGPA criterion of 6.5. She cracked the Aptitude Round and a coding round before being selected for the interviews.

What was the stipend Shreya received during her internship at Goldman Sachs?

Shreya received a stipend of 1 lakh per month during her internship at Goldman Sachs, with no tax deducted, for a total of two months in the summer and five months in the winter.

How did Shreya prepare for her interviews at Goldman Sachs?

Shreya prepared for her Goldman Sachs interviews by watching a comprehensive YouTube playlist covering all the topics for the Aptitude Round and focusing on Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) for the coding round.

What strategy did Shreya use to get noticed by companies like Google?

Shreya used LinkedIn Premium to send over 250 personalized messages to HRs and employees at companies she was interested in, highlighting her achievements and providing a link to her resume.

What was the interview process like for Shreya at Google?

Shreya had three interviews at Google, two of which were technical with a Googliness round and one that was purely technical. She was given a month to prepare and received insights from seniors and online platforms like GeeksforGeeks.

What advice does Shreya have for freshers starting their college journey?

Shreya advises freshers to start early, focus on DSA, find a good peer group, maintain a positive mindset for interviews, and build connections on LinkedIn to explore opportunities.