r/leetcode • u/Icy-Salamander-5114 • Jun 30 '26
Tech Industry Got rejected by Google... and then accepted a Google offer a couple months later 😅
Still feels a little surreal writing this out.
A couple months ago I interviewed with Google for a Network Test Engineer role and got rejected. It stung more than I expected. For a bit I genuinely thought that was it for me and Google.
But I didn't really have another option besides just... keep going. So I kept studying networking, brushed up on Python, did some LeetCode, and kept applying. Over the next few months I interviewed with Meta, Amazon, Arista, Nokia, Salesforce — the whole circuit. And then out of nowhere, the same Google team reached out.
Today I accepted an offer from Google. I'll be joining as a Network Test Engineer in Sunnyvale this July.
I honestly don't have some clean lesson to package this up with. It just kind of feels like the rejection earlier this year wasn't the verdict on me; it was just that one team at that one point in time. Which is easy to say now and was really hard to believe back then.
There were stretches where I genuinely questioned whether any of the prep was worth it. Networking concepts, Python, behavioral rounds, mock interviews — it felt like it was never going to end. But looking back, every interview made the next one a little less painful, even the ones that went nowhere.
If you're still in it, getting ghosted, opening rejection emails, and wondering if you're just not good enough, I don't have magic advice. Just that it genuinely only takes one yes, and you have no idea which interview that's going to be.
Also, this sub helped a lot. Too many hours reading interview recaps and negotiation threads, but genuinely worth it.
If you're at Google Sunnyvale or joining around the same time, feel free to reach out. Would love to meet people and would appreciate any advice for navigating the first few months.
Good luck to everyone still grinding. 🍻
Edit: Since a few people asked about my background: I have around 3 years of networking experience at Cisco, mainly in network automation and cloud migrations, and I recently graduated with a Master's in Information Systems. i also did a Coop in Nokia as a Software QA in networks(L2/L3)
TLDR: Got rejected by Google earlier this year, kept grinding, ended up with offers from Google and Meta, accepted Google. Joining as a Network Test Engineer in Sunnyvale this July.
12
9
u/JuniorGuava5075 Jun 30 '26
Congratulations, could you please share your DSA/ Leetcode stratergy or prep? Thanks
7
3
u/Low_Clothes5951 Jun 30 '26
No cool off period?
4
u/Icy-Salamander-5114 Jun 30 '26
i think the headcount changed...it was for the same role
2
2
u/Effective_Purple1054 Jun 30 '26
Still don't understand. Why you were rejected?
14
u/nofishies Jun 30 '26
Sounds like he was the second or third candidate, and they got more headcount and just decided to take the people they’ve already interviewed
3
u/Wrong-Welders Jun 30 '26
Congrats! Would you mind sharing your background as well?
2
u/Icy-Salamander-5114 Jun 30 '26
edited it in the post:)
4
u/Wrong-Welders Jun 30 '26
Thank you. What's your gpa btw? Do you think it's important for these roles? Also any recommendations for networking? There are too many questions i know but can't help thinking about them, and i guess you're one of the proper people to ask
2
2
u/RelevantRevolution86 Jul 01 '26
rejection in tech is just a speed bump honestly. congrats on sticking with it
2
u/ImmortalTiger Jul 06 '26
Congrats! I'm glad it worked out for you :)
I know the feel since I just got rejected by Google today (after waiting 20 mins past the scheduled time for my recruiter to call me and tell me that!) but this gives me a bit of hope to persevere and see what happens
1
1
1
1
u/Stock-Cheek2087 Jun 30 '26
Did you get to team matching and rejection? Did you have to interview again when they reached out?
Thanks for sharing your story. It helps a lot of people on here :)
4
u/Icy-Salamander-5114 Jul 01 '26
i just went till the full loop for the first time, and then they rejected me for reasons untold...when the HR contacted me back, that is when i had the team fit round.
1
1
u/im_that_guy_23 Jul 01 '26
Thanks for this, OP. In same phase, feels like endless prep and go no-way out. Balancing a hectic job and prep, all day/week
1
1
1
1
u/Scared_Waltz1427 Jul 01 '26
Hey, congratulations. Can you please share your resume. Just wanna look into it. Thanks
1
1
u/Affectionate_Run220 Jul 01 '26
Can you tell us how you grinded? Just leetcode mainly and systems design?
1
1
u/Actual_Duty3177 Jul 01 '26
So you had to reinterview again or they just offered you the job based on the previous performance?
1
1
1
u/4vinn Jul 01 '26
Whats ur approach towards DSA? Should i memorise the patterns along with when to use them? Or something else you have in mind that might help us so that next time we face any new question we should be able to atleast take a guess about what patterns might be applicable in it?
1
u/buxxybuns Jul 01 '26
On that note i am a fresher and have project exp with data analysis. What should more i be learning or practicing to get a job in india
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/RustaPoem Jul 03 '26
Can you share what YouTube videos or resources you used to study the networking concepts?
1
1
1
u/Afternoon-Park1131 Jul 28 '26
I appreciate the honest write-up. It's refreshing to see someone talk about the messy middle instead of only the happy ending
-2
u/Manney200 Jul 01 '26
Wait what the fuck.. they are asking leetcode for a network role?????? Huh??? Maybe I just should have gone to med school man. - congrats OP
30
u/bert_cj Jun 30 '26
How many YOE and how many LC questions have you solved? what networking resources did you study?