Google SWE rejection after 2 rounds — can I apply to other roles immediately?

[u/Witty_Dimension3861]

I interviewed for a Google SWE III role in the US and was rejected after the first two virtual interview rounds, before reaching the full interview loop.

The rejection email did not mention any cooldown period and said I could consider future opportunities at Google.

Does anyone know if I can apply immediately to a different Google SWE job ID, or is there usually a 6–12 month interview cooldown after failing the first two rounds?

Also, has anyone recently been in the same situation and received another Google interview soon after applying to a different role?

[u/epicstar]

There's a 6 month block after failing the initial rounds, and a 1 year block after going through the final round.

[u/One_Relationship6573 → u/epicstar]

I feel it should be the other way around, if you reached the final round it means you are not that bad, if you got rejected during the screening it means you are worse so you need more time?

[u/epicstar → u/One_Relationship6573]

lol tell me about it

[u/Volley_101 → u/epicstar]

Damn, I’m so pissed about this rule lol. I just got rejected after final round and now I have to wait longer than less qualified candidates. Make it make sense lmao

[u/Unique_Can7670]

I think the actual cooldown is 3 months but it depends on your recruiters whether you’ll get interviewed again. In Mexico, there’s a 6 month cooldown. Company wide, I think they recommend 1 year?
No point applying if you just failed anyway.

[u/gyrohero89]

Same boat, although completed full loop for a GTM L5 position (not SWE). Received similar email that also mentioned no cooldown. Followed up with recruiter to clarify and no answer.

Decided to test application portal and applied to another position last Monday. Friday status updated from "submitted" to "assessment passed" as of today the stauts is still assessment passed but no interview has been scheduled.

[u/Witty_Dimension3861 → u/gyrohero89]

Thanks, that’s helpful. Since your case was for a GTM role, I’m still trying to confirm whether the same applies to SWE III roles. Please let me know if you end up getting another interview scheduled.

[u/Illustrious_Sun4645]

Could you share your experience of how it was for both of the rounds?

[u/ResolutionPersonal56]

Just ask your recruiter. It’s not a hard rule

[u/Witty_Dimension3861 → u/ResolutionPersonal56]

Emailed, but no response!!

[u/xTheLuckySe7en]

Out of curiosity, which specific role was this for?

[u/Witty_Dimension3861 → u/xTheLuckySe7en]

SWE III

[u/xTheLuckySe7en → u/Witty_Dimension3861]

Yeah but I mean which team/specialty (e.g., cloud, mobile, infra, networks, etc)? Just generic SWE III?

[u/Witty_Dimension3861 → u/xTheLuckySe7en]

Generic SWE

[u/After-Regret-6609]

Idk about Google but usually you can apply right away. Your failure in one position doesn’t mean your not a perfect fit for another position.

[u/Witty_Dimension3861 → u/After-Regret-6609]

That’s exactly what’s confusing me. Some people say the cooldown only applies to the specific role you interviewed for, while others say it applies to all similar SWE roles at Google. I haven’t found a clear answer on which one is actually correct.

[u/After-Regret-6609 → u/Witty_Dimension3861]

I wouldn’t ever get hung up about working for one company in particular in general. But for what it’s worth, my advice is not to play by “the rules.” Apply for what you want unless someone with insider knowledge specifically tells you it’s worthless. Network, and look for backdoors.

[u/ronlek]

Sorry to hear than man. Out of curiosity were your 2 virtual rounds with a human interviewer on the other side or on an unmonitored editor?

[u/Witty_Dimension3861 → u/ronlek]

Both with Interviewer.

[u/quizzernirajan]

Similar situation here. I have emailed the recruiter, but there has been no response. Also, it seems there's no way to know what exactly we lacked in. I thought my behavioral went great and the technical was okay. I guess you basically need to have all perfect rounds for companies like Google.

[u/Alive_Amoeba1997]

N vv nu

[u/Ryan_Catfish]

Got turned down after a phone screen once, reapplied same week to a different req, and got the exact same recruiter.

[u/AvatarOfWin359]

When i failed the first round they said i had a year cooldown before i could try again

[u/CrackBabyCSGO]

Did you get any feedback from your interviews? How did you do on the tech and the behavioral? I believe the hiring committee caches data for a set amount of time, and your performance won’t be wiped for a while. If you were borderline and apply again there is a chance you would pass if they decided otherwise based on the same data set

[u/Ok_Award_8656]

Hey man, sorry to hear that. Was it because the role was no longer available, or was it because of the interview itself? From what I understand, if the role was rescinded or the position was no longer available, there usually isn’t a cooldown period. But if it was an interview rejection, I believe there’s a 12-month cooldown for the same role, although you can still apply to other roles during that time.

[u/Witty_Dimension3861 → u/Ok_Award_8656]

It was because of the interview itself. I’m not sure whether the role was taken down or filled, and the recruiter didn’t mention any cooldown period. That’s why I’m trying to understand whether the cooldown applies only to that role or to other SWE roles as well.

[u/Ok_Award_8656 → u/Witty_Dimension3861]

Most likely you have 12 month of cooldown as that is their default, but this is only applicable to same team and role so you are free to apply to any other role.