Case Study: Google’s Recruitment and Selection Process
Google Inc., the world’s largest and most popular search engine company, is also one of the most sought after companies
in the world. Due to the popularity of the company caused by its highly attractive compensation and benefits packages for
its employees, millions of job applications are constantly received by Google on an annual basis.
When Google Inc. topped the ranks for the most popular companies in the world, it could no longer contain the number of
applications it receives from thousands of job hunters from all over the globe. Google aims to hire only the best employees
that fit the organizational culture and standards of Google, so the company started thinking of ways to better improve
its recruitment and selection process for its would-be employees.
The Google Inc management decided to focus on the distinct behavioural characteristics and personality that separates
Google employees from any other employees in other known companies. It shifted its focus from academic qualifications
and technical experiences to the applicant’s personality, creativity, leadership capacities, innovative and non-conventional
ways of thinking and the applicant’s overall exposure to the world.
The Google Recruitment Process
Google is known for various unique approaches that it has utilised in order to attract the cream of the crop or the best of the
bests. Google has so successfully utilized their brand in order to attract the most talented and highly competent individuals
in the world. Because of their claim of providing the best employee-employer experience supported by the many perks,
benefits and high salaries that Google employees get to enjoy, Google became the most desired companies for men and
women in the world.
In order to attract the best employees, Google draws them by the promise of wealth and luxury, providing their employees
with almost everything an employee could possibly need, from absurdly high compensations to extravagant and luxurious
benefits like gourmet food, carwash, gym, snacks, exercise classes, dry cleaning services, car services, haircuts, oil
changes, massages and many more, all for free.
One notable recruitment technique that Google utilised in 2006 was the targeted and unobtrusive approach to sending
recruitment messages. Google crafted a simple technique to recruit the best students in certain schools and universities to
work for them. They allowed people from these schools to access the search portal of Google wherein the students’ IP
address would be identified. The approach was definitely a successful micro-targeted approach. It was also in the same
year when Google opened up to the idea of an Employee Referral Program.
The Google selection process
The algorithm technique effectively separated the top and the best performers from thousands of candidates vying for a
position. Moreover, the assessment tool was made sure to successfully predict the best possible candidates from the least
and the average.
Google is able to accurately identify the best candidates for the position using a more data-based and scientific approach.
Usually, the interviews begin using the telephone. Once the phone interviews conducted have been successful, the
applicant would be scheduled by the recruitment officer and be invited for a series of five to ten interviews in one day with
ten different people.
The interviews are filled with brain teasers, algorithmic problems, and IQ tests.
There were many instances when the applicants were asked to write codes, brain storm, role play or solve mathematical
equations on the spot just to prove that they are highly-skilled and competent.
https://www.mbaknol.com/management-case-studies/case-study-googles-recruitment-and-selection-process/
Answer ALL the questions in this section.

Question 1 (25 Marks)
Explain ANY THREE (3) human resource functions. Referring to the case study, discuss Google’s recruitment and selection
process.

Question 2 (25 Marks)
“Human Resource Management today is significantly different from personnel management that was practiced years ago.”
Differentiate clearly between the THREE (3) approaches to human resource management. Give your opinion of which
approach is used by Google. Motivate your answer.

Question 3 (25 Marks)
Explain the concept of strategic management and strategic human resource management (SHRM). Discuss the FOUR (4)
organisational strategies and the HR recruitment and selection strategy that will align with each strategy. Give your opinion
which organisational strategy Google is implementing and their HR strategy that aligns with it. Use the case study to
motivate your answer.

Question 4 (25 Marks)
Explain the THREE (3) challenges that affect human resource management at Google. Discuss the approaches that HR
managers at Google can adopt in order to proactively manage the various Human Resource issues and challenges of the
twenty-first century.