In an industry where getting a foot in the door can feel more difficult than debugging legacy code, Google software engineer Tawfiq Mohammad’s journey is fast becoming a masterclass in how to build a successful Big Tech career—starting as early as your first year in college.
In an interview with YouTuber Sajjaad Khader, Mohammad shared his experience of interning at Google for two summers before securing a full-time role. He credits this early exposure and structured preparation as some of the most decisive factors in his career. “I think one of the most important things I've done in my career, to date, is applying for these first- and second-year programs,” he said, highlighting how early-stage internships come with a relatively lower hiring bar. “For example, they'll ask like a Leetcode easy instead of a Leetcode medium,” he pointed out, referencing the notorious technical interviews that many developers dread.
From Chaos to Clarity: Tracking Applications Like a Pro
But getting into Google wasn’t just a matter of talent or timing—it was about strategy. Mohammad emphasized the importance of tracking applications rather than submitting resumes en masse and hoping for the best. “It was very organized,” he said. “I would update the status of each application, and it would help me a lot to prepare for each interview and for which stage I was at.”
His advice also included mastering patterns in coding problems rather than rote memorization. “If you try to memorize it problem by problem, you'll eventually be given a problem that you don't know,” he cautioned. “You just want to master the overarching principles.”
Referrals and Realism: Getting a Boost from the Inside
While hard work paid off, Mohammad was honest about the advantages he had. A referral from a family friend already working at Google helped him land an interview faster. “I got an interview really soon after she submitted the referral,” he recalled. “You want to try to separate yourself from everyone as much as you can.”
Still, he made it clear that connections are only one piece of the puzzle. For those without a network, Mohammad recommends building one through independent learning and meaningful projects that demonstrate real-world skills.
The Mindset Shift That Matters
After landing the internship, Mohammad didn’t treat the opportunity as just a resume booster. Instead, he focused on self-learning and becoming as independent as possible while still seeking mentorship when needed. “You're smart enough to evaluate whether you're blocked,” he said. “But try to solve your problems on your own. Just by doing that, you’ll understand how all the systems fit together.”
He also underlined the importance of learning from seasoned developers during internships. “They’re really smart, so you want to absorb as much information as you can from them,” he said in an earlier conversation with Business Insider.
In a tech job market bruised by layoffs and flooded with competition, Mohammad’s story serves as a timely reminder that a mix of strategy, self-study, and soft networking can still crack open the gates of Big Tech. His methods may not be universal, but they offer a framework—perhaps even a playbook—for students hoping to rise in the ranks of Silicon Valley giants.
In an interview with YouTuber Sajjaad Khader, Mohammad shared his experience of interning at Google for two summers before securing a full-time role. He credits this early exposure and structured preparation as some of the most decisive factors in his career. “I think one of the most important things I've done in my career, to date, is applying for these first- and second-year programs,” he said, highlighting how early-stage internships come with a relatively lower hiring bar. “For example, they'll ask like a Leetcode easy instead of a Leetcode medium,” he pointed out, referencing the notorious technical interviews that many developers dread.
From Chaos to Clarity: Tracking Applications Like a Pro
But getting into Google wasn’t just a matter of talent or timing—it was about strategy. Mohammad emphasized the importance of tracking applications rather than submitting resumes en masse and hoping for the best. “It was very organized,” he said. “I would update the status of each application, and it would help me a lot to prepare for each interview and for which stage I was at.”
His advice also included mastering patterns in coding problems rather than rote memorization. “If you try to memorize it problem by problem, you'll eventually be given a problem that you don't know,” he cautioned. “You just want to master the overarching principles.”
Referrals and Realism: Getting a Boost from the Inside
While hard work paid off, Mohammad was honest about the advantages he had. A referral from a family friend already working at Google helped him land an interview faster. “I got an interview really soon after she submitted the referral,” he recalled. “You want to try to separate yourself from everyone as much as you can.”
Still, he made it clear that connections are only one piece of the puzzle. For those without a network, Mohammad recommends building one through independent learning and meaningful projects that demonstrate real-world skills.
The Mindset Shift That Matters
After landing the internship, Mohammad didn’t treat the opportunity as just a resume booster. Instead, he focused on self-learning and becoming as independent as possible while still seeking mentorship when needed. “You're smart enough to evaluate whether you're blocked,” he said. “But try to solve your problems on your own. Just by doing that, you’ll understand how all the systems fit together.”
He also underlined the importance of learning from seasoned developers during internships. “They’re really smart, so you want to absorb as much information as you can from them,” he said in an earlier conversation with Business Insider.
In a tech job market bruised by layoffs and flooded with competition, Mohammad’s story serves as a timely reminder that a mix of strategy, self-study, and soft networking can still crack open the gates of Big Tech. His methods may not be universal, but they offer a framework—perhaps even a playbook—for students hoping to rise in the ranks of Silicon Valley giants.
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