How I Landed a Google Digital Marketing Apprenticeship by Isabelle Serrano

Behind The OfferGuest Stories
Written By Jade Walters

Editor’s note: Welcome to Behind The Offer, a series aimed at connecting early-career professionals with personal essays from their peers about how they landed their dream role—and how they can too!

Expect real application and interview advice from real people, as well as insider info on how to land your next internship, campus ambassador role, rotational program, and everything in between.

Today’s essay is from Isabelle Serrano, a 2022 Google Digital Marketing Apprentice and Founder/Host of The Mess With PCOS podcast.

Isabelle’s Bio:

My name is Isabelle Serrano and I am an ex-Googler with 2 years of experience in Digital Marketing, particularly in Ads and Brand Partnerships. I am now the founder and host of the podcast “The Mess with PCOS” on Apple and Spotify Podcasts.

“Don’t be another statistic.”

It’s easier said than done when all you longed for was a sense of belonging in all of the environments around you. This can lead to involvement in negative influences and a lack of self-esteem. This was exactly where my life was in May 2022. 

I was newly diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome soon after my 25th birthday, and all I craved was a win. Unemployed, chronically ill, and insecure is NOT an ideal combination. So, as a birthday gift to myself, I gave myself the confidence to apply for the Google Digital Marketing Apprenticeship, and who would’ve guessed that it would change my life in a multitude of ways.

I was introduced to this opportunity on a night of endless doomscrolling on TikTok, where I discovered a creator mentioning an apprenticeship at Google solely for individuals with no college degree or extensive years of relevant experience. 

“…All I told myself was that if I applied to this, the worst thing they can say is ‘no’ “

As someone who has been called worse names, that was nothing to me. So I applied. 

Being from the projects in Brooklyn meant that you could almost immediately be perceived as someone who wouldn’t experience anything more than the limiting world around you. I wanted to prove myself and everyone who doubted me wrong. 

This was high-stakes for me personally because, while I am aware of my ambition and intelligence, I felt that this role would be the pinnacle of my career. Just imagine me, a plus-sized, POC woman from the projects, clocking in for my 9-5 in the Google NYC offices, sitting in some of the most significant meetings that could change the course of technology as we know it. And indeed, I did.


The Application and Interview Process

The application process was not as grueling as I presumed. Since I only applied for the Digital Marketing Apprenticeship, I can only speak for the Digital Marketing track.

It consisted of:

  • an updated resume

  • proof of a High School Diploma or GED

  • answers to a few multiple-choice questions and

  • one essay discussing why you feel that you are the best fit for the apprenticeship

    Easy peasy.

In my opinion, what made my application stand out was

My 2-year involvement in Virtual Enterprises International, a non-profit organization that teaches students how to run their own businesses. That experience led to an 8-week internship at Deloitte right after my high school graduation in 2015. Additionally, I had approximately 3 years of on-and-off experience volunteering to help children and the homeless. These opportunities were so fulfilling to me and the people I helped, and this also helped beef up my resume.

Now, the interview process? A whole different ballgame.

3 weeks of interview prep, practicing the art of selling myself, and learning more about the history of Google as a company were the most difficult parts of the 2-month process from applying to receiving the offer letter.

It was 4 interviews in total, but

“…what helped is attending the virtual recruiter sessions to help applicants ace their interviews. “

Please take advantage of any opportunities to truly connect with anyone close to where you want to be. In that case, I wanted to be in the Google offices, so I did what I felt was needed. I attended two sessions before my first round of 2, 45-minute interviews with various Google employees.  

The questions seemed easy at first.

“Tell me about yourself.”

For those who may not know, PLEASE answer this from a professional standpoint

—followed by

“What made you want to apply to this apprenticeship?”.

This quickly led to 25 minutes of behavioral and situational questions that I admittedly almost blanked out on.

The beauty of interviews is that it is an equal exchange conversation between you and the interviewer. There is no need to feel like you have to answer before the interviewer even finishes the question. If you need 30-60 seconds to process your answer, please ask. They will not say no. It actually demonstrates that you can think critically to come up with a solution that feels good to you and sounds great to them.

Finally, have 2-3 questions prepared for your interviewers to answer.

I remember asking

“What is one challenge your team is currently facing, and how can I contribute to mitigating this issue?”

and

“Can you tell me if I would feel valued in this company as a disabled, younger woman of color?” 

Asking these particular questions gave me a pleasantly surprised face from all of my interviewers. I knew from that moment that even if I did not receive an offer, I would at least be unforgettable to them. That was enough validation for me.

August 17th, 2022.

The day I received the call. I remember sitting silently in the kitchen, nervously snacking on everything in sight. This time felt different for some reason. Working in food/hospitality jobs was what I did for over five years, just to pay my phone bill and shop. Having this 20-month apprenticeship at Google was a way out of the hood for me. 

I remember seeing my recruiter, Jeffrey Hartsock’s name, pop up on my boyfriend’s cell phone (my cell phone was out of service) and my heart dropped. I think I stopped breathing for a minute. The next words that came out of his mouth determined what the next 20 months of my life would look like. “Hi Isabelle, I have some really good news for you.” Immediately, my voice cracked and the tears followed. “Yes, Jeffrey?”,

“Congratulations Isabelle, We would like to extend you an offer to the Google Digital Marketing Apprenticeship starting this September.”

I fell apart in my boyfriend's arms and said thank you to anyone who could hear me. To Jeffrey, my parents, God, my boyfriend, ME. You already know I accepted that offer the same day, without a thought.

September 12th, 2022 was the first day of the best years of my career so far.

Reading the offer letter for the 24th time in 3 weeks reminded me of something important. This would be the first time I was ever salaried with above-average medical, dental, and vision benefits.

“…$ 54,000 a year, compared to the ~ $ 30,000 I was making in food service, was a dream come true for me.”

When I say that Self Made Millennial and this Google Students video from 6 years ago about preparing for your upcoming interview was a huge part of the reason that I feel that I received an offer, I mean that. Their methods, tips and tricks became LAW for me as I practiced. Ensuring that you know about the company you plan to work for is extremely important. 

Try to remember:

  • important company dates

  • the names of significant people such as the CEO, CMO, directors, and technological advances

and more could give you a one-up against other applicants.

On The Job

My time working in both Ads Marketing and Brand Partnerships was insightful. I gained the knowledge of working with multiple external agencies on tentpole events, establishing genuine relationships with some brands that I’ve admired since I was a child and so much more.

The combination of hands-on training with my Google team and monthly Friday sessions with Multiverse provided me with the tools to build a solid marketing foundation for my current personal endeavor, which is my podcast “The Mess With PCOS”. I know that I would be very ill-prepared without those lessons. 

But the best part of my time at the Google apprenticeship?

The friends I’ve made along the way. Kiara Hernandez, Taylor Whitaker, Salina Fu, Tyler Hamilton and Hafeezat A., thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Your patience, kindness and love was the reason I chose myself first with every decision I’ve made, professional and otherwise. To think that there is a world of mine out there where none of you are in it is unfathomable to me. From helping me with day-to day tasks at work to celebrating major milestones even after the program ended, I don’t take any of it for granted. 

Major Takeaway

My biggest piece of advice to anyone interested in applying, regardless of the outcome,

“…you and your life are more than a job title.”

You are your hobbies, your likes and dislikes, your relationships, the environments around you and SO MUCH MORE and you will only evolve into the person you hope to be in this life, which I hope is beautiful and kind.

Also, not to sound cliché but,

“…be yourself.”

The recruiters, interviewers, and hopefully your colleagues want to know more about you and what you like. Finally, stand on what you believe in and know your worth from the moment you click “apply now” to the day your apprenticeship ends, not just at Google but any company you plan to work for.

The statistic I chose for myself was to be in the 7.5% of Latina women who worked at Google during my tenure. Now, I am currently working towards being the top 1% of podcast creators for women navigating Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome too.

HOW TO APPLY

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HOW TO APPLY 〰️

Editor’s Note:

Google is currently accepting applications for their apprenticeship program. This is a global program offered in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Ireland, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and India. This program is targeted towards those with a High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent. This is great for those who do not have a college degree.

Google offers apprenticeships in select Google offices across the United States. Each site hosts one or more of the following professional tracks:

Jade Walters
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