What It’s Really Like To Be A Google Intern

Image via Flickr/ Yang and Yun

You use the search engine every day, and you probably use its countless other services. But can you imagine working for Google?

A recent video of new interns at Google shows us just how magical of a place it can be.

When you think of an internship, two words most likely come to mind: unpaid and bitch. Most summer internships these days are unpaid and have you working long hours as everyone’s little bitch around the office. This gives you delightful points to add to your resume. Served morning coffee! Check. Cleaned superior’s desk! Check. Made dinner reservations for the entire office and wasn’t invited! Check.

Not so at Google, however. The company pays its Interns close to $6,000 a month, plus allows them access to all of Google’s fantastic facilities. It’s a giant technological playground—with an actual playground outside, as well.

Scott Dobroski, corporate communications manager at Glassdoor, spoke with the Huffington Post about what Google interns get besides that hefty salary.

“At Google, we see themes that interns speak very favorably about working on innovative technology and building products that touch the lives of millions and are changing the world, which also involve collaboration with bright colleagues who are willing to help and teach them,” Dobroski said.

Indeed. A speaker during the video tells interns that one year working at Google will let them make more of a difference in the world than most people will make in their entire lifetimes.

Google isn’t the only company to pay their interns a high salary. Microsoft interns make anywhere from $5,500 to $7,000 a month. In the technology world, the war over talented people has continued to rage, causing tech companies to increase the benefits that come with working at their company.

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson’s latest movie, The Internship does provide some comedic insight into what it would be like to intern at Google.

For example, Google interns rate the company’s interview process among the hardest they’ve ever encountered. Wilson and Vaughn are asked by Google employees how they would respond to being shrunken to the size of a nickel and then dropped into the bottom of a blender. The jury is still out as to whether or not Google actually asks this question during its interview process, but there’s no questioning the difficulty of earning a spot in the Google offices.

The interview process isn’t the only thing challenging about interning at Google.  

“While Google interns also talk about a handsome monthly base pay and other benefits, it’s interesting to note they also say they do work long hours and are often given deadlines to complete projects,” says Dobroski.

Google reminds me of Pixar and Apple in a way. Highly talented and creative people working an absolute dream job with incredible benefits and pay. But the work is demanding and arduous, and few can make the cut to work at these high end companies. Many dream of working at a place that lets you walk your dog or relax and work on your own projects. Currently this level of comfort seems only reserved for high-tech companies with billions of dollar in revenue.

For now, most interns are going to be stuck working for little to no pay. The life of a Google intern is a dream, but a bit of ambition and a lot of talent will get you there.