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How to Get a Google Internship from UC Berkeley

6 min read · Updated September 23, 2026

Berkeley is next door to Silicon Valley, and its computer science program is one of Google's biggest sources of engineers. That means plenty of Cal alumni at Google, and plenty of competition from your own classmates. Here's how to stand out.

What Google hires interns for

Google's internship programs include:

  • Software Engineering Intern
  • STEP Intern (for first- and second-year students)
  • Associate Product Manager Intern
  • Data Science Intern
  • UX Design Intern

Pick one before you start. Your networking, resume and interview prep all get sharper when they point at a single program and office.

When to apply

Big tech hiring peaks from August to October for the following summer, and applications are rolling, so earlier is better. Postings can close once enough candidates are in the pipeline.

Using Berkeley to get in

If you're a first- or second-year student, look at Google's STEP internship, which is built for early computer science students. It's often the best first step into Google.

Use Berkeley's career center and the Bay Area's tech events and hackathons. Projects you ship and people you meet there show up on your resume and in referrals.

Your resume is judged on what you've built. Put your strongest projects first, with the stack and a link, especially if your work experience is thin.

  1. 1Pick the role
    One program, one office, one deadline.
  2. 2Map alumni
    People from your school at the firm now.InternMax: Alumni search
  3. 3Tailor
    A resume built for that posting.InternMax: Tailored resume
  4. 4Network
    Three to five real conversations before you apply.
  5. 5Apply early
    Submit in the first weeks, with a name to mention.
  6. 6Prep
    Behavioral stories and technicals, out loud.InternMax: Mock interviews
The path from Berkeley to a Google offer. Start two steps earlier than feels necessary.

Networking into Google from Berkeley

Search LinkedIn for “Google” filtered to UC Berkeley, then narrow to engineers on the product area you care about. A referral from a current Googler is common in tech hiring, so a genuine conversation matters.

A first message that works

Hi Kai,

I'm a sophomore in EECS at Berkeley, and I saw you work on Google Maps after graduating from Cal.

I'm applying for the STEP internship and would love to hear how you'd approach it if you were in my position.

Would you have 15 minutes for a quick call?

Go Bears,

Ari

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Find Berkeley alumni at Google

InternMax finds people from Berkeley who work at Google, drafts a note built around your background, and reminds you when to follow up.

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Tailor your resume to the program

Match your resume to the specific Google posting: prove each requirement it lists, use its phrasing where it's true, and keep it to one page. The full process is in how to tailor your resume for each internship.

What Google interviews focus on

  • Technical interviews on data structures and algorithms, usually solved while explaining your approach.
  • Clear communication counts: talk through tradeoffs before you code.
  • Google publishes its own interview prep material. Pair it with practice problems on LeetCode or HackerRank.

For a week-by-week plan, see how to prepare for internship interviews.

InternMax gives your Google application a live landing-chance number, and the next move that raises it.

See your odds at Google

Tell InternMax your school, year and goals, and it shows your chances at Google, the Berkeley alumni to talk to first, and what to do next.

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