Interview Story 101: Sobbing like a child to Google Internship

Hello everyone, I am Sanskriti Agrawal.

I’ve never really written anything like this before, so I wasn’t sure how to start. But I want to keep it friendly — like I’m just having a conversation with you. So let’s begin.

I’m Sanskriti Agrawal, currently pursuing an Integrated Master of Technology in Mathematics and Computing from IIT(ISM), Dhanbad. I’m a Machine Learning enthusiast… oh no, sorry — I got carried away. That’s the intro I usually give in interviews. I’ve said it so many times, it just comes out automatically after “I am Sanskriti Agrawal.” Huhh!! Interviews, right? What a rollercoaster of mixed emotions.

I still remember how I couldn’t sleep the night before my first interview. My mind kept going: “Oh! I could’ve said this, that…” — overthinking everything. That phase has passed now (thank God). I’ve landed my internships, and I’ve learned how to communicate in interviews.

I’ve always been an extrovert. Talking to people came naturally to me. So while others were learning tips and tricks for interviews, I felt pretty confident — overconfident, some might say. And that… actually led to my downfall.

I guess you’re here to learn about how to talk in interviews. And what’s a better teacher than failure? But don’t worry — you don’t have to fail to learn. A wise person learns from the mistakes of others. I was foolish enough to make them, so now I can guide you.

Let’s start with a little backstory.

I was selected for Uber She++ 2024. To get an internship with Uber, we had to go through an interview that wasn’t focused on DSA. It was more like a “get to know you” kind of conversation.

I asked my friends and seniors what to expect. Some said computer fundamentals like OS, OOPs, DBMS, etc. Others mentioned basic questions about your projects or maybe even some DSA questions — without the coding. Trust me, I left no stone unturned. I studied everything in a week, gave mock interviews with seniors, and more.

The day before the interview, I was feeling fully prepared and confident that I was going to ace it. But you know how those last-minute jitters hit. My interview was scheduled for 10 AM. I tried sleeping at 11 so I could wake up early and feel fresh. But the moment I hit the bed, I remembered a small part of my project I hadn’t prepared. Anxiety kicked in — “What if they ask about that part only?”

So I got up and started studying again. Slept at 3 AM, woke up at 9 for the 10 AM interview. I had a severe headache too.

Then the interview began. He asked for my intro — “I’m pursuing an Integrated Master of Technology in Mathematics and Computing.”
“Ohhhh!!” the interviewer exclaimed, “Mathematics and Computing, is it? Which courses have you studied so far?”
I mentioned a few, including Linear Algebra.
Oh, what a terrible idea that was.

He started asking questions on Linear Algebra. My brain was screaming, Nooo, not this topic! Ask about my projects, OOPs, OS — anything but this! Since it was my first interview, I didn’t know how to respond. I stammered and tried to say whatever I could remember.

And just like that, 45 minutes passed. I was so disappointed, so sad. It felt like the world was collapsing. All my friends had good interviews. They were asked about their projects and resumes. Meanwhile, I was crying inside: “Why me, God, whyyyyy?”

I remember being sad for two months. But the real internship season hadn’t even started yet.

I decided I wouldn’t stay sad anymore — I was going to give it my all. I took the summer semester and stayed back in college. Attended classes in the morning. I had a good CGPA, so I decided to focus entirely on DSA. I worked my ass off.

Then, by God’s grace, I got a mail from a Google recruiter for an internship opportunity. I was on top of the world. Quickly tweaked my resume and submitted it. The interview was scheduled a week later.

I still had some DSA topics to revise. I studied day and night to at least get a basic understanding of each. As the day approached, I felt pretty confident.

But then… The Sanskriti Moment happened. The breakdown

I had my interview at 12. I decided not to study that day. But around 10 AM, I thought, “Why not just practice a little?” I love, love, love Graphs. I figured I’d just implement DFS once.

But I couldn’t. I was stuck. Blank.
Total meltdown.

I called my senior, crying. She didn’t pick up. I called again. When she finally answered, I said,
“Ma’am, mujhse nahi hoga. Mera aaj interview hai. Main apna favourite DFS bhi nahi kar pa rahi. I’m a loser…” and what not.
She replied,
“Sanskriti, calm down. You have a GOOGLE interview. That’s a big deal. Your internship season hasn’t even started yet. Even if this one doesn’t go well, there are so many companies ahead. It’s normal to go blank sometimes before interviews. You’ll do great.”

I felt better. (Thank you so so so much ma’am. I have thanked you a thousand times, and will continue to do so. I love you.) So, I calmed myself down. Sat at my desk and chanted for a bit, trying to relax.

And then — the interview started. And it went great.

It felt like I was having a conversation. That, I believe, is the key to any good interview. We often think the interviewer is there to reject us — but no. They’re there to select us. Talk to them like you’re building a connection.

Yes, brush up on your skills, but if you get stuck, it’s okay. The interviewer will guide you. That happened to me in both Google interviews. I got stuck, but I explained my thought process — and they helped me through it.

If I’d done the same in my Uber interview, who knows? Maybe I’d have made it. But I didn’t know that then. I was scared. I didn’t communicate properly. I was just answering the questions like a robot. And that’s not how you give an interview.

I kept blaming my luck, but it wasn’t that. It was my inability that led to rejection.

Now I don’t blame my luck — because I’m glad I didn’t get into Uber. If I had, maybe I would’ve missed out on Google — my dream since I was 15.

So always remember two things:

First, Communication is the key to acing any interview. Yes, your skills matter — DSA, development, projects — but none of it guarantees selection if you can’t communicate well. Second, Everything works out in the end — for the best. Don’t get discouraged by rejections. Maybe those aren’t what’s best for you. Because your best is waiting for you. Just give it time.