Sundar Pichai went to a job interview: Straight answer never used Gmail but still got accepted and became Google CEO

Usually in a job interview, we try our best to set ourselves apart from other candidates. We always try to impress interviewers, whether by adding special skills to our resumes, or simply by answering tough questions.

But what should we do when we don’t know the answer to a question? Should we just answer “I don’t know” or try to come up with ideas to fix the situation?

Sundar Pichai, the famous CEO of Google, had the same problem in 2004 when he applied at Google himself for the position of vice president of product management.

13 years later, Pichai first shared his interview process at the world’s leading tech giant with students at the school he attended – the Indian Institute of Technology.

Pichai recounted that in the first round of interviews, interviewers asked his opinion about Gmail. Here’s the problem: Google itself announced Gmail that day – April 1. And Pichai couldn’t answer the question because he didn’t know what the product was.

The fourth interviewer asked: “Have you looked at Gmail?”. I answer no. Then he showed it to me. Then the fifth interviewer asked, “Do you have an opinion on Gmail?”. Then I replied, “I think it’s an April Fool’s joke.”

Most candidates will try to fabricate something before trying to answer the question. But Pichai did the exact opposite, which eventually impressed his interviewers, and he got the job.

So let’s find out why Pichai still got the job after giving such a blunt answer:

Pichai candidly demonstrates “intellectual modesty”

In an interview, we may lose points for admitting we don’t know the answer to a question, but it’s better than inventing a false answer.

This is also supported by science. According to research, the ability to admit ignorance or “intellectual modesty” is an important basis for higher learning.

That’s one of the top qualities that Laszlo Bock, former Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Google, looks for in candidates: “Successful, smart people don’t have many failures. Therefore, they cannot learn from failure.

Instead, they will make the fundamental cognitive mistake of believing that if anything good happens, it’s because I’m a genius. And if anything bad happens, it’s usually due to someone else’s incompetence, lack of resources, or a change in the market.

So the next time you apply for a job, when the interviewer asks a difficult question, stay calm and take a moment before answering, like Sundar Pichai. He hadn’t even seen Gmail at the time, so what was there to say?

Pichai gives reason

Pichai insists why he doesn’t know the answer: he hasn’t used the product yet. Instead of just saying , “I don’t know,” he showed interest in the product, which is a quality that recruiters often look for in a candidate.

After every “I don’t know” statement, we have the opportunity to learn something new. Pichai understood that, and the interviewer showed him Gmail in the fourth round.

Pichai redirects the chat

The conversation begins with something Pichai doesn’t know. Pichai then redirected the conversation to reply to what he knew.

He got a better understanding of the product after seeing how Gmail works. Since then, he has had the opportunity to show his frankness and intelligence, which has helped him become very famous at Google later.

Intellectual honesty will allow us to show what we know. Pichai was well prepared to set the best example possible, while handling a difficult situation with respect and sincerity, taking him up to the challenge and being rewarded.

Find a Pichai in each person

Every year, Google receives millions of applications, meaning each candidate has only a 0.2% chance of being hired. If you’re lucky enough to make it through the first round and get an invitation to an in-person interview, determine for yourself how you can make a difference for yourself. Be proud to be among the other 0.2% and make it worthwhile.

Follow the path Sundar Pichai has demonstrated, learning how to answer in an interview from Pichai’s experience with Google itself. Be confident and provide a clear justification for your own ignorance. And instead of denying mistakes, embrace them and use them as a lesson.