Build your future with Google

Overview

The Software Product Sprint (SPS) program is committed to increasing representation in tech by building a network of support for students who identify with historically excluded groups. SPS introduces students to tech industry best practices, diverse career paths to and within the tech industry, and an opportunity to apply concepts learned in school to hand-ons and collaborative projects.

During this 11 week program you will have the opportunity to work alongside a community of Googlers and peers to:

Build a personally meaningful web app
Practice interviewing with Google engineers
Get feedback on your resume from Google recruiters
Participate in an online community and regularly scheduled career workshops

The program is open to students who meet all the minimum qualifications and we strongly encourage students that identify with groups historically excluded from the technology industry, including Women, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, students with disabilities, and veterans to apply. Previous participants of SPS are not eligible to reapply.

Program Goals

Provide students practical experience with industry-aligned skills: contributing to open source software using Git and GitHub, conducting code reviews with/for teammates, extending an existing codebase, participating in distributed development, and designing new components and interfaces.
Connect students to a community of like-minded peers and Googlers.
Support students in navigating their own unique career paths within CS.
Provide exposure and insight into Google’s internship program and other career opportunities in the tech industry.

Eligibility

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

Be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelors or an Associate degree at a college or university in North America
Intend to enroll in or be accepted as a full-time student in a Bachelors program at an accredited university in North America for the 2022-2023 academic year
Intend to graduate between December 2023 and 2025
Be studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field
Be located in a North American time zone for the entirety of the program (May - August 2022)
Be familiar with basic Java prior to starting SPS
Have completed a Data Structures & Algorithms college course by end of Spring 2022
Be able to commit 8 hours per week during the 11 weeks of the program (May - August 2022)
Be fluent in English
Demonstrate passion for improving representation of underrepresented groups in computer science and technology

Current and Summer 2022 Google interns are not eligible to apply.

Application Process

You will be asked to complete an online application which includes:

General background information (e.g. contact information and details about your current and intended college or university)
Resume/CV
Academic transcripts from your current institution (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
Response to one short essay question
A short technical task

Essay Question:

The Software Product Sprint program is an opportunity to grow your skills and gain exposure to industry professionals and real world best practices. This program will require you to work alongside a team and be responsible for the build out of your own product in 11 weeks and you will likely encounter some bumps along the way.

In 300 or less words, tell us about a time that you were faced with a challenge and how you overcame it. Explain the challenge you encountered, the solutions you considered, what actions you took and the outcome of your efforts. Keep in mind that challenges can be big or small. We are looking for a demonstration of your problem solving skills in the situation (please note that the formal use of English grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling is not the top priority here, our reviewers will mostly be interested in the content of your answer).

Important: Before starting the application, please have the following ready for upload:

PDF copy of your resume/CV
PDF copy of your current transcript (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
PDF copy of your short answer response

Please ensure that you enter your information accurately and we recommend that you submit your application in one sitting. You will receive a confirmation when your application has been successfully submitted. Please review the FAQs for SPS. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to sps-na@google.com.

Applications for 2022 are currently closed.

What is Software Product Sprint?

SPS is an immersive, virtual program that, through the development of a web app, will highlight the fundamentals of software engineering and web development. Throughout the program, students will have opportunities to connect with industry professionals and peers in order to build meaningful projects, receive tailored career development resources, and build a community of like-minded peers and Googlers.

When will the program take place?

SPS will take place virtually during May through August of 2022.

What is the length of the program?

The program is a total of 11 weeks.

Weeks 1-4: Participants build a digital portfolio and design an algorithm for a mini-web app. Each participant works independently, but has weekly check-ins with Googler mentors. Students will receive feedback from dedicated Googlers through weekly code reviews.
End of Week 4: Teams come together and ideate on their group’s web app.
Weeks 5-8: Participants collaboratively design and build a web app that is meaningful and relevant to their team.
Weeks 8-11: Participants sign up for 3 total mock interview sessions. The sessions can be collaborative (real-time coaching) or formal (conducted like a true industry interview). Participants will receive 1:1 interview feedback and tips for continuing to grow.
Throughout the program: SPS students will participate in exclusive career development opportunities and have access to a community of like-minded peers and Google engineers.

What is the time commitment of the program?

Participants should plan to commit 8 hours a week to SPS during the 11 weeks of the program.

What does a typical week look like during SPS?

Each week, participants will attend a one hour team meeting, a one hour career development session, and will have the option of attending a fun one hour activity (e.g. game night) on some weeks. The rest of the time commitment is spent working individually and collaboratively.

Can I save my application for later?

We recommend you complete the application in one sitting to ensure that no information is lost, but the application does have a save progress option.

Can I update my application after I submit it?

Yes, you can update your application at any time up until the deadline.

How will I know if my application has been received?

You will receive a confirmation email after your application is submitted.

When will I find out if I’ve been selected?

We’ll be reaching out to all students to notify you of our decision in April.

I am enrolled in a community college. Can I apply?

Yes, the application is open to current community college students who intend to transfer and be enrolled full-time in a Bachelors program in North America for the 2022-2023 academic year.

What should I include in my resume?

We recommend including work experience, independent programming projects, extracurricular activities, and knowledge of coding languages. If applicable you could also include: clubs and organizations, national society chapters, programming competitions & hackathons, teaching assistantships, research opportunities, developmental programs, distinguished academic awards, speaking engagements, community service/volunteer work, positions in DEI focused organizations, etc.

Will I have access to technical equipment during the program?

Yes, if you require access to the internet, a loaner laptop, and/or a webcam during the program, we can work with you to make those accommodations. You can share your specific equipment needs with us in the program application. For specific questions email sps-na@google.com. We’re happy to address any questions directly related to the SPS program, but are unable to respond to other inquiries. We will not respond to spam, barraging messages, or messages that are primarily inflammatory or exploitative in nature.

Software Product Sprint (SPS)