How Emily Garcia found her dream job in consumer hardware

Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns and alumni about how they got to Google, what their roles are like and even some tips on how to prepare for interviews.

Today’s post is all about Emily Garcia, head of Supply and Demand Management for our Pixel products. Emily shares her experience finding her dream role in Consumer Hardware at Google — a role she didn’t know existed until she applied. 

What’s your role at Google?

I am the head of Supply and Demand Management for our Pixel  products in the Devices and Services Business where I manage an amazing team of global planners. Our job can be super challenging—constantly flexing between dynamic market changes and supply chain obstacles. But there’s nothing more exciting than seeing your product “on shelf.” It’s truly a dream job for me.

What steps did you take that led you to the hardware field?

I grew up in Lima, Peru as the youngest child of three girls. Growing up, I had no clue what I wanted to do, but tech and telecommunications has always been super exciting to me. In college,  I decided to get a degree in Industrial Engineering because I thought it would give me the most options when I started looking for a career.

I moved to the U.S. at 18 to get my Bachelors degree at the University of Michigan — which is where I also experienced what a real winter is like. I was very fortunate to find an amazing support structure in Michigan; I joined student groups such as SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) and SWE (Society of Women Engineers) which gave me access to industry leaders, recruiters, career fairs and student resources. This helped me find internships (six of them!), secure a GEM Fellowship and get my Masters degree entirely funded.

What inspires you to come in (or log on) every day? 

Working within Devices and Services at Google is an incredible experience. We have tons of opportunities to improve the supply chain, get creative on how to best serve our customers and get to support very innovative products. Coming to work (or logging on) knowing that there will be a new challenge every day is super rewarding. And being surrounded by such ambitious, creative and kind people creates the perfect environment to thrive.

What was the application and interview process like? 

Visiting the Google campus for my onsite interviews was a really enjoyable experience for me—all the interviews felt really comfortable. I gained perspective from every interviewer and I didn’t feel the nervousness or stress that I usually feel at interviews.

By the time offer discussions came in, I was doing a month-long volunteer project in a rather rural part of South Africa. My recruiter and future manager held late night phone calls with me over a spotty phone connection to discuss details and help plan my move.

What’s one thing you wish you could go back and tell yourself before applying?

I was super grateful that I was warned in advance how lengthy the process could be, so I took everything in stride. I didn’t have any expectations and was just grateful to continue going through the process.

What resources did you use to prepare for your interview or role?

Before interviewing, I consulted with current and former Google employees to really understand the culture, values and their experience. I read a lot! Mostly online, reading about how the company positions itself and the various things Google is involved in. 

Preparing for my role was an entirely different process—I was stepping into a role I had done before but with a very different set of circumstances. Here, I met with peers and stakeholders, understanding the current challenges, capabilities and opportunities. I even revisited some of my old textbooks to refresh my core knowledge of this work. 

Do you have any tips you’d like to share with aspiring Googlers?

Your experience, your background and point of view are priceless. Be yourself, ask tons of questions and don’t give up.