What Google's careers site says about resumes
Updated 4 November 2026
Google publishes resume advice for people applying to Google on its careers site. It is short, practical and useful well beyond Google, so we have summarised it here in our own words, with links to the original pages so you can read them yourself.
This is an independent summary. ACE-Test is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google, and the advice is written for Google's own hiring process.
What the page recommends
On its current 'How we hire' page (checked on 4 November 2026), in the 'Your resume' section, Google suggests the following for each role you apply to.
- Start from a blank document and write a resume for the specific job, rather than reusing one generic version. An old resume is fine as a source of ideas.
- Line your skills and experience up with the job description, connect your work to the stated qualifications, and include data.
- Make sure you meet the minimum qualifications and that your resume shows it clearly.
- Be specific about projects: what the outcome was and how success was measured.
- If you have led people or work, say how big the team was and what the scope was.
- If you are a recent graduate or have limited experience, include university projects or coursework that show relevant skills.
- Keep it short. Google says it has no length requirement, but clarity and brevity matter.
- Cover letters are not required. If you write one, the same principles apply: tailor it, show the difference you made and back it up with data.
The X-Y-Z formula
In the same section, Google suggests a formula for describing achievements: “accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z].” X is what you achieved, Y is the evidence or number, and Z is how you did it. We use it here as a general CV-writing technique, not as a requirement for recruitment at Google or elsewhere.
It is the same idea as the action + metric + result bullets in our CV guide, written in a different order. Either order works. What matters is that every important bullet has all three parts.
| Part | Ask yourself | Illustrative example |
|---|---|---|
| X: what you accomplished | What changed because of my work? | Reduced customer wait times |
| Y: as measured by | How do I know? What number shows it? | from an average of 12 minutes to 4 |
| Z: by doing | What exactly did I do? | by redesigning the call routing and training six colleagues |
- The example is made up to show the shape. Use your own, accurate figures.
Two practical notes on applying online
- Google's help centre notes that its resume parser may not capture everything accurately, and recommends filling in missing fields by hand. Many applicant tracking systems behave similarly, so always check auto-filled fields before you submit.
- It also says you cannot change an application after you submit it. Check everything, including which resume you attached, before you press submit.
Using this for any employer
Our guide to talking through your CV with an AI voice assistant shows a quick way to dig out the numbers for step 3.
- Copy the job description into a document and highlight every requirement.
- For each requirement, find your best piece of evidence.
- Rewrite that evidence as an X-Y-Z bullet, with a real number wherever you can.
- Cut anything that does not support the role you are applying for.
