Standing out from the crowd is no easy feat. With thousands of talented students vying for limited spots at industry giants like Google, what truly separates the good from the great? According to a leading executive at Google Cloud, it’s not just technical prowess or a prestigious resume; it’s something far more fundamental: curiosity and a drive for proactive learning.
During a recent leadership panel, Priya Varadarajan, Director of Product Management at Google Cloud, shared her perspective on what makes interns truly shine. “The number one thing I look for in an intern is insatiable curiosity,” she explained. “Technical skills can be taught, but the desire to learn, ask questions, and explore new ideas is what sets exceptional interns apart.”
This sentiment is echoed across Google’s global teams. In an environment where innovation is the norm and change is constant, those who are eager to understand the “why” behind the work, not just the “how,” consistently deliver the most value. Curiosity fuels problem-solving, drives creative thinking, and helps interns adapt quickly to new challenges.
But curiosity alone isn’t enough. The best interns, Varadarajan notes, are those who take initiative seeking out opportunities to learn, volunteering for new projects, and asking for feedback. “An intern who proactively reaches out to team members, requests additional resources, or even proposes their own mini-projects always catches my attention,” she says.
Google Cloud’s collaborative culture rewards those who aren’t afraid to step outside their comfort zone. Whether it’s shadowing a senior engineer, attending extra training sessions, or diving into unfamiliar code, proactive learners demonstrate a growth mindset that’s highly prized in the tech industry.
Take the example of Maya, a recent Google Cloud intern. Despite coming from a non-traditional background, Maya stood out by consistently asking thoughtful questions during meetings and volunteering to assist with a high-profile migration project. Her willingness to learn from setbacks and seek mentorship led to her being offered a full-time position proof that curiosity and initiative can open doors, even in the world’s most competitive workplaces.
Another intern, Alex, made a mark by creating a knowledge-sharing document for his team, compiling insights from various projects and resources. This not only showcased his proactive approach but also left a lasting impact on the team’s onboarding process.
