Why Google interviews men & women differently

Gender-blind interview techniques are actively encouraged in the current diversity-conscious climate.

However, at Google, the interview requirements of men and women are different.

Speaking on NPR’s Hidden Brain podcast, Laszlo Bock, Senior VP - People Operations at Google, said they ask this question to all candidates: “On a scale of one to five, rate yourself as a Software Engineer.”

This sounds innocuous, but the differing ways men and women answer speaks volumes about their potential success at Google. The best answer for men is four, whereas for women it’s five.