Knew this was coming and still fumbled it a bit.
Frame your departure as a positive, forward-looking decision driven by a desire to build products at scale and deepen your technical expertise. Emphasize what you're moving toward (Google's engineering culture, impact, and learning opportunities) rather than what you're leaving behind. Keep the tone appreciative of your consulting experience while clearly articulating why a product-focused engineering role is the right next step.
Pro tip: Avoid any negative comments about consulting; instead, highlight how consulting gave you a strong foundation in adaptability and client-facing skills, but you now crave the ownership and long-term impact of building products end-to-end.
Briefly acknowledge the valuable skills and experiences gained in consulting, such as problem-solving, communication, and working with diverse clients.
Explain that while consulting offered variety, you want to own the full lifecycle of software development and see the long-term impact of your work.
Align your motivation with Google's focus on innovation, scale, and user impact, showing that this role is a natural progression for your career.
Highlight how your consulting background makes you adaptable and ready to thrive in ambiguous, fast-paced environments like Google.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.