Tech giant Google is making inroads at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in a bid to connect with local talent and recruit students for potential internships and jobs within the company.
For the first time, Google will host a series of events in September and October 2024 aimed at engaging UH Mānoa students and providing them with opportunities to explore careers in tech. These efforts include on-campus information sessions, résumé-writing workshops and networking events designed to showcase Google’s company culture and job prospects.
The events are being organized and coordinated by the Association for Computing Machinery student chapter at UH Mānoa (ACM@Mānoa), which is housed in the Department of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS).
Bridge between academia, tech industry
“As students continue to excel in the field of computer science, partnerships with industry leaders like Google provide invaluable access to career-shaping opportunities,” ACM@Mānoa President Kyla Lee said. “Both the ICS department and ACM@Mānoa have taken significant initiatives to connect students with these opportunities, creating a bridge between academia and the tech industry. These events not only connect students with potential employers, but also equip them with the tools needed to thrive in a fast-evolving tech landscape.”
This increased engagement from Google comes at a time when UH and the state are working to diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy and establish itself as a hub for tech and innovation.
“Our mission is to connect our students with the global tech industry, and these events with Google are testament to that commitment,” ICS Professor and Department Chair Guylaine Poisson said. “By cultivating these connections, we are not just opening doors to exciting careers for our students, but we are also positioning UH Mānoa as a critical hub for tech innovation in Hawaiʻi and building a robust local tech ecosystem that can compete on a global scale.”
Google’s fall events at UH Mānoa
- September 11: STEP (Student Training in Engineering Program) information session and résumé workshop, 4:30 p.m.
- September 13: Tech career panel, 3 p.m.
- October 11: Careers in Tech and Intelligence Fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Campus Center Ballroom
- October TBA: Interview workshop
For more information and a complete list of events, visit the ICS website.
Highly-competitive Google internships
- Summer 2025 STEP Internship for first- and second-year undergraduate students, application window: September 30–October 25
- Summer 2025 Software Engineering Internship for bachelor’s and master’s students, application window: September 30–November 15
- Summer 2025 Master of Business Administration Internship, application window: October 21–November 18
- Summer 2025 BOLD Internship, application window: September 30–October 18
For more information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the STEP website.
UH alumna thriving at Google
Emily Pugh is a senior solutions consultant at Google. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s of social work from UH Mānoa. After working as a marketing specialist and university program coordinator, she then worked for Google as a recruiter before accepting her current position, which supports human resources engineering and recruiting programs.
“My advice to students who are starting their careers is to take account of the values they hold highest in their life, find ways to prioritize it in their day/day through boundaries-setting, and be mindful of when this balance can go off course,” Pugh said. “In my current role, my peers closest to my work are super supportive of when I need to take time off, how I organize my day/day workload, and are respectful of the work hours/boundaries I have to be most productive and happy in my job.”
—By Marc Arakaki
