How To Crack Any Interview

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To ace any Engineering Manager (EM) interview, we need to go beyond memorized answers and demonstrate a deep, tailored understanding of the role, the company, and the people interviewing us. This final video recap ties together the core strategies we've learned throughout the course.

• Deeply Understand the Role and the Interviewer

  • We should thoroughly research the company's culture, the team’s business priorities, and even the interviewer’s background if possible.
  • This helps us anticipate questions and articulate the team’s pain points—making us stand out as someone who already thinks like an insider.

• Focus on the Intent Behind the Questions

  • Every question has an underlying purpose. We must listen for the question behind the question to understand what trait or leadership ability is being evaluated.
  • Once we’ve identified this, we lead our response with our engineering management systems and leadership philosophies to show intentionality and maturity.

• Build and Customize Our Story Bank

  • We should prepare core EM stories that demonstrate a range of leadership abilities and adverse situations.
  • The goal isn’t perfection but authenticity—sharing how we made decisions, what we learned, and how we’ve grown as a result.

• Showcase Growth Through Adversity

  • Most interview questions center around difficult moments. We should use these opportunities to demonstrate emotional maturity, resilience, and our ability to evolve—crucial traits for a leader.

• Be Convincing and Confident

  • At the end of the day, we’re not just answering questions—we’re telling a story about why we’re the best fit. We need to sell our value clearly and confidently, grounded in real experience and reflection.