Why Engineering Manager Interviews Are Hard

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Many engineers find EM interviews difficult because they lack direct experience with the interview process, often having been promoted internally or being out of practice. The expectations for EM roles center around leadership, strategy, and stakeholder management rather than technical execution.

• Limited Interview Experience: Most engineering managers either transition through internal promotions or haven't interviewed for years, leading to a lack of familiarity with the process.
• Different Decision-Makers and Focus: Unlike IC roles, EM interview decisions are made by senior leadership who prioritize business strategy, people management, and stakeholder alignment over technical details.
• Behavioral Focus: Behavioral rounds dominate the EM interview process (about 80%) because they assess how candidates handle adversity and complex interpersonal dynamics.
• No “LeetCode” for EM Interviews: The subjective nature of these interviews makes it difficult to prepare using standard methods—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to practicing answers.
• Feedback is Rare and Vague: Candidates often don't receive clear rejection reasons, leaving them uncertain about what to improve or how well their responses aligned with expectations.