Hiring Manager (Director+) Perspective

If you want direct interview support from Alex and Uzair, take their live Maven course with discount code **TARO10**: <https://maven.com/alex-kliotzkin/acing-em-interviews>

This segment of the course explains why understanding the mindset of the engineering manager (EM) hiring manager—typically a director or above—is critical for succeeding in EM interviews. It emphasizes that trust, not just competence, is the cornerstone of what these senior leaders are evaluating.

- **Trust is the foundation of EM hiring.** Directors operate in a world filled with ambiguity—changing priorities, unclear requirements, and frequent people challenges. They need leaders they can trust implicitly.
- **Competence is not enough.** While technical ability is important, directors are evaluating whether a candidate will help solve problems or become another issue that needs managing.
- **Reliability during adversity is crucial.** Senior leaders are asking: *Will this person make my life easier when things get tough?* Candidates must show they can thrive in uncertainty and still deliver results.
- **The hiring lens is risk-focused.** From the director’s perspective, hiring an EM is about minimizing risk. The ideal EM is a stabilizing force—someone who says, *“Trust me, I’ve got this”*—and actually means it.

If you want direct interview support from Alex and Uzair, take their live Maven course with discount code TARO10: 

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