How Software Engineers Can Help Interview Their Future Managers

In an effort to improve the hiring process for a new manager in New Relic’s Python team, software engineer Rey Abolofia and his colleague Allan Feldman devised a structured interview approach focusing on four key areas: support for innovation, shared control, respect, and technical ability. They crafted specific questions to assess candidates' capabilities in these areas, drawing on past team experiences to create challenging scenarios. By adopting a clear evaluation system that avoided ambiguity and encouraged in-depth candidate assessments, they aimed to make informed hiring decisions without relying on subjective feelings. The process was well-received by the hiring manager, Tim Krajcar, who praised the depth and quality of their notes and evaluations, highlighting the seriousness and thoughtfulness they brought to the selection process.