Recruiting and hiring

Recruiting and hiring are some of the most impactful activities we undertake as engineering managers. The new employees that we source and select for our teams will shape our work practices and end products for a long time to come, possibly well after we are no longer leading the team. They will make decisions that determine how we solve problems and eventually grow into the future leaders of our systems. Because of this, it is crucial that we make the best possible hires.

During recruiting and hiring for new positions, it is common for the demands of the process to dominate your schedule. This process will often leave you with little time for the rest of your responsibilities. These demands on your schedule, along with organizational pressure to fill open roles quickly, may encourage you to make hiring decisions too soon. While there may be pressure to rapidly fill open positions, there will be even more pressure if you end up with the wrong hires on your...