So, you want to land that next role as a VP of Engineering. Here are some tips and tricks I have put together to try and make this a little easier for you.

Pursuing a career as a VP of Engineering can be both rewarding and challenging. The hours are long, the organizations you work for will expect you to wear several hats, and in most cases, it is up to you to make sure you acquire all of the skills necessary to be successful in that role.

Research, research, and… research!

In general the more senior the role you are looking to be hired for, the more preparation you are going to have to put in prior to the interview. Put on your detective hat and go deep into understanding the company, the product they are building, and anything else you can find out about the business.

LinkedIn is your best friend…

LinkedIn is going to be your first stop, search for all of the people with technical-related roles and try to map out the organization's structure. Of course, you will have some information on the company website, but that is usually only for the more senior roles. As you work your way through LinkedIn, create a map of the org chart and add things like

• Role: How many engineers do they have on the team, How many leadership positions are already filled
• Location: Where are the developers located? Is the company located in a central hub or fully remote?
• Background: What previous roles and experience do other senior leaders have in the company?
• Tenure: How long have other senior leaders been at the company? Also, search for leaders that have left the company and it is listed as having a past role.

Hey, after doing this research, you might even find that you are not the right fit for the role, or frankly not interested in the company. There may also be some red flags if there is high churn in the company.

All of this research will be a huge help in the interview. This can serve you as great conversation starters, areas for you to clarify about the company, and more. At a bare minimum, it will ensure you come across as interested and prepared for the interview.

The Team Structure

When you are interviewing for a VP of Engineering position, it is important to understand the current state of their engineering department and what they are looking for in your role.

The following are some questions that will help you get an idea about this:

1. Can you tell me more about the team I would be leading?
2. How many engineers do you have now and what is the expected growth over the next year?
3. Are they all software engineers or are there other types of backgrounds as well?
4. Do your team members handle different projects or work on specific tasks throughout the entire cycle?
5. What hiring plans do you have in place for this team and how much of a priority is it in the next 6 months?
6. How flexible are your team members when it comes to working on new technologies and platforms?

Taking all of these questions into consideration will help you get a better idea of how your team will look when you accept the offer and what needs to be done in order for them to change their behavior or add new members.

Gather info from the hiring manager

When you first interact with the company you will most likely have a hiring manager that will be the first point of contact during the interview process. I would encourage you to gather as much info as you can from the hiring manager. This will help you prepare for the following role, and set your expectations right when it comes to the responsibilities you might have, and the entire hiring process.

The Company's Development Cycle

A VP of Engineering at a fast-growing software company usually has two major challenges: keeping up with the speed of the organization and leading new teams/projects.

Understanding how the company handles development and planning can help you determine whether or not those two challenges will be possible to overcome. The company's development cycle can range from a couple of weeks for a fast-paced startup to months or even years for more established companies.

When you are interviewing for the role, you should take into consideration where the current company you are interviewing for falls on this spectrum and what needs to change in order to make the position work.

The Expectations of your Peers and Direct Reports

An important part of understanding the role is understanding the degree of freedom that will be given to you, both by your peers and by your direct reports. That will go a long way in determining whether or not this role is the right one for you.

Considering these things when doing your interview is crucial because if you take a position and do not have the tools to be successful, it will only lead to failure.

How Much Autonomy the Hiring Manager Wants to Give You

How much freedom does the hiring manager want to give you? If they are tying your hands because of their own fears or indecision, it might be time for you to re-think where you stand.

It's ok for a hiring manager to have some hesitations early on in the process but if that continues into the final stretch then heads should probably roll. The hiring manager should also be able to clearly answer your questions about how much power/freedom you will have once you are hired.

Mastering the Interview Process

Now that you know what to expect,  you also need to know how to ace the interview process itself. Not all VP of Engineering roles require highly technical backgrounds but they do require a lot of charisma and a combination of leadership skills.

If you've been out of work for a while, you might not be as sharp about your coding skills as you used to be and that's ok! Take the time now and hone those skills by picking up some small projects or working on open-source software.

And if you are in a position where you need to brush up on your skills, reach out and we can help you accelerate your learning. Whether it be getting back into coding or pushing forward in the project management space.

Common Questions for VP of Engineering Job Interviews

So you've made it this far in the hiring process and now you are sitting down ready to answer some questions. Here is a list of common interview questions that every VP of Engineering should be prepared for

• What skills do I need to learn in order to be successful?

You can answer this question by talking about the company's needs and your plan for what you will do to make yourself succeed once on board.

• What qualifications do you feel are necessary for someone who is going to be running an engineering team?

It is important to not only talk about your own qualifications but also to back them up with examples of projects that you have led in the past.

• What are some key aspects of being a VP of Engineering?

This question is an opportunity for you to highlight your skills and leadership experience. Make sure this comes across as early on as possible, like within the first 30 seconds of your answer.

• What can you tell me about the engineering team at Company?

Remember, this is a business interview, not a technical one so it's important to be well-versed in the company and all its goings-on.

Here are some super cool tips from Twitter on more culture-based questions that can be asked during an interview:

Final Thoughts on How to Interview for a VP of Engineering Role

It is important to be aware of how your skills compare to the industry standards when looking for a VP of Engineering role because it will allow you to know if you are underqualified or overqualified. Either way, make sure you know what needs the company has and see how your experience matches up.

By doing this research beforehand, you will be able to put your best foot forward during the interview process and it will also help you determine if this is a role that is a good fit for you. Hey, and be yourself, why not?