From the course: Job Interview Tips for Software Engineers

How to approach this question

From the course: Job Interview Tips for Software Engineers

Start my 1-month free trial

How to approach this question

“

- Engineers often have strong opinions on technical solutioning, everything from the urgency of the problem, to the solution, to trade offs, to timelines, everything is often up for debate. This is especially the case in recent times, since a lot of innovation in bottoms up, and a lot of managers, like me, tend to delegate decision-making. This question is intended to test your ability to form an opinion and defend it, but then still be open to other viewpoints, and then have that argument, but then the argument is about getting the right solution, rather than proving that you are right. Here's some things to consider as you frame your answer. First, again, set context. Explain the problem you were trying to solve, and who the key players were. Resist the temptation to start with just your point of view and why it was the right one. Your interviewer needs to understand the issue, and work your way forward from there. Second, explain how it began and evolved. Explain the specifics around the disagreement, how it started, and how it developed into a clear contrast of choices. Finally, describe how it ended. How did you start working through the disagreement to find common ground? It is vital to bring closure to the issue and explain your part in that resolution. The workplace is full of collaborations, tricky relationships, and goals that are at times overlapping, and then at other times conflicting. Your response to this question will help the interviewer assess how professional you will be in high pressure situations, because we all know they are coming.

Contents