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As someone with a nearly 40 year career in tech with 30+ in a hiring and management level…I’ll gladly admit that a candidate’s personality and demeanor in an in

As someone with a nearly 40 year career in tech with 30+ in a hiring and management level…I’ll gladly admit that a candidate’s personality and demeanor in an interview factors higher to me than technical ability. Is that a personal bias? Yep, but it’s a bias based on experience as to what works better on technical teams and worth the skill trad off. So I would gladly higher a friendly and open average skilled SWE than some aloof technical genius who is going to be likely regarded as an asshole to the rest of the team. If I was forced to higher based on test scores alone, I’d opt to quit that role…because that to me would be a recipe for failure.

OutOfHere 2y ago
> some aloof technical genius who is going to be likely regarded as an asshole to the rest of the team. We can agree that no one wants a true ass, but I don't understand why some aloof technical genius needs to automatically be regarded in that way. It looks like the connection is in your mind. Moreover, it obvious to me that your goal is to use up VC funding, not to generate revenue for the company. An average SWE isn't going to do the special work required to generate revenue.
- kcplate 2y ago
  >I don't understand why some aloof technical genius needs to automatically be regarded in that way. It looks like the connection is in your mind. …Or it could just be long experience. I have seen these kind folks sink teams and products. If my goal is to make what I am managing successful, why would I hire personality types that historically have proven to impede success in my experience? Believe me, the type I am referring to usually comes out in interviews. >Moreover, it obvious to me that your goal is to use up VC funding, not to generate revenue for the company. An average SWE isn't going to do the special work required to generate revenue. No, my job is to build successful teams and products. To do that i need to find compatible people to get the job done. An asshole rockstar might get me 75% there then prevent me from achieving the final 25% because they can’t work well with others. A cohesive team can get me to 100%. And…not all rockstars are assholes, so I choose to find the wheat and discard the chaff.
  - OutOfHere 2y ago
    How do you tell if someone is an ass? What gives it away? I'm asking both during the interview and also later. Frankly I am extremely skeptical of your belief since you don't even seem to want to distinguish an ass from a hero.

OutOfHere 2y ago

> some aloof technical genius who is going to be likely regarded as an asshole to the rest of the team. We can agree that no one wants a true ass, but I don't understand why some aloof technical genius needs to automatically be regarded in that way. It looks like the connection is in your mind. Moreover, it obvious to me that your goal is to use up VC funding, not to generate revenue for the company. An average SWE isn't going to do the special work required to generate revenue.

kcplate 2y ago
>I don't understand why some aloof technical genius needs to automatically be regarded in that way. It looks like the connection is in your mind. …Or it could just be long experience. I have seen these kind folks sink teams and products. If my goal is to make what I am managing successful, why would I hire personality types that historically have proven to impede success in my experience? Believe me, the type I am referring to usually comes out in interviews. >Moreover, it obvious to me that your goal is to use up VC funding, not to generate revenue for the company. An average SWE isn't going to do the special work required to generate revenue. No, my job is to build successful teams and products. To do that i need to find compatible people to get the job done. An asshole rockstar might get me 75% there then prevent me from achieving the final 25% because they can’t work well with others. A cohesive team can get me to 100%. And…not all rockstars are assholes, so I choose to find the wheat and discard the chaff.
- OutOfHere 2y ago
  How do you tell if someone is an ass? What gives it away? I'm asking both during the interview and also later. Frankly I am extremely skeptical of your belief since you don't even seem to want to distinguish an ass from a hero.