Hiring is tough — software engineers hate job searching, hiring managers are stretched thin, and interviews? They suck for everyone. But finding the right people is critical for building a great startup.
This podcast is for software engineers navigating startup hiring. We dive into real stories from startup leaders, uncover what makes a great (or terrible) hiring process, and explore how to make finding and landing startup jobs suck less.
Each episode features a founder, hiring manager, or software engineer sharing their journey, hiring philosophy, and lessons learned. We’ll also break down hiring pain points—job descriptions, resumes, interviews, negotiation, culture screening, and more. Expect real talk, expert insights, and the occasional resume roast.
Subscribe for candid conversations about startup hiring and what actually works.
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Hiring is tough — software engineers hate job searching, hiring managers are stretched thin, and interviews? They suck for everyone. But finding the right people is critical for building a great startup.
This podcast is for software engineers navigating startup hiring. We dive into real stories from startup leaders, uncover what makes a great (or terrible) hiring process, and explore how to make finding and landing startup jobs suck less.
Each episode features a founder, hiring manager, or software engineer sharing their journey, hiring philosophy, and lessons learned. We’ll also break down hiring pain points—job descriptions, resumes, interviews, negotiation, culture screening, and more. Expect real talk, expert insights, and the occasional resume roast.
Subscribe for candid conversations about startup hiring and what actually works.
Avoid this Rejection Reason by Asking Questions in Interviews: with SVP of Engineering, Maher Hanafi
Your Next Tech Startup
41 minutes 10 seconds
3 months ago
Avoid this Rejection Reason by Asking Questions in Interviews: with SVP of Engineering, Maher Hanafi
In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen and Maher Hanafi discuss the intricacies of the interview process, focusing on the importance of candidate questions and the dynamics of bi-directional interviews. Maher shares insights from his extensive experience in engineering leadership, emphasizing the need for candidates to research their interviewers and the company culture. They explore how to handle sensitive topics like layoffs and the significance of maintaining a positive energy during interviews. The discussion also touches on the importance of aligning management philosophies and the flexibility required in startup hiring.
Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/Guest: Maher Hanafi https://www.linkedin.com/in/maherhanafi/
Chapters00:00 Introduction to Interview Dynamics00:42 Understanding the Role of Candidates02:37 The Importance of Candidate Questions06:37 Leveraging AI in Interview Preparation09:50 Memorable Candidate Interactions11:52 Assessing Work Environment Fit12:28 Asking Difficult Questions15:48 Navigating Layoff Conversations17:49 Handling Glassdoor Feedback21:26 The Energy of Interviews26:06 Communication Skills and Candidate Behavior28:20 Red Flags in People Management Interviews33:15 Aligning Management Philosophies38:13 Hiring for Flexibility in Startups
Isabel is a Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment who works directly with engineering leaders to hire top talent — from Senior Software Engineers to Directors of Engineering. With over a decade of experience recruiting for high-growth startups, she brings a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments.
Isabel is also the host of Your Next Tech Startup, a weekly podcast where she interviews founders, engineering leaders, and software engineers about what it really takes to build and grow teams in the startup world.
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournexttechstartup 📺🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/exiBw46n 🎧🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eYsCN4y4🍎❤️ iHeartRadio: https://shorturl.at/NI3sq❤️
Music by: https://www.bensound.com Artist: Marcus P. License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV
Your Next Tech Startup
Hiring is tough — software engineers hate job searching, hiring managers are stretched thin, and interviews? They suck for everyone. But finding the right people is critical for building a great startup.
This podcast is for software engineers navigating startup hiring. We dive into real stories from startup leaders, uncover what makes a great (or terrible) hiring process, and explore how to make finding and landing startup jobs suck less.
Each episode features a founder, hiring manager, or software engineer sharing their journey, hiring philosophy, and lessons learned. We’ll also break down hiring pain points—job descriptions, resumes, interviews, negotiation, culture screening, and more. Expect real talk, expert insights, and the occasional resume roast.
Subscribe for candid conversations about startup hiring and what actually works.
