Datadog vs Twilio vs MongoDB EM interview

Jun 27, 2021 11 Comments

Looking around for new place, want to try something else.

Just learned Twilio doesn’t do coding interview for EM. Sounds horrifying, how can you ensure good EM if they can’t prove they can code?

Also trying Datadog and MongoDB. What is their EM interview like?

Twilio Datadog MongoDB
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 TOP 11 Comments
  • Dropbox
    Dropbox

    Go to company page Dropbox

    Dropbox
    Why should an EM code? Their role isn’t to code and be a technical lead - their role is to lead the team and ensure the output of the team matches that of the commitments the team have made outwardly to the organization.

    It’s a different set of problems that an EM solves, and those sets of problems don’t require coding. Having the coding knowledge is good because it allows an EM to accurately understand timelines for projects. But coding should never be an EMs main focus.
    Jun 27, 2021 1
    • LinkedIn / Eng
      wantMyRSUs

      Go to company page LinkedIn Eng

       wantMyRSUs
      I think you answered your own question with the last paragraph. The focus of the EM should not be coding, but they should have coding knowledge. And what better way to demonstrate coding knowledge than one or two coding rounds? IMO we should ask only LC Easies or simpler Mediums to EM candidates, but they should need to prove they have some coding skills. There are a lot of senior folks hanging around even in big name companies who all claim to be architects or "Engineering Leaders" but couldn't code a for loop to save their lives. No other way to filter out this kind of people.
      Jun 27, 2021
  • Dropbox
    Dropbox

    Go to company page Dropbox

    Dropbox
    I understand everyone’s point here - I don’t disagree with the premise that EMs need to be technical. EMs shouldn’t need to code very much. Ask yourself about your EM - Do they code at all? Or are they in meetings all day being the Glue for the team, and working on building relationships with other teams and setting the teams roadmap.
    Jun 27, 2021 1
  • OP
    What linkedin said, you answered it in your 2nd part. EM that can’t code is scary. A highly technically literal EM will almost always outperform one that is not. This is a good part of wisdom: http://algeri-wong.com/yishan/engineering-management-technical-leaders.html

    All external management hires must be able to write code and show a high level of technical proficiency, up to and including the head of the technical department. If the company is a technology company, this should also include the CEO.

    There is an odd misconception that this is not a necessary requirement for an executive or manager, as though programming were just a fancy form of typing. No other specialized industry seems to feel this way: banking executives are expected to be able to read a balance sheet; an automotive executive would never be hired if they didn't know what a catalytic converter did.
    Jun 27, 2021 0
  • Google
    ChaiPichai

    Go to company page Google

    ChaiPichai
    If you're good at coding. Come to interview at Google. We have high bar for EMs at coding. Maybe you'll do well
    Jul 10, 2021 0
  • Twilio
    blru

    Go to company page Twilio

    blru
    EMs at Twilio don't code. Whats horrifying in that?
    Jun 29, 2021 1
    • OP
      Sigh… please read. It is fine they don’t code. What is scary is that there is no screening if they could write a basic for-loop. Or can even reverse a palindrome.
      Like mentioned before, a EM with similar management skills will outperform them if they have a good technical basis to make decisions on.
      An EM without that will likely struggle to understand which engineer has the better solution if conflict resolution is needed. They will have a hard time coaching and mentoring people on a technical level by providing the right resources. Ensuring the overall direction of the team lines up with what is being built, etc, etc, etc.
      Again, they might be able to do job. Pretty much like I’m sure I can coach a NBA team. But it won’t be a championship team.
      Jun 30, 2021