Great Software Engineers Understand the Difference Between Strategy and Tactics
Do you have the ability to deal with problems in a holistic way that goes beyond tactical measures to achieve a comprehensive solution? Are you able to distinguish between strategic and tactical measures? The ability to think strategically will be required if you plan on pursuing any leadership roles. You will need the ability to set a vision, and then set the course of action required to fulfill that vision.
Potential Interview Questions to Identity Strategic Skills
What Have You Done to Improve Your Department's Operational Costs?
Purpose
Some software engineers do exactly as they are instructed. Some of them are incredibly gifted. If they were told to make the build process faster, they would do it. If they were told that the web application response times needed to be cut in half, they would probably figure out a way to do that also. However, they wouldn’t have the foresight to think of doing these things on their own. There is certainly a place for gifted engineers who aren’t always dreaming up new ways to make things more efficient. However, if you are an engineer who has the insight to see inefficiencies, and then figure out ways to fix them without being prompted, you are in a league of your own! Employers are clamoring for engineers like you. You will often justify your wage several times over in operation efficiency improvements alone.
Good Response
Make sure you mention anything you’ve done that has made your department more efficient. Maybe you’ve made the build and deploy process more automated. Perhaps you’ve built a clever tool that made some repetitive chore easier. Maybe you’ve introduced some software that made project or task management more efficient. Whatever the case, think of things that have improved the operational efficiencies from a macro perspective.
Poor Response
While you may not have come up with any great ideas on improving operational efficiencies, the chances are that you’ve worked on projects that have resulted in them. Even if the idea wasn’t your own, let your interviewers know that you have worked on projects that improved operational costs. You should at least demonstrate that you understand the concept. Being unable to mention anything related to operation cost improvements will create the impression that you are not able to think strategically.
What Accomplishments in Your Current Position have Affected the Company Most Significantly?
Purpose
The interviewer is trying to get a feel for what the scope of work is that you typically take on. The more significant the accomplishment you describe, the larger the scope of the work you will be able to take on. You may also be asked to provide examples from a few different positions that you've been in. In these cases, the interviewer is looking for a pattern of increased responsibilities, and increased level of accomplishment. Your greatest accomplishments should be from your most recent positions.
Good Response
A good response will consist of an example accomplishment that is representative of someone who has your level of experience or better. Additionally, if you are asked about accomplishments from previous positions, your accomplishments should be increasingly more significant over time.
Poor Response
If you are unable to provide any meaningful examples that would be representative of someone with your level of experience, the interview is not going to go well for you.