Disagreeing with Senior Engineers

How to tell the story of challenging a more senior engineer: understand their reasoning, bring evidence, propose an option, and commit once the decision is made.

Overview

'Tell me about a time you disagreed with someone more senior' tests two things at once. Do you have the confidence to challenge an idea on its merits? And can you do it without damaging the relationship, and accept it when you turn out to be wrong?

Companies want engineers who speak up when they see a problem. They do not want people who defer to a title, and they do not want people who treat a design review as a fight to win. Most weak answers fall into one of those two holes: 'they had more experience, so I went along with it', or 'I proved them wrong'.

A strong answer shows a path between them. You first understood why the senior engineer held their view. You brought evidence, such as a benchmark, a prototype or a written comparison. You proposed a concrete alternative. Then, whichever way the decision went, you committed to it and the working relationship was intact.

What you will be able to do

Tell a disagreement story that is about evidence, not rank or ego.
Show you listened first and understood the other view.
Explain how you moved the decision into a written, fair comparison.
Show you commit to the final decision, including one you argued against.
Talk about a time the senior person was right, without losing face.

Interview questions

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a more senior engineer.
What if the senior engineer turned out to be right?
How do you move a disagreement from opinions to evidence?
How do you disagree and still commit?
How do you build the credibility to challenge senior people?

Disagreeing with Senior Engineers

Overview

What you will be able to do

Interview questions

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