How to Spot Red Flags when Interviewing for an Engineering Manager Position

There comes the stage in every interview process about questions you, as a candidate, might have from the interviewers. It’s wise to use this opportunity to further prove your interest in the position by showing curiosity and engagement, but another important task is discovering red flags to rule out a potentially bad career move. The more advanced you are in your career, the higher the risk is in a job change. The current climate with fewer opportunities and tighter hiring processes makes this risk of ending up in a bad position even higher. Confidently spotting red flags is an important skill in an interview process and can help you make a good decision when receiving an offer.

Red flags are not entirely objective though, in fact, they can be highly personal, depending on family priorities, experience, financial status, and other preferences. For example, a fast-moving company culture can be an advantage for some, who are excited by new challenges; and a disadvantage for others, who prefer a steady pace of progress. So first be clear in your own preferences, and take the list below as a list of potential red flags.

I’m grouping the questions based on the risk area they are probing at. Focus on one or two max, depending on your preferences.

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