Step 2 of 5

Hiring Manager

Step 2 • 45-60 minutes

Hiring Manager Call

The deep dive. Your future manager wants to understand how you think, work, and collaborate.

What's Changed in 2024-2025

Hiring managers are more cautious and thorough. They're looking for proven ability to handle ambiguity and deliver results with less guidance.

• Emphasis on self-direction and autonomy
• Questions about handling difficult stakeholders
• Focus on measurable business impact
• Assessment of resilience and adaptability

What They're Really Assessing

Core Competencies

• Design thinking and process
• Problem-solving approach
• Stakeholder management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Handling feedback and iteration
• Business acumen

Cultural Fit

• Communication style
• Learning mindset
• Handling ambiguity
• Team dynamics
• Work style preferences
• Growth potential

Question Categories to Prepare For

Design Process & Methodology

• "Walk me through your design process"
• "How do you approach a new project?"
• "How do you validate design decisions?"

Collaboration & Conflict

• "Tell me about a time you disagreed with a stakeholder"
• "How do you handle pushback on your designs?"
• "Describe working with difficult team members"

Impact & Results

• "What's your biggest design success?"
• "How do you measure design success?"
• "Tell me about a project that didn't go as planned"

Preparation Strategy

Prepare STAR Stories

Have 5-7 detailed stories covering different scenarios: conflict resolution, stakeholder management, failed projects, successful launches.

Know Your Numbers

Quantify your impact: conversion improvements, user satisfaction scores, time saved, revenue generated.

Research Their Challenges

Understand their product, user base, and likely design challenges. Show how you can help solve them.

Prepare Thoughtful Questions

Ask about team dynamics, biggest challenges, success metrics, and growth opportunities.