"The best engineers I've hired have boring backgrounds"

By Pragmatic Engineer

Categories: Product, Startup

Summary

The best engineers often have 'boring' backgrounds - no social media, 9-5 work hours, and little public coding. But their laser-focus and deep expertise make them exceptional hires, according to a seasoned tech leader with 23.8K views.

Key Takeaways

1. Look for engineers with 'boring' backgrounds - no social media, work just 9-5, and no public coding contributions. These traits can signal deep expertise and focus.
2. Seek out engineers who have worked at lesser-known companies. Their deep knowledge of niche technologies or industries can be highly valuable.
3. The best engineers are likely the ones who can 'context switch' the least - they stay focused on their work during work hours.
4. Consider hiring engineers without flashy public profiles or side projects. Their commitment to their craft over self-promotion can be a strength.
5. Prioritize deep expertise and focus over public visibility when evaluating engineering candidates.
6. Avoid judging candidates solely on public contributions or social media presence. Look for signs of deep knowledge and commitment to their work.

Topics

• Hiring Engineers
• Employee Retention
• Software Engineering Talent
• Talent Management
• Technical Expertise

Transcript Excerpt

Some of the best engineers you've hired had really boring backgrounds. Can you talk about that? >> The best engineers I can remember are notoriously private. They don't have social media profiles. They honestly are 9 to5 engineers. They go back and they don't code at night. They just spend time with their family. But because they don't do anything else during their working time, they're locked in and they're really good. If you have zero public contributions and you've just worked at companies I...