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THREAD on being a Lead, hiring manager & inclusivity
I have strong opinions about being a Lead/Manager.
Being a Lead is HARD.
Doing your job is hard & that took you years of training & work to get good at.
Being a Lead is no different, but often ppl don't get much training.
I have strong opinions about being a Lead/Manager.
Being a Lead is HARD.
Doing your job is hard & that took you years of training & work to get good at.
Being a Lead is no different, but often ppl don't get much training.
It's also a critical role to get right as you are responsible for career support for members on your team.
You are the person they go to if they have an issue, whether with work or how to further their career.
You are the person they go to if they have an issue, whether with work or how to further their career.
Not everyone makes a good Lead, just as not everyone is great at art or programming etc.
But many ppl end up in these positions as part of their career progression.
This isn't good for them if they don't really want to do the job, & not good for those they have to support
But many ppl end up in these positions as part of their career progression.
This isn't good for them if they don't really want to do the job, & not good for those they have to support
As a Lead you often have to be a hiring manager for your team & sometimes adjacent teams.
It can be frustrating getting graduate portfolios where they've obviously just done the coursework & don't program in their spare time.
It can be frustrating getting graduate portfolios where they've obviously just done the coursework & don't program in their spare time.
Most Uni/education courses will not give you the equivalent work hours, work conditions, or push your skills to the point where you are employable.
If you haven't broken into the industry yet you need to spend time working on a portfolio & making yourself employable.
If you haven't broken into the industry yet you need to spend time working on a portfolio & making yourself employable.
But here's the thing - By the time I get someone in for an interview & am asking them questions I 90% know they can do the job, I'm now trying to work out if they're a good fit for the team.
If I ask about what they do at home it's to find out more about them as a person
If I ask about what they do at home it's to find out more about them as a person
You lose a lot of nuance in tweets. Ppl are more than happy to jump on you for a misunderstanding.
But the most important skill of being a Lead is communication.
You need to be able to communicate complex & new ideas to others & also actively listen to others
But the most important skill of being a Lead is communication.
You need to be able to communicate complex & new ideas to others & also actively listen to others
Not all advice is for everyone.
It's contextual.
If you can phrase stuff in a way that doesn't make you sound like you're making a blanket statement then great.
But we must also be aware of who our advice may be putting off from applying
It's contextual.
If you can phrase stuff in a way that doesn't make you sound like you're making a blanket statement then great.
But we must also be aware of who our advice may be putting off from applying
Experience in being a hiring manager makes you good at hiring ppl you're successful with. Ppl you know how to train & who work a way you're familiar with.
But they might not be the best person for your team.
But they might not be the best person for your team.
Hiring ppl with the same background, workstyle, behaviours etc. can result in teams that lack innovative ideas.
Someone with a different profile brings new experiences, ideas, may be able to elevate the potential of other team members, or fill a (soft)skill gap
Someone with a different profile brings new experiences, ideas, may be able to elevate the potential of other team members, or fill a (soft)skill gap
And if I brought someone's behaviour up as being problematic for a Lead, it wouldn't be something out of the blue.
As a company you have to ensure your team know the company's values & buy into them.
As a company you have to ensure your team know the company's values & buy into them.
Hiring policies & employee expectations should be transparent & we should be training ppl on breaking bias & constantly ensuring it's in practice in the workplace.
Things can be taken out of context online but here's some context:
There are many problems in our industry & many poor managers who don't hold others accountable
Misinformation that puts talented & underrepresented ppl off applying to jobs inhibits our industry for years to come
There are many problems in our industry & many poor managers who don't hold others accountable
Misinformation that puts talented & underrepresented ppl off applying to jobs inhibits our industry for years to come
