Do You Feel Lucky, Punk?

The Anatomy of the Perfect Technical Interview from a Former Amazon VP

First Round Capital

When they’re hiring, companies are looking to find out what candidates have really done — not what they’ve participated in or watched, but what they’ve done. At least, that’s what Neil Roseman was looking for when he was Technology VP for Amazon and Zynga. “Even at the greatest companies,” he says in this illuminating piece from First Round Capital, “there’s a gap between those who get the most stuff done and those who don’t get much done. You need to try and figure that out during an interview.” Roseman explains how he designs interview processes to build effective organizations, but he also has a lot to say about what the interviewer should be thinking about. For example: “Once you form an initial impression of someone — which usually happens within the first 60 seconds — you should spend the rest of the interview trying to invalidate that impression.” And dig for the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the candidate’s accomplishments. He also asks everyone he interviews whether they consider themselves lucky — but without the threatening edge that Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry character puts into the question. Why? “I’m looking for the people who embody the phrase, ‘Fortune favors the prepared,'” Roseman says. “It’s the willingness to be ready and take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.”