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InfoQ·

👍Hiring Engineers for Personality and Problem-Solving Boosts Retention

Hiring for personality over skills keeps engineers happy

TL;DR

Focusing on personality and problem-solving skills during hiring can significantly improve engineer retention. Companies like this one see employees staying for 3-4 years, thanks to a sense of ownership and creative freedom.

Hiring engineers based on personality and problem-solving skills rather than technical expertise alone can dramatically improve retention rates. This approach keeps engineers engaged long-term by giving them ownership and creative freedom. The company in question has seen most engineers stay for 3-4 years, highlighting the effectiveness of this strategy. With a high rate of retaining engineers, the company has also successfully navigated acquisitions and re-teaming during growth.

Hiring Engineers for Personality and Problem-Solving Boosts Retention — InfoQ

Key Points

1

The company has a 25-year track record in SaaS B2B tech, with a focus on employee onboarding and offboarding automation.

2

Engineers are expected to solve problems independently, with minimal project management involvement.

3

Career progression involves mentoring and people management, fostering a sense of ownership and creative freedom.

4

The company's technology stack is primarily in the Microsoft area, but has expanded into other tech domains.

5

The company's approach to onboarding and offboarding is engaging and fun, helping retain engineers during growth and acquisition.

Why It Matters

If you're hiring for a tech team, focusing on personality and problem-solving skills can significantly boost retention. This approach keeps engineers engaged and fosters a sense of ownership, leading to higher retention rates and smoother transitions during growth or acquisition.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter?

If you're hiring for a tech team, focusing on personality and problem-solving skills can significantly boost retention. This approach keeps engineers engaged and fosters a sense of ownership, leading to higher retention rates and smoother transitions during growth or acquisition.

What happened?

Focusing on personality and problem-solving skills during hiring can significantly improve engineer retention. Companies like this one see employees staying for 3-4 years, thanks to a sense of ownership and creative freedom.

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