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Role Hub

Engineering Manager Career Resources

Scope mapping, org impact narratives, and leadership signal for EM, Director, and VP roles.

Short answer: EM roles require showing team outcomes, hiring and retention success, and organizational impact. Your resume should demonstrate that your teams shipped because of how you led, not despite it.
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When to use this

Do this first if:

  • You're targeting EM, Director, or VP of Engineering roles
  • Your resume still reads like an IC listing your own technical contributions
  • You've led teams but struggle to articulate your leadership impact

Skip this if:

  • You're exploring IC vs management and want to stay flexible
  • You're a new manager with < 1 year of experience
  • You're targeting Staff+ IC roles (see SWE hub)

EM Signal Checklist

What hiring teams evaluate for management roles

1
Team outcomes

Show what your team delivered and the business impact of their work.

2
Team building

Document hiring, retention, and how you grew team capabilities.

3
Process improvement

Show how you improved delivery velocity, quality, or team health.

4
Cross-org influence

Demonstrate how you worked with product, design, and other engineering teams.

5
Strategic contribution

Show how you contributed to technical or organizational strategy.

Example

Before

Managed a team of 8 engineers working on payment systems.

After

Built and led payments team from 3 to 12 engineers over 18 months. Team shipped PCI-compliant checkout reducing payment failures by 60% and enabling $50M in annual transaction volume.

The 'after' version shows team building, outcomes, and business impact.

Evidence

2 weeks

Average time to first EM interview with optimized positioning

Askia client data
$55K

Average compensation increase for EM clients

Askia client outcomes
85%

Of EM clients receive multiple offers

Askia client data

Frequently asked questions

Should I still include technical contributions?

Include technical context for credibility, but lead with team outcomes and leadership impact.

How do I show leadership without a big team?

Emphasize influence: mentoring, cross-team coordination, process improvements, hiring contributions.

How do I prepare for EM behavioral interviews?

Prepare stories around team building, conflict resolution, underperformers, cross-functional challenges, and delivery under pressure.

What's the difference between EM and Director expectations?

EM leads a team directly. Directors lead managers, set org-level direction, and have broader strategic scope.

How do I handle the 'IC vs Manager' question?

Be clear about your preference and why. Show self-awareness about what energizes you and where you add the most value.

Ready to land your next leadership role?

Book a strategy call and get personalized feedback on your positioning.

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