Mentoring or Coaching
Tell me about a time you've mentored or coached someone. What was your approach?
There are two ways to be a valuable member of a tech team. The first is to be a highly productive individual contributor—to write great code, design robust systems, and solve hard problems. This is the foundation of a great career.
The second, more advanced way, is to become a multiplier. A multiplier is someone who makes everyone around them better. They don't just increase their own output; they increase the entire team's output. They do this through teaching, coaching, and mentorship. They share their knowledge, they elevate the skills of their colleagues, and they help grow the next generation of talent.
Being a multiplier is the true hallmark of a senior contributor and a leader. Companies are always looking for these individuals because their impact scales far beyond their own keyboard.
Your answer to this question reveals whether you have a "hoarder" mindset (keeping knowledge to yourself) or a "multiplier" mindset (sharing knowledge to lift up the team).