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Google·Software Engineer·Onsite - Behavioral / Leadership·Senior

SeniorPrefer not to say
Jun 2026

Summary

Behavioral round at Google for a software engineering role. Just one question but it had a lot of moving parts and I didn't feel great about how I handled the commitment piece.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager's priorities. How did you raise it, and did you end up influencing the decision or just committing to it anyway?

Conflict ResolutionStakeholder ManagementRoadmap Prioritization
Author's notes

The part that tripped me up was the 'committed to it anyway' angle.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Choose a real example where you disagreed with your manager's priorities, focusing on how you raised the issue constructively using data and user impact. Show that you either influenced the decision or committed professionally, and highlight what you learned about prioritization and stakeholder alignment.

Pro tip: Emphasize that you sought to understand your manager's broader context first—priorities often reflect information you don't have. Demonstrating that you can disagree without being disagreeable, and then fully commit either way, signals senior-level maturity.

1. Set the context

Briefly describe the project, your role, and the specific priority disagreement. Keep it concise so the interviewer understands the stakes.

2. Explain your perspective

Articulate why you disagreed, backing it with data, user impact, or technical debt concerns. Avoid making it personal or emotional.

3. Describe how you raised it

Detail the channel and approach: a 1:1 conversation, a written doc, or a team discussion. Show you listened to your manager's rationale first.

4. Share the outcome

State whether you influenced the decision or committed to the original plan. Either way, emphasize professionalism and execution.

5. Reflect on the learning

Conclude with what you learned about prioritization, communication, or stakeholder alignment, and how it improved your future approach.

Key Points to Mention

  • Use data and user impact to support your argument, not personal preference.
  • Seek first to understand your manager's broader context and constraints.
  • Choose the right channel (e.g., 1:1, written doc) for raising disagreement.
  • Demonstrate respect and professionalism regardless of the outcome.
  • If you didn't influence the decision, show full commitment and execution.
  • Highlight the learning and how it strengthened your relationship or judgment.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.