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AT&T·Software Engineer·Hiring Manager Screen·Intermediate

IntermediatePending
Sep 2026Remote

Summary

Applied internally for a Supply Chain Manager role with 7 years of SCM experience but no bachelor's degree, got a recruiter screen and then a Zoom call with the hiring manager that ran way over the scheduled 30 minutes. The hiring manager was friendly and talked a lot, asked three questions I'm pretty sure I fumbled, and closed with the classic 'we'll be in touch.' Trying to read the tea leaves here.

Questions Asked (3)

Q1

Walk me through your background and experience in supply chain management.

Adaptability & AmbiguityStakeholder Management
Author's notes

I thought I had this one.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Structure your answer as a concise narrative that connects your supply chain experience to software engineering, emphasizing how you've used technology to solve supply chain problems. Highlight adaptability in ambiguous situations and collaboration with non-technical stakeholders, as these are key for the role at AT&T.

Pro tip: Quantify your impact with metrics (e.g., 'reduced inventory costs by 15%') to demonstrate business acumen, and explicitly tie your supply chain insights to software solutions you've built or improved.

1. Set the Stage

Briefly state your overall years of experience and domains within supply chain (e.g., procurement, logistics, demand planning) to establish credibility.

2. Highlight Technical Projects

Describe 1-2 key projects where you applied software engineering to supply chain challenges, focusing on the problem, your solution, and the technologies used.

3. Show Adaptability

Give an example of a time you faced ambiguity or changing requirements in a supply chain project and how you adapted your approach to deliver results.

4. Demonstrate Stakeholder Management

Explain how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (e.g., operations, finance) to align technical solutions with business goals, and how you communicated complex ideas to non-technical stakeholders.

5. Connect to AT&T

Tie your background to AT&T's supply chain needs, expressing enthusiasm for applying your skills to telecom-specific challenges like network hardware logistics or vendor management.

Key Points to Mention

  • Specific supply chain domains (e.g., demand forecasting, inventory optimization, logistics)
  • Software tools and technologies used (e.g., ERP systems, data analytics, custom applications)
  • Quantifiable achievements (e.g., cost savings, efficiency improvements)
  • Examples of navigating ambiguity and adapting to change
  • Collaboration with non-technical stakeholders and cross-functional teams
  • Relevance to AT&T's supply chain (e.g., telecom equipment, global sourcing)

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

Q2

How have you handled a situation where your team or process wasn't meeting expectations?

Root Cause AnalysisConflict Resolution
Author's notes

Blanked a little and went with a vague answer about adjusting inventory workflows.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Choose a specific situation where you identified a team or process gap, took initiative to analyze the root cause, and led or contributed to a solution. Use the STAR method to structure your answer, emphasizing your problem-solving and collaboration skills. Conclude with measurable results and lessons learned.

Pro tip: Focus on your role as a catalyst for improvement rather than blaming others; highlight how you turned the situation around and what you learned about team dynamics or process optimization.

1. Set the Context

Briefly describe the team or process that was underperforming, including the specific expectations that were not being met and the impact on the project or organization.

2. Analyze the Root Cause

Explain how you investigated the issue to identify underlying causes, such as communication gaps, unclear requirements, or technical debt, using data or feedback.

3. Take Action

Describe the steps you took to address the problem, whether by proposing a new process, facilitating a team discussion, or implementing a technical solution, and how you involved others.

4. Measure and Adjust

Discuss how you tracked progress and adjusted your approach based on results, ensuring the solution was effective and sustainable.

5. Reflect and Learn

Summarize the outcome, including quantifiable improvements, and share what you learned about root cause analysis, conflict resolution, or team collaboration.

Key Points to Mention

  • Use of data or metrics to identify the performance gap and measure improvement
  • Collaboration with team members to diagnose and solve the problem, demonstrating conflict resolution
  • Specific actions taken to address the root cause, such as implementing new processes or tools
  • Quantifiable results, such as increased efficiency, reduced errors, or improved team morale
  • Lessons learned about proactive monitoring or early intervention
  • How you communicated with stakeholders throughout the process

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

Q3

How do you prioritize competing demands or tasks when managing supply chain operations?

Roadmap PrioritizationCross-functional Alignment
Author's notes

Answered this one with something about urgency vs.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by framing prioritization as a data-driven process that aligns with business goals and customer impact. Then, walk through a specific example where you used a framework to balance competing demands, highlighting collaboration with cross-functional teams and measurable outcomes. Emphasize your ability to adapt and communicate trade-offs effectively.

Pro tip: Show that you prioritize not just by urgency but by strategic value and dependencies, and mention how you use tools like Jira or custom dashboards to make prioritization transparent and data-backed. This demonstrates engineering maturity and business acumen.

1. Clarify Objectives and Constraints

Understand the overarching business goals, customer SLAs, and resource limitations. Identify what 'success' looks like for each demand.

2. Assess Impact and Effort

Evaluate each task's potential impact on revenue, customer experience, and operational efficiency, versus the effort and risk involved.

3. Apply a Prioritization Framework

Use a structured method like RICE, MoSCoW, or weighted scoring to rank tasks objectively. Consider dependencies and urgency.

4. Align with Stakeholders

Socialize the prioritized list with cross-functional teams (product, operations, finance) to validate assumptions and gain buy-in.

5. Execute, Monitor, and Adjust

Implement the plan, track progress with metrics, and remain flexible to re-prioritize as new information or disruptions arise.

Key Points to Mention

  • Use of data and metrics to drive decisions (e.g., cost savings, delivery times, defect rates)
  • Alignment with business OKRs and customer impact
  • Cross-functional collaboration and communication (e.g., with product managers, operations, logistics)
  • Agile methodologies and tools (e.g., Scrum, Kanban, Jira) for managing workflow
  • Risk management and contingency planning for supply chain disruptions
  • Continuous improvement and post-mortem analysis to refine prioritization

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