Seniority isn't about years — it's about scope, judgment, and ownership. Try these five questions in your next loop.

  1. "Walk me through a decision you made that you later reversed."
  2. "What's a system you owned end-to-end? What broke first?"
  3. "When did you say no to your manager — and how?"
  4. "Tell me about a project where the goal changed mid-flight."
  5. "What's the smallest team you've successfully led through ambiguity?"

Listen for specifics, trade-offs, and self-awareness — not buzzwords.