Anna J McDougall

Technical interviews are struggling to keep pace with the reality of modern software engineering in a time of AI agents. LLMs and their offshoots can now easily solve take-home assessments, and traditional DSA formats reward memorisation over real-world skills. So how can we accurately and fairly assess the technical abilities of engineers as part of a standardised hiring process? In late 2024, I began a redesign of the technical interview process at HelloBetter, a mental health tech company in Berlin. The aim was to create a format that actually reflects day-to-day engineering work, while also being time-conscious, inclusive, and accepting of the presence of AI in developer workflows. In the process, we created "The McDougall Method": a new and emerging framework for better interview processes which is quickly forcing technical leaders to rethink their AI mitigation strategies.

You've done your job. You've delivered timely features. You even optimised some processes along the way. Yet you still get turned down for a promotion or a raise. In this practical talk, Engineering Director and tech career specialist Anna McDougall delivers direct, immediately actionable steps for what you can do in the next few weeks, months, and years to secure promotions and raises. From the tasks you choose to how you document and 'sell' them, she will give you the toolkit you need for your career goals.

You've done your job. You've delivered timely features. You even optimised some processes along the way. Yet you still get turned down for a promotion or a raise. In this practical talk, Engineering Director and tech career specialist Anna McDougall delivers direct, immediately actionable steps for what you can do in the next few weeks, months, and years to secure promotions and raises. From the tasks you choose to how you document and 'sell' them, she will give you the toolkit you need for your career goals.