Hiring Manager

The hiring manager is the person whose team has the open role. They define the requirements for the hire, conduct or participate in interviews, and — in most organizations — have final say on who gets the offer. **Hiring manager vs. recruiter:** The recruiter manages the process: sourcing, screening, scheduling, and offer logistics. The hiring manager makes the actual decision. Impressing the recruiter gets you to the hiring manager; impressing the hiring manager gets you the offer. **Why identifying the hiring manager matters:** - Direct outreach to a hiring manager (via LinkedIn or email) can fast-track your application - Understanding what the hiring manager cares about helps you tailor your interview answers - The hiring manager's experience and background tells you what they're likely to value in a candidate **How to find them:** LinkedIn is the primary tool. Search for the team or function the role sits in, filter by company, and look for the person who would logically be the direct manager for the open role. Job postings sometimes include the hiring manager's name. Glassdoor interview reviews sometimes name them. **In the interview:** The hiring manager is usually the most substantive interviewer — they assess your technical competency, domain knowledge, and how you'd actually function on their team. HR and recruiter screens filter; the hiring manager decides. **Post-interview:** Sending a thoughtful thank you note to the hiring manager (not just HR) is appropriate and sometimes the differentiator in close decisions.