What Makes an Anthropic Engineer?
Anthropic’s Claude Code architect, Boris Cherny, has spilled the beans on what actually gets you hired at the AI giant. Technical skills are nice, but they’re not the top priority.
At a time when tech giants are competing for top AI talent, Cherny’s comments are a refreshing wake-up call for job seekers. It turns out, success at Anthropic has less to do with coding skills and more to do with being a collaborative team player.
Last year, Cherny joined Anthropic, the company behind the popular AI model Claude Code. As the architect of the project, Cherny has a unique perspective on what separates successful engineers from the rest.
The Three Traits That Matter
According to Cherny, the three qualities Anthropic looks for in a candidate are:
– **Strong communication skills**: Cherny emphasizes that engineers who can clearly explain complex technical concepts to non-technical team members are a rare breed. He notes that this is a crucial skill in a collaborative environment where engineers need to work closely with product managers, designers, and other stakeholders.
– **Emotional intelligence and empathy**: Cherny believes that engineers who can understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of their colleagues, are more effective at building strong team relationships. He suggests that emotional intelligence is essential for resolving conflicts and maintaining a positive team dynamic.
– **Adaptability and a willingness to learn**: Cherny sees adaptability as a key trait in Anthropic engineers. He notes that the company’s fast-paced environment requires engineers to be flexible and willing to pivot quickly in response to changing priorities or new information.
What this means is that technical skills are just one part of the equation. Engineers who can communicate effectively, work well with others, and adapt to changing circumstances are more likely to succeed at Anthropic.
The End of Coding Tests?
Cherny’s comments suggest that traditional coding tests may not be the best way to evaluate engineers. Instead, he advocates for a more holistic approach that assesses a candidate’s ability to work collaboratively and communicate complex ideas effectively.
Whether or not this approach will become more widespread remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the skills that matter most at Anthropic are not just technical brilliance, but also a suite of soft skills that are essential for working effectively in a collaborative environment.
