Leverage Maps #23: One Funnel, Many Roles

I recently interviewed with a well-funded Web3 startup. The interviewer began with behavioral questions, and when I clarified that I was applying for a Tech Lead / Engineering Manager role, those questions shifted toward leadership. Then the process moved into a technical assessment for a senior full-stack engineer.

That’s when I realized: they’re running a single hiring funnel and using it to evaluate candidates for multiple positions.

This approach is common in scrappy startups, especially after a big funding round. Everyone is funneled into the same pipeline and evaluated for where they might “fit”. The range of potential roles might be an IC, lead, or manager. On the surface, that’s efficient. But in practice, it leaves candidates unclear about what they’re actually being evaluated for, and it risks signaling that the company itself hasn’t distinguished between roles internally.

There’s a simple fix. Recruitment processes can be transparent about this reality:

“We’re hiring across several roles, including senior engineers and leads. You’ll go through the same technical screen, but if you’re targeting leadership, we’ll add behavioral and leadership questions too.”

This framing tells candidates: yes, people wear many hats here, but those hats are acknowledged.

Takeaways:

For candidates: ask explicitly whether the interview process is shared across multiple roles. It’ll help you prepare and set expectations. Ask ahead of time what type of technical content will be assessed to make the most out of your prep time.

For startups: role clarity in hiring is a culture signal. Even if hats overlap, transparency about that overlap builds trust and attracts stronger candidates.

Lesson: Hiring funnels are a mirror of organizational design. If the funnel is fuzzy, odds are the company is in a growth spurt.

On a personal note: I’m focused on engineering leadership roles where I can combine technical depth with building strong teams. If you know of opportunities in that space, I’d be glad to connect.