How to Spot a Fake Senior Developer in 5 Minutes

We’ve all worked with them. The so-called “senior developer” who somehow made it through the hiring process, talks a big game in meetings, and then… does absolutely nothing useful. They avoid real coding like it’s a biohazard, yet somehow they’re the first to offer “architectural guidance” (which translates to vague suggestions with zero implementation). But fear not. I’m here to give you a five-minute crash course on spotting a fake senior dev before they waste your time, derail your project, or—God forbid—get promoted. They Talk More Than They Code A real senior developer solves problems—they don’t just discuss them to death. But a fake senior? They love meetings. They thrive in “alignment sessions.” They need “just one more brainstorming session” before they can commit to anything.

Mar 4, 2025 - 21:38

How to Spot a Fake Senior Developer in 5 Minutes

We’ve all worked with them. The so-called “senior developer” who somehow made it through the hiring process, talks a big game in meetings, and then… does absolutely nothing useful. They avoid real coding like it’s a biohazard, yet somehow they’re the first to offer “architectural guidance” (which translates to vague suggestions with zero implementation).

But fear not. I’m here to give you a five-minute crash course on spotting a fake senior dev before they waste your time, derail your project, or—God forbid—get promoted.

They Talk More Than They Code

A real senior developer solves problems—they don’t just discuss them to death. But a fake senior? They love meetings. They thrive in “alignment sessions.” They need “just one more brainstorming session” before they can commit to anything.