Forget coding tests, Anthropic’s Claude Code architect says these three traits get you hired
Claude Code’s architect reveals what sets a successful Anthropic applicant apart, and it has less to do with technical acumen than many candidates expect.
As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, few companies are as fervently pursued by job seekers as Antropik. The AI lab, which recently went public at a $965 billion valuation and counts Claude among the most talented AI assistants available, is receiving a flood of applications for six-figure roles. But according to Boris Cherny, the engineer behind Claude Code, the qualities that get candidates hired may surprise those who have spent years honing their technical proficiency.
Speaking at Fortune’s Brainstorm Technology conference, Cherny laid out three features that Anthropic is constantly looking for, and none of them focus solely on raw intelligence.
Antropik wants not only specialists, but also generalists
The first feature Cherny mentioned was intellectual scope. He said Antropik actively looks for candidates who can move fluidly across disciplines, rather than candidates who are deep into a single field.
“We like generalists because they have a context that encompasses more than just engineering,” Cherny said at the Fortune conference. “We love people with context in engineering and design, engineering and product, data science and design.”
This choice reflects a broader reality in fast-moving AI companies, where the boundaries between product, design and engineering are increasingly blurred, and the ability to hold multiple perspectives simultaneously is recognized as a true competitive advantage.
Why low ego is Anthropic’s most valuable recruiting trait
Cherny’s second criterion is that many strong candidates fall short. Anthropic rewards humility and actively eliminates those whose sense of self gets in the way of good work, he said.
“Ego trumps everything,” Cherny said at the Fortune conference. “You want to be safe and safe when implementing an idea that could turn out badly. It’s not your fault, it’s okay to be wrong.”
The emphasis on low ego is not unique to the Anthropic. Ben Goodwin, CEO and co-founder of probiotic drink brand Olipop, made similar statements. “We can’t hire people whose personal egos are bigger than the team’s mission,” Goodwin said. CNBC In 2025.
Claire Isnard, former product and business officer chanelHe adopts the same perspective when evaluating the candidates of the 116-year-old fashion house. “If people have big egos and want to work alone or are mercenaries who only do things short-term, they’re not going to adapt,” Isnard said. Luck.
Surprising red flag in hiring: using ‘I’ too much in interviews
Some senior executives have also begun to pay close attention to the language candidates use when describing their accomplishments. Wisp CEO Monica Cepak says candidates who never use the word “we” when discussing past challenges indicate they can’t function in a team environment. Twilio CEO Khozema Shipchandler also identified the same model.
“I don’t really think that shows leadership very well,” Shipchandler told Fortune in 2025. “What I do is easy because people have to listen to me. I can bark orders, and ideally they follow them.” “But tough leadership is when you’re not accountable. How do you get people to do things through data, passion, charisma, persuasion? I’m really trying to test that.”
Anthropic’s third hiring requirement: Commitment to reality
The final quality Cherny looks for is what he calls being an empiricist, a candidate who updates his thoughts when the evidence warrants it, even if it means abandoning an idea they are personally committed to.
“The third thing is, we love empiricists. So people who learn from data and are grounded in reality,” Cherny said at Fortune’s Brainstorm Technology conference. “Like, ‘I have a great idea, but then I’m talking to a client and they tell me I’m wrong. I’m probably wrong.’ And I thought, ‘I should probably give up on this idea and try something else. And that’s okay.”
These three qualities—generalism, humility, and empiricism—paint a picture of the type of organization Anthropic has consciously sought to build as it transformed from a well-financed start-up into one of the most important technology companies of its generation.
