Document Your Mistakes: Manager Interviews and Community Presence with Kellyn Gorman (2/3)

How do we determine if a manager is the right fit based on our personality, values, and the way our brain works? Kellyn Gorman diligently investigates a potential manager before taking a job. As someone with autism and ADHD, having a supportive boss is critical to her success.

This week in episode 321 we’ll explore how Kellyn got into both the Oracle and Microsoft communities and the reasons she is adamant about developing public proof of work (like blogs and public-facing presentations) that showcases mistakes on the path to learning.

Listen closely to follow Kellyn’s transition from Oracle community group participant to leader, from public speaking novice to keynote presenter, and the differences she observed when participating in the Microsoft community.

Original Recording Date: 02-21-2025

Kellyn Gorman is a database professional who has worked in the technology space for 25 years better known as DBAKevlar. If you missed part 1 of our discussion with Kellyn, check out Episode 320.

Topics – Interviewing and Qualifying Managers, The Importance of Proof of Work, A Tale of Two Technical Communities

3:00 – Interviewing and Qualifying Managers

• Kellyn had mentioned not wanting to spend time on things which are not valuable, but she has developed a way to determine if sources of information are valuable over the course of her experience. In some cases, she is creating valuable resources that do not yet exist for the benefit of others. Kellyn has also learned how to determine if a manager will be valuable to her and fit in with the way she likes to work. How can listeners ask the right questions to determine if a manager is the right fit for the way they like to work?
  • Kellyn says often times when we interview, getting the job is the main focus, which is understandable. If it is not the right job, it can put you in a very bad situation.
  • With Kellyn being AuDHD, having a good boss is essential for her to be successful.
  • Many times, when Kellyn is being interviewed, the people who are interviewing her have read her blogs, the books she has written, or have seen her speak.
    • “They know me. It’s very normal for them to go, ‘I don’t have to give you a technical interview. I already know what you know.’ Ok, well then I get to ask questions.” – Kellyn Gorman
  • In a job interview situation, Kellyn likes to ask questions about how a manager assigns work and the regularity of updates they need (i.e. regular check-ins vs. clear communication of the deadline and nothing more). She does not work well with micromanagers and needs autonomy and trust from her manager.
    • “Go ahead and run the race. I don’t need to know how. That’s important to me. I am a professional. I am going to do the best job and really take care of that company and be extremely loyal. I need them to trust me to do that.” – Kellyn Gorman
  • When Kellyn worked for Microsoft, a mentor encouraged her to take the Clifton Assessment, and it has been extremely valuable.
    • Kellyn says one’s assessment can change over time and will re-take it now and then. The assessment tells someone what you will be like as an employee (skillset, potential, weaknesses).
    • Kellyn likes to give the assessment results to her boss as “an employee manual.” Not all of them, however, take the time to read it.
    • “The ones that read through that…I know I’ve got a good chance of having a good boss. If they just throw it