In this eye-opening episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we sit down with software engineer and consultant William Bernting to explore a radical approach to hiring, teamwork, and technical leadership.

William walks us through his real-world experience with mob programming interviews—a collaborative hiring process where candidates join the team in an ensemble coding session, not a contrived solo coder test. He shares the surprising benefits of evaluating candidates through communication, alignment, and problem-solving over individual technical trivia.

We dive into:

Why mob programming is a great way to assess team fit and long-term success

How to structure collaborative interviews that reduce anxiety and reveal true strengths

What happens when you ditch traditional project-led methods and focus on predictability through steady flow

How the Cynefin framework helps make sense of complex team dynamics and guides leadership decisions

What freelance engineering looks like when trust, autonomy, and collaboration lead the way

William also discusses how he's made his work more stable and sustainable—for both clients and team members—without relying on estimates or rigid plans. Instead, he uses continuous delivery, test-driven development (TDD), and mobbing to achieve results that are both reliable and adaptable.

Whether you're a hiring manager rethinking your interview process, an engineer looking to join better teams, or a leader trying to move beyond chaotic delivery cycles, this conversation offers practical takeaways and fresh perspective.