5 perspectives · Updated · 2 min read
Most interview advice is about memorizing good answers. The speakers here spend more time on preparation than on scripts.
Brian Tracy knows a company's stock price, competitors, and direction before he walks in. Kwame Christian researches the company, the role, and the interviewer, then practices his stories out loud. Frederik G. Pferdt doesn't rehearse polished answers at all.
Their answers cover research, practice, honesty, and how to read a question.
Prepare hard, then talk like a person. Brian Tracy and Kwame Christian research the company, the role, and the interviewer. Kwame practices his stories out loud so they sound like conversation, and Zack Kass answers the question behind the question.
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Five speakers, including Kwame Christian, CEO of the American Negotiation Institute, who treats an interview as a two-way negotiation. Listen for the approach that fits how you talk.
Brian Tracy · Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International
Listen for: Turning the interview around so they sell you the job.
Kwame Christian · CEO of the American Negotiation Institute and host of Negotiate Anything
Listen for: What to research, and practicing stories out loud.
Frederik G. Pferdt · Google's first Chief Innovation Evangelist; taught at Stanford for 10+ years
Listen for: Preparing who you want to be in the room.
Zack Kass · Global AI advisor and former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI
Listen for: Finding the question behind the question.
Sandi L Boucher · Anishinaabekwe speaker, traditional knowledge keeper, and author from Seine River First Nation
Listen for: Answering hard questions straight.
Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International
Why themClassic advice on goals, confidence, and public speaking.
Brian’s advice: Research the company, then ask sharp questions about the problems you can solve.
I turn the interview around and make them sell me the job. Before I walk in, I know their stock price, their competitors, and where their business is heading, then I ask sharp questions about the problems I can solve for them.
CEO of the American Negotiation Institute and host of Negotiate Anything
Why themPractical on negotiating salary and handling difficult people.
Kwame’s advice: Overprepare, and practice your stories out loud so they sound like conversation.
I treat interviews as a two-way negotiation, so I show up overprepared: I research the company, the role, and the interviewer, then I practice my stories out loud so they land like conversation, not performance.
Google's first Chief Innovation Evangelist; taught at Stanford for 10+ years
Why themHelps people act on the future instead of waiting for it.
Frederik’s advice: Skip polished answers; prepare to be curious, honest, and present.
I don't rehearse polished answers. I prepare the person I want to be in the room: curious, honest, a little nervous, fully present.
Global AI advisor and former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI
Why themA hopeful but grounded view of technology and work.
Zack’s advice: Answer the question behind the question.
I treat every interview question as a chance to have a real conversation, not to perform. I try to answer the thing behind the question, because that is usually what the interviewer and the audience actually want.
Anishinaabekwe speaker, traditional knowledge keeper, and author from Seine River First Nation
Why themGuidance on inclusion and reconciliation from lived experience.
Sandi’s advice: Answer hard questions straight, even when the truth isn't welcome.
I answer challenging questions straight, because honesty is kind. I warn people when the truth isn't what they want to hear, then I give the real answer so we can move forward.
| Who | Their advice |
|---|---|
| Brian TracyChairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International | Research the company, then ask sharp questions about the problems you can solve. |
| Kwame ChristianCEO of the American Negotiation Institute and host of Negotiate Anything | Overprepare, and practice your stories out loud so they sound like conversation. |
| Frederik G. PferdtGoogle's first Chief Innovation Evangelist; taught at Stanford for 10+ years | Skip polished answers; prepare to be curious, honest, and present. |
| Zack KassGlobal AI advisor and former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI | Answer the question behind the question. |
| Sandi L BoucherAnishinaabekwe speaker, traditional knowledge keeper, and author from Seine River First Nation | Answer hard questions straight, even when the truth isn't welcome. |
Research the company. Brian Tracy learns the stock price, the competitors, and where the business is heading. Kwame Christian researches the company, the role, and the interviewer.
Practice your stories out loud. Kwame Christian rehearses out loud so his stories land like conversation.
Answer the question behind the question. Zack Kass says that is usually what the interviewer wants.
Be straight on hard questions. Sandi L Boucher answers challenging questions directly, because honesty is kind.
Ask about problems you can solve. Brian Tracy asks sharp questions about the problems he can solve for them, and makes them sell him the job.
Show up present. Frederik G. Pferdt prepares to be curious, honest, a little nervous, and fully present.
They split on rehearsal. Kwame Christian practices his stories out loud until they sound like conversation. Frederik G. Pferdt doesn't rehearse polished answers and prepares how he wants to show up instead. Brian Tracy puts the most weight on research and his own questions.
Brian Tracy and Kwame Christian both research first: the company, its competitors, the role, and the interviewer. Kwame then practices his stories out loud.
Frederik G. Pferdt doesn't rehearse polished answers. Kwame Christian practices his stories, but so they sound like conversation.
Brian Tracy asks sharp questions about the problems he can solve for the company.
Frederik G. Pferdt expects to be a little nervous, along with being curious, honest, and fully present.
Research the company, practice your stories out loud, and answer what they are asking. Then ask the speaker whose style fits yours to help you prepare.
We asked this question to speakers on Delphi. Each quote is that person's Delphi answering in their own words, built from their own writing, talks, and interviews, and shown as given. Delphi wrote the introduction, the summary, and the steps from their answers. Last checked .
Ask Brian Tracy about research the company, then ask sharp questions about the pro
Ask Kwame Christian about overprepare, and practice your stories out loud so they soun
Ask Frederik G. Pferdt about skip polished answers; prepare to be curious, honest, and pr
Ask Zack Kass about answer the question behind the question