How to Present Ideas During Interviews

Whether you’re promoting yourself in an interview, pitching a product, or asking for a raise, here’s how to persuade the person without being manipulative: At our Science of People lab, I’ve found that the most persuasive communicators master what I call the Two C’s: 1. Clarity Confusion kills persuasion. People can’t say yes to what they don’t understand. So before anything else, get crystal clear about what you do, who you help, and why it matters. 2. Curiosity Humans are drawn to questions, not monologues. If you can make someone genuinely curious, you’ve already earned their attention. Now let’s put those into practice. Step 1: Forget the elevator pitch Instead, think in terms of value propositions, statements that clearly show what you do and spark curiosity about how you do it. For example: “Meeting planners and association executives hire me to make them look like superstars.” That’s from Don Levine Jr. Every time he says it, people respond with: “Really? How do you do that?” And that “how” is the golden question, the one that opens real conversations instead of shutting them down. Step 2: Invite dialogue Your goal isn’t to “pitch.” It’s to start a discussion. When you state your value clearly, people naturally ask follow-up questions, and that’s when your expertise shines. Compare these two: • “I’m an engineer for a software company. We specialize in cybersecurity” • “I’m an engineer trying to solve the three biggest challenges in cybersecurity today” The second version invites curiosity and sets you up as an authority. Step 3: Be ready for “how” and “why” A great value proposition always leads to deeper questions: “How do you do that?” or “Why do you do that?” That’s your chance to explain your mission. Those “how” and “why” conversations create trust and credibility faster than any sales script ever could. Step 4: Add the third C (Courage) Yes, I’m sneaking in one more C. Because clarity and curiosity alone aren’t enough. You also need courage. • Courage to sound different • Courage to be memorable It takes confidence to say something like: • “I’m a human behavior hacker” • Or Jim McConnell’s favorite: “I keep my clients off the front page, keep executives alive and out of jail, and make suppliers accountable” • Or even a wedding planner who says: “Brides hire me so they can sleep better at night.” Each of those lines makes people lean in. Step 5: Create your own Here’s a simple fill-in-the-blank template to build your value proposition: I help [target audience] in [category] by [benefit/outcome] so they can [result]. Examples: • “For store owners in retail, our micro camera system provides fail-safe, worry-free security 24/7” • “I help startup entrepreneurs in tech hire the right people so they can focus on growth.” Now, I’m curious: what’s your value proposition? Fill in the blanks and share it below. I’d love to see what you come up with.

Your idea isn’t the problem. How you communicate it is. Early in my career, I’d make recommendations to my boss... and get met with either no decision, or endless back-and-forth. The problem wasn’t my ideas — it was my delivery. Over time, I figured out what separates recommendations that stall, from ones met with a quick decision. I've turned it into a simple framework, and I now ask every leader on my team to use it when presenting ideas to me. I want to share it with you. 🌀 SPIRAL 🌀 ▪️ Situation → You need to provide context. Your boss may not be as close to the details as you. Keep it clear. Keep it concise. ▪️ Problem → First, make sure you have a real problem. It's your job to decipher between "volume vs volume". Meaning is this problem you're solving for happening often, indicating you have a systemic issue? Or do you just a squeaky wheel? Provide at least two, real examples! ▪️ Impact → Be data-backed. How does this problem impact outcomes you care about? Avoid subjective terms like "often, big". Be specific. ▪️ Recommendation → This is where you demonstrate your ability to be solution oriented. Also, all change recommendations have pros and cons. List those out, so your boss doesn't feel like their walking into a trap. Where possible, include ways to mitigate the risks. ▪️ Ask → Be explicit. What needs to change, how, and when? ▪️ Last Line, First → Never burry the headline! In one succinct sentence, what are you recommending? Make this the first line in your slack, or the first words out of your mouth in your meeting. Save this. Use this. And I promise... You'll stand out from your peers. Your recommendations will be met with quicker decisions.

I've been doing a lot of interview preps lately, and one thing is clear—𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞, giving flat, surface-level responses. 🚫 “I educate HCPs to improve patient outcomes.” 🚫 “I manage relationships with KOLs.” 🚫 “I've supported product launches as an MSL.” True? Yes. 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞? 𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐄. If your answers sound like everyone else’s, you’re making it harder for hiring teams to see your value. The fix? STORYTELLING. Use the PAS framework to make your responses stand out: 🔹 Problem – What challenges did you or your team face? 🔹 Agitate – Why was it significant? What was at stake? 🔹 Solution – How did you solve it? What was the impact Example: If you are a clinician vying for the Med Info role: ❌ 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: “I provide up-to-date medical information to clinicians.” ✅ 𝐓𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬: "HCPs in my practice often struggled to find reliable, evidence-based answers, leading to inconsistent decisions. With the constant influx of new data, I built a centralized repository of clinical guidelines and literature summaries—quickly becoming our team’s go-to resource. This not only improved decision-making efficiency but also enhanced patient outcomes. I see the opportunity to scale this impact in Medical Information, ensuring HCPs have access to timely, credible scientific data to support treatment decisions.” Much better right? Instead of listing what you do, tell a compelling story—one that highlights your impact and how it translates into the role. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭, 𝐢𝐬. If you’re ready to refine your interview communication, enroll in the industry accelerator program and improve your communication skills. #pharmaceuticals #careergrowth #careercoach #interviewing #communication #pharmajobs #medical

Getting the interview is one thing; winning it is another. I want to share one of the most powerful interview strategies I've seen because it fundamentally changes your position as a candidate. The goal is to walk in as a consultant, not just an applicant. 💼 You do this by stopping the effort to convince them you can do the job and instead showing them you've already started thinking about it. I call it the "mini-audit" strategy. Here’s the plan: 🎯 Choose Your Target: Pick a company where you have an interview scheduled. 🔍 Find an Opportunity: Do some reconnaissance. Identify a small, public piece of their work relevant to the role (their website's checkout flow, a specific marketing campaign, their blog's SEO). 📝 Create a Memo: Draft a concise, one-page "Recommendation Memo." Offer 2-3 constructive, well-researched suggestions. It's crucial to frame it positively and professionally. 💡 Deploy Strategically: This is key. DO NOT send it ahead of time. You can hint at it in your cover letter ("...I've already outlined some initial ideas..."). Then, bring a physical copy to the interview to guide the conversation. This single action flips the entire dynamic. You're no longer someone asking for a chance; you're a strategic partner offering immediate value. #interviewtips #jobsearchstrategy #careeradvice #gethired #hiring

"Great interview!" → No offer. Sound familiar? You're not alone. 83% of candidates who get rejected were actually qualified for the role. The problem isn't your experience. It's your interview strategy. Here's how my clients and I fix theirs: 1️⃣ Stop listing responsibilities. Start proving ROI. Hiring managers aren't impressed by job descriptions. They want to see what changed because of you. → Instead of: "Owned monthly reporting." → Try: "Revamped monthly reporting process, cut delivery time by 40% and improved cross-team decisions." 2️⃣ Tie your stories to their pain points. Your goal isn't just to share what you did, it's to show why it matters to them. Study the JD. Mirror their language. Show up like the solution they wrote that role for. 3️⃣ Use strategic endings. Don't let your answers trail off. End with a forward-facing bridge: → "That experience taught me how to lead through ambiguity, something I know this team values." 4️⃣ Speak like a partner, not a performer. You're not auditioning. You're collaborating. The best interviews feel like a problem-solving conversation, because confidence isn't just what you say, it's how you show up. 5️⃣ Master your intro. Your "Tell me about yourself" sets the tone. Make it a highlight reel of your story, strengths, and alignment to the specific role. No rambling. No resume readout. You're closer than you think. Small shifts = big results. Want to see real before/after answers that helped tech leaders land $150k+ roles? Comment INTERVIEW and I'll help you craft your story.

Have you given a presentation in an interview? It can make or break your chances. Here's what I've learned from closing enterprise deals and coaching mentees through successful interview presentations. 7 crucial mistakes to avoid -- and what to do instead: 🚫 Presenting what YOU find essential 🟢 Research the panel: I once saw a candidate jump straight into technical architecture, losing the CEO's attention in 2 minutes. Instead, they could have opened with business impact, then layered in technical depth for the engineering leads. 🚫 Jumping into the content 🟢 Start with a powerful executive summary: "Here's what we'll cover today: the challenge, our solution, and the measurable results. I've prepared additional technical details in the appendix." 🚫 Ending with the project conclusion 🟢 Close with your value proposition: "Based on my experience with [similar projects], here's what I can deliver in my first 90 days at [Company]." 🚫 Overloading each slide: Death by Powerpoint 😅 🟢 Follow the 1-3-10 rule: 1 main message per slide, 3 supporting points, 10 minutes for core content. Reserve 30-40% of your time for discussion. 🚫 Subconsciously present with a tensed body-language. 🟢 Smile -- it is heavily underrated. Practice open postures. Pro tip: Record yourself on video first. You'll spot habits you never noticed. 🚫 Practicing silently in your head 🟢 Practice out loud, ideally 3 times: Once for content, once for timing, and once for a trusted friend. When the stakes are high, your extra prep will count. 🚫 Relying only on text 🟢 Use multimedia! Think charts, flow-charts, videos, sketches, or code. Pro tip: Share a text-light deck during your presentation and provide a detailed handout for context. That's a 7-point checklist for you. Has this been helpful? Share it with someone preparing for an interview presentation!