How to Crush Any Technical Interview: Focus on Teamwork, Outcomes, and the Right Preparation
Every interview comes down to one thing: convincing them that you’re the person who can deliver the best outcomes for their business. That’s the real test—not just your technical skills, but whether they can see you contributing to their goals as part of their team. Once you understand this, you can completely change the way you approach interviews and stand out from the crowd.
Here’s how to do it.
1. Never Outshine the Master
In Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power, the first rule is to never outshine the master. This is critical advice for interviews. It’s natural to want to impress your interviewer, especially in a technical role, but coming across as a know-it-all can hurt you. Sometimes, candidates get so caught up in showcasing their expertise that they end up looking arrogant or overly competitive.
Instead, focus on humility. Show that you know the technology, but frame it as a team effort. For example, talk about how you used your skills to support your team and deliver results. Position yourself as someone who collaborates to help others succeed, not someone who needs to be the smartest person in the room. If they believe you’re both skilled and a team player, they’ll see you as someone who’s easy to work with and capable of delivering value.
2. It’s About Teamwork, Technology, and Outcomes
When it comes to technical interviews, there are three things every interviewer wants to know:
That’s it. It’s not just about rattling off what you know. They want to see a pattern: you’ve mastered the tools, applied them in a collaborative environment, and achieved results. So, as you answer questions, weave this narrative into every response.
For example, if they ask about a specific tool or language, don’t stop at, “Yes, I know it.” Explain how you used it in a team setting and what outcomes you achieved. Even if you had to research and learn something new, frame it as part of your process: “I researched the solution, applied it, and worked with my team to implement it successfully.” This shows you’re adaptable, cooperative, and focused on results.
3. What If You’ve Never Had a Technical Job?
If you’re new to the industry and don’t have formal experience, don’t panic. The same formula works—you just have to adapt it. Here’s how:
Emphasize Learning: If you’ve self-studied, gone through college, or taken certifications, tell the story of how you learned. For example, “I dedicated time to learning this skill, practiced it in a lab environment, and applied it by building a project.” Even if the “outcome” is simply mastering the skill or creating something small, it’s still a story that shows initiative.
Leverage Collaboration: Talk about how you’ve worked with others in non-technical roles, school projects, or even on open-source contributions. If you haven’t done any collaborative technical work yet, consider joining an open-source project or starting one with friends. It’s a great way to demonstrate teamwork while building real-world experience.
Create Tangible Outputs: Employers love evidence. If you’re learning new technologies, create a blog post, video, or GitHub repo to showcase what you’ve done. For example, “I documented my learning process in a blog post, sharing what I learned and how I solved the problem.” These outputs are outcomes in themselves and can set you apart from other candidates.
If you’ve had past work experience outside of tech, highlight your ability to work in teams and solve problems in those roles. Then connect it to your passion for applying those same skills in a technical setting. They want to know you can collaborate and contribute to their team—make sure they see that in your story.
4. Never Trash Talk Your Past Employer
No matter how bad your last job was, don’t speak negatively about your previous employer. It’s tempting to vent, especially if you’re moving on from a toxic environment, but resist. Here’s why:
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First, you never know who knows who. Your interviewer might have connections at your old company, and badmouthing could backfire. Second, it reflects poorly on you. If you’re willing to trash talk a past employer, they’ll assume you might do the same to them someday.
Instead, keep it positive. If they ask why you’re leaving, focus on growth: “I’m looking for an opportunity to take on new challenges and grow my skills in a collaborative environment.” That’s all they need to hear.
5. Use AI to Supercharge Your Preparation
Technology isn’t just for coding—it’s a game-changer for interview prep too. Tools like ChatGPT can help you get ready in ways you might not have thought possible. Here’s how:
Upload Your Resume and Job Description: Share your resume and the job requirements with ChatGPT. Ask it to generate a mock interview tailored to the role. It won’t be perfect, but it’ll help you practice responding to the key skills and responsibilities they’re looking for.
Simulate Real Conversations: With ChatGPT’s voice features, you can practice answering questions out loud. This helps you get comfortable telling your story naturally, as if you were in the room with the interviewer.
Research the Company: Use AI to gather insights about the company’s mission, values, and goals. Understand what outcomes they care about, so you can connect your skills to their needs. For example, if they’re hiring for an cybersecurity role, dig into their approach to security and talk about how you can help strengthen it.
The more you practice and research, the more confident and prepared you’ll be when it’s time to interview.
6. Tell a Compelling Story
Interviews are sales, and you’re the product. The way to “sell” yourself is through storytelling. Show them you’re not just someone who knows technical stuff—you’re someone who learns, adapts, works collaboratively, and delivers results.
Your story should always come back to three things:
Even if you don’t know everything, prove through your stories that you’re someone who can learn anything, work well with others, and help achieve results. That’s what they’re hiring for: a team player who gets things done.
Final Thoughts
If you want to crush your next technical interview, remember this: it’s all about outcomes. Use every opportunity to show them how you’ve applied your skills, worked with teams, and delivered results. Practice telling your story with tools like ChatGPT to refine your answers and build confidence. Do your research, stay humble, and approach the process like a collaboration, not a competition.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into this mindset, I talk more about how to approach interviews and your career in my book "Hacker Inc.", co-written with the amazing Renee Small . In it, we show you how to think like the CEO of your own career and sell yourself in any situation. It’s available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKTK1R93)—check it out if you want to level up your approach.
When you can prove you’re the person who can deliver the outcomes they need, the job is yours.