Bottom-line-up-front: Three ways to research the interview questions (AI, Websites, and HI) and three ways to research the interviewing company (AI and HI).
"Students, it's going to be an open-book take-home exam."
The first time I heard my professor say this, I couldn't compute.
Coming from the demanding Indian schooling system, I was shocked to hear this concept of an exam where you can take the test home and use the book to solve it!
It was such a refreshing concept.
With the right level of research, interviews can get as close to this as possible.
Of course, you still have to perform on the day.
But you can learn the questions and create a book beforehand.
Let's dig in.
Three ways to research interview questions.
1. Leverage AI
AI Prompt:
"Imagine you are a <insert hiring manager position> hiring a <insert role> and looking for someone to fill these requirements: <copy-paste job description [JD]>. Can you give me behavioral, situational, case-study questions, and panel-interview questions you and your team can ask me for this role? Plus, can you use my resume to give me an answer for each?"
Nuances:
- Give AI a hat to wear
- Attach or copy-paste the JD
- Ask for different types of Qs
- Advanced: Attach your resume and Why-How-What doc (if you have one)
I have tested this with ChatGPT Pro, and it gives questions of A-grade quality.
If you also ask for answers, the output will depend on the quality of your resume and the Why-How-What document. Edit them further using human intelligence.
Side note: Here's the prompt you can use to get technical interviewing questions:
"I am interviewing for a <insert title> role at <insert company>. Find a job description attached. What are the first principles from a technical POV that are critical for this role. Please provide a description for each, a technical example of the role it plays in this position, and business perspective for each. Then give me a list of questions that can be asked on these first principles -- technical tests, aptitude questions, and brain-teasers."
2. Use anonymous submissions
There are many community websites where people share interview questions for different companies and roles.
My mentees have used this to great advantage. Here's what they use:
- Glassdoor: Companies > Insert company name > Interviews > Search for job titles
- Blind: Search bar > Type Company Position Interview
- For Technical: Leetcode, Kaggle
It's like getting the test questions before the test.
3. Human Intelligence [HI]
The best way to get information is to talk to people in the company. It is even better if they are in the same group or function.
Here's a script to send a connection an email or message:
"Hi Friend, I am going to be interviewing at Company. I would love to ask you specific questions about your interviewing experience so I can put my best foot forward. Here are the times that work for me <insert>, and I am happy to work around your calendar, too. It's all good if this is a busy time and you don't have the bandwidth [Varun: always give people an easy out.]
PS. If you prefer to chat here instead, I can share my questions here, too."
If you don't have a connection at the target companies, post 1, and post 2, will give you a start.
Remember: Networking is like a relationship bank account. You can't make a withdrawal without making deposits first. Here's how to make deposits. Ofc, if it's a friend, you already have a long-standing account with them.
Three ways to research interviewing company.
1. Leverage AI for a SWOT analysis and pitch ideas:
Prompt:
"Can you run a SWOT analysis on the charging business of Tesla. If I am making a pitch for them based on the SWOT analysis and my qualifications below, what project ideas can you share for each of the four parts of the analysis that I can create an MVP version for and present in the interview? [Copy paste resume and why-how-what document]”
Note: A lot of nuance is happening here. I am asking for a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats analysis for a specific group within a company. Then, I am also asking for pitch ideas. As one hiring manager told me, “That is such a brilliant idea. No one has ever brought a SWOT analysis to an interview or pitched me about it.”
2. Leverage AI to ask for the latest news:
Try Perplexity or your favorite AI tool.
(Pro versions lead to a better response. If you are actively interviewing, invest in the pro plans.)
Prompt:
"What is the latest news about Google's data center business? I will interview for their emissions management business as a technical program manager. Wear the hat of the recruiter and the hiring manager and tell me what they would expect me to know and what they would be impressed I know."
3. Human Intelligence: Good old elbow grease.
A great way to validate the AI outputs and your ideas is to talk to people who work for that company. Try to talk to people already in the business unit or were part of it.
Challenge: Leverage AI
Use the #1 prompt for interview questions and company research. If you have not done this exercise before -- prepare to be impressed.
Stretch goal: Reach out to 5 people who either work at target companies or in target roles. (You might feel major friction if you have never done this before. Remember that this is a muscle. A dumbbell seems heavy at first and light after a few instances.)