My favorite interview questions from 100+ guests
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- This is a special episode of the podcast where I've curated my favorite interview questions from over a hundred podcast guests. Whether you're a hiring manager, a job seeker, or simply intrigued by the brilliant minds behind groundbreaking products, these questions offer unique insights into the strategies and philosophies that shape successful interviews.
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Find the transcript at: www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/my...
Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: www.lennysnewsletter.com
• X: / lennysan
• LinkedIn: / lennyrachitsky
In this episode, you’ll hear from:
(00:00) Lenny
(03:21) Eeke De Miliano
(03:57) Geoff Charles
(04:31) Shishir Mehrotra
(08:44) Yuhki Yamashita
(09:56) Katie Dill
(10:36) Karri Saarinen
(11:02) Camille Hearst
(11:28) Jiaona Zhang
(12:43) Noah Weiss
(13:10) Ben Williams
(14:41) Meltem Kuran Berkowitz
(15:29) Paige Costello
(16:13) Nikhyl Singhal
(17:51) Ayo Omojola
(18:20) Scott Belsky
(19:17) Lauryn Isford
(19:46) Paul Adams
Production and marketing by penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.
Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.
One of the best 20+ min I have ever spent on UA-cam. Thank you Lenny for doing this. I am 'lucky' cause I have a roof over my head, my family, something to eat and of course Lenny's podcast to self improve. Thank you
I appreciate it, it's useful! However, I would recommend just having an info box about a person's name and title (and a link to their episode in description), as to avoid all the fillers that break the flow and take the time from the main point of the video - practically, make it into a reel.
Another gem from Lenny´s Podcast! Amazing! Thank you all
Super useful. I took the time to answer them all as I prep for upcoming interviews this month.
This is one of my favorite episodes!
Summary of the questions:
(03:21) Eeke De Miliano
"To what do you attribute your success?" And you can't say "luck".
(03:57) Geoff Charles
"What's the hardest thing you've ever done?"
(04:31) Shishir Mehrotra
"A group of scientists have invented a teleportation device. They've hired you,to be their business counterpart, You could be a product manager for this thing, bring it to market. What do you do? … and you can only ask 2 questions and after that they expect a plan. What 2 questions would you ask?”
(08:44) Yuhki Yamashita
"Describe to me a time when you were part of a controversial product decision. What did you do?"
“Talk about a big problem that you worked on."
(09:56) Katie Dill
"Tell me what work you are most proud of?"
(10:36) Karri Saarinen
“What is the candidate most proud of and why on their professional life or otherwise.”
(11:02) Camille Hearst
“Tell me about something you’re really proud of that you’ve accomplished, take me through the process, and talk to me about why you’re proud of it.”
(11:28) Jiaona Zhang
I do like to do behavioral questions. Just really understanding, when they've been in challenging situations, when they've been in ambiguous situations, how do they navigate Ambiguity?
(12:43) Noah Weiss
"What unfair secrets have you learned to improve the velocity and energy level of a product team? What did you learn? How did you learn it? How does it work, and how do you apply it?"
(13:10) Ben Williams
"Fast forward three years, what's different about you then?"
"Tell me about the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives that you've recently personally been involved with?"
(14:41) Meltem Kuran Berkowitz
"What would your siblings say about you?/What will your parents say about you?"
(15:29) Paige Costello
"Tell me about a time something went wrong. What was it? What did you do about it?"
(16:13) Nikhyl Singhal
"What's something that everyone takes for granted that you think is essentially hogwash or inaccurate? What's conventional wisdom that you bet against, that you have found is actually inaccurate?”
(17:51) Ayo Omojola
"Tell me something you did that worked out, but not for the reason that you thought it would work," or, "Tell me something you did that was a good decision that didn't work."
(18:20) Scott Belsky
I like asking about something people have learned about themselves that reveal the limitation in how they work.
"Do you consider yourself lucky?"
(19:17) Lauryn Isford
"Tell me about a time that you delivered something that was impactful."
(19:46) Paul Adams
For referral cals: “What feedback will I be giving this person in their first performance review?"
MVP
These are all really great questions, though I have a suggestion for Meltem's question "what would your siblings/parent say about you." I would change this to "what would your friends/colleagues say about you." There's a few reasons but foremost being that not everyone has the kind of family situation where it would be pleasant to be reminded of it during an interview, and some would consider it a reflection of a workplace with poor work/life barriers & balance. Though - if the goal is for candidates to show genuine awareness of how people see them, they'll probably be aware that they fill different spaces for different people such that they will choose the flattering rather than revealing answer. Overall, I'd skip this one as there are better ways to find the same information.
Super useful and enlightening Lenny! Keep that path, greetings from Argentina (you should come!)
I would love that you added your point of view to each one
Just want to say I love Katie Dill's dog photo on the background :)
It was really inspirational. Thank you!
Really useful thanks for sharing ❤
Generally, I prefer behavior-based questions over "Creative" or what some may call "Gotcha Questions" but I found Shishir Mehrotra "Eigenquestion" to gauge how the candidate frames the problem unique. For those reading, the question is "A group of scientists have invented a teleportation device, and they've hired you to be their business counterpart, bring this to market, what do you do?"
Watch Lenny's video to see the answer :)
The way to think about it is to understand how would you divide the solution space into the most definitive 2x2 matrix aka your positioning. I would think about how anything and everything that transports stuff: cars, trucks, planes, ships and think about how I would categorize these different solutions. A few dimensions which we rate these solutions are: capacity, speed, cost, human-safe. Speed is a question already answered by the device being a teleportation device, most likely it is instant or near-real-time. Next best question is indeed whether it is human-safe or not. Third question would be either cost or capacity, more likely cost.
this is very helpful
Insightful, would also like to listen to how you would have answered these questions.
Yes! I would love to hear multiple different people answering these as well, to gauge the differences.
Interviewing Spock from Star Trek with the previously discussed questions would provide fascinating insights into his logical, yet complex character. Let's explore how Spock might respond, channeling his Vulcan logic and occasional glimpses of his human side:
"To what do you attribute your success?"
"Success is the result of logical reasoning, extensive knowledge, and the ability to suppress emotional biases that might cloud judgment. My achievements can be attributed to rigorous discipline, a commitment to the Vulcan way of life, and the diverse experiences I've had serving on the USS Enterprise."
"What's the hardest thing you've ever done?"
"The most challenging task I have faced was reconciling my Vulcan heritage with my human emotions. This internal conflict has required me to continually strive for balance, making decisions that not only serve the greater good but also respect the complexities of my dual nature."
Hypothetical teleportation device scenario.
"The two questions of most logical importance would be: 'What is the energy efficiency of the device compared to conventional methods of transport?' and 'Does the technology have the potential to cause harm, either through malfunction or misuse?' These questions address the feasibility and ethical considerations of deploying such technology."
"Describe a time when you were part of a controversial product decision."
"A situation that stands out involved the Genesis Device. My role required me to evaluate its scientific potential against the ethical implications of its use as a weapon. The decision to recommend the project's cessation was controversial but logically sound, prioritizing the preservation of life."
"Tell me what work you are most proud of?"
"I am most gratified by my contributions to fostering peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Though the path was fraught with challenges, the successful negotiation of peace accords exemplified the potential for logic and diplomacy to transcend historical animosities."
Question on Ambiguity:
"Ambiguity is an inherent aspect of the universe. My approach is to gather all available data, perform a logical analysis, and proceed with the course of action that maximizes the probability of success. Acknowledging that some uncertainty always remains is a logical acceptance of the nature of reality."
"What unfair secrets have you learned to improve the velocity and energy level of a product team?"
"The concept of 'unfair secrets' is illogical. However, I have observed that clear communication and the delineation of responsibilities based on individual strengths significantly enhance team efficiency. Furthermore, the removal of emotional conflict through logical discourse tends to optimize performance."
"Fast forward three years, what's different about you then?"
"Predicting personal evolution with precision is challenging. However, I anticipate further growth in my understanding of both human and Vulcan cultures, potentially leading to a deeper integration of my dual heritage. Continuous learning and adaptation are logical for optimal functioning in an ever-changing universe."
"What would your siblings say about you?"
"Given that Vulcans do not traditionally express personal sentiments, it is speculative to assume my siblings' perspectives. However, it is logical to surmise they would acknowledge my dedication to Vulcan principles while perhaps noting the influence of my human heritage on my actions."
"Tell me about a time something went wrong."
"An instance of miscalculation occurred during a mission where I underestimated the significance of an alien culture's ritualistic behavior, leading to a diplomatic misunderstanding. The incident reinforced the importance of incorporating sociocultural variables into logical analysis."
"What's something that everyone takes for granted that you think is essentially hogwash or inaccurate?"
"Many species assume that emotions are inherently disadvantageous to rational thought. While emotions can cloud judgment, they also provide valuable insights into the complexities of life and decision-making. This perspective is often overlooked in purely logical analysis."
"Tell me something you did that worked out, but not for the reason you thought it would."
"In an effort to save a dying species' planet, I initiated a terraforming experiment. While the experiment did not yield the intended scientific results, it unexpectedly facilitated the formation of a new alliance, demonstrating the unforeseen benefits that can arise from failure."
Question on Learning About Limitations:
"I have learned that despite the strengths of Vulcan logic, there are situations where human intuition and emotional understanding offer superior solutions. Acknowledging this has not weakened my resolve but has made me a more effective officer and companion."
"Do you consider yourself lucky?"
"The concept of luck is a human superstition that does not align with Vulcan understanding of causality. However, I recognize the fortuitous convergence of circumstances that have led me to serve with distinguished colleagues on the USS Enterprise, facilitating unparalleled personal growth and contribution to the greater good."
"Tell me about a time that you delivered something that was impactful."
"On stardate 3141.9, during the Enterprise's mission to the Halkan system, I led a scientific team in developing a method to penetrate a previously impenetrable energy shield of an alien artifact. This breakthrough not only advanced Federation science significantly but also enabled peaceful contact with a new alien civilization. The impact was twofold: it expanded our scientific understanding and fostered a new alliance based on mutual respect and cooperation. This event stands as a testament to the power of logic, creativity, and diplomacy working in harmony."
Reference Call Question: "What feedback will I be giving this person in their first performance review?"
"If you were to inquire about my performance from my commanding officer, Captain James T. Kirk, he might suggest that while my logical approach and dedication to duty are beyond reproach, there could be occasions where I might benefit from a greater openness to human intuition and emotional responses. This feedback, while highlighting a perceived limitation, also acknowledges the unique strengths I bring to the crew of the USS Enterprise. It underscores the importance of balance between logic and emotion, a balance I continually strive to achieve in both my personal and professional endeavors."
I completely didn't get Paul Adams's advise :( Could anyone please explain? He starts at 19:59 and at 20:09 tells: "What feedback will I be giving this person in their first performance review?" and then continues "It's an amazing question, because the person can't dodge it". Who is the "person can't dodge it"? Hired person? Hiring person? I thought that "that person" is a hiring manager who asked that question to themself: "What feedback will I be giving this person..."? But in this case I absolutely get lost, because why are we speaking about "dodging", "a person" while speaking about ourselves? Thanks!
Neither. It is a question he asks the person who has referred the candidate.
Yep that's right. Sometimes when you're close to hiring someone you want to talk to someone who has worked with them closely before. The challenge is that people obviously always give you the people they worked best with and they'll give you a glowing reference. So you need to work to get at the other areas, where they are not as strong. Typically when you do, they can also give you a very positive response so it's hard to get to the truth. This question makes that very hard to do. All good performance reviews have growth areas, things that didn't go so well, and both you and the reference person know that. So you'll get some hard truths pretty fast when you go down this line of questioning!