Acing interviews

How to answer the questions senior tech interviews keep asking, from salary expectations and pressure to culture fit, and how to run the conversation like a leader.

September 8, 2026Acing interviewsVarun Kirti2 min read
Stop trying to prove yourself in the interview
The strongest senior interviews feel like a consulting conversation. Understand their situation precisely, play it back, then show with evidence how your experience addresses that need.
August 11, 2026Acing interviewsVarun Kirti2 min read
How to answer 'How do you handle pressure?' as a tech leader
Saying 'I thrive under pressure' tells the interviewer nothing. The strongest answers are stories that show your standard for pressure and your framework for handling it, like this Black Friday pipeline outage.
August 6, 2026Acing interviewsVarun Kirti2 min read
Answering 'What's your biggest weakness?' as a senior leader
Every interview is a performance, and candidates should stop feeling guilty about presenting themselves strategically. How to handle the weakness question, the step-down question and the leadership style question without talking yourself out of the job.
August 5, 2026Acing interviewsVarun Kirti2 min read
Three things to get right in a Director-level interview
At the Director level, interviewers want to know how you think, decide and lead through uncertainty. Get three things right: an introduction that tells your leadership story, research deep enough for a business conversation, and questions that evaluate the role like a leader.
July 23, 2026Acing interviewsVarun Kirti4 min read
How to answer culture questions in a Chief Data Officer interview
To know what culture a new CEO wants, look at the culture they were running away from. Then frame your answer around their mandate, here speed of execution, a bias to change and technology-led growth, instead of the generic AI pitch every executive gives.
July 20, 2026Acing interviewsVarun Kirti1 min read
How to answer 'What are your salary expectations?' as a tech leader
When a recruiter asks your salary expectations, it isn't a negotiation, it's a qualification question. Just say the honest number below which you wouldn't consider the move.
July 18, 2026Acing interviewsVarun Kirti1 min read
How to answer 'Why do you want to work with us?'
A friend cleared two rounds of a Head of Engineering interview, then told the SVP he wanted the job for the comp and benefits. He had a far better answer the whole time: the work they were building matched what he'd already built.
July 15, 2026Acing interviewsVarun Kirti2 min read
Interviewing for Director? Stop trying to prove you belong
Director interviewers already know you can manage people. Candidates who try to prove they're worthy over-explain and fill every silence, while the ones who interview well act like leaders deciding whether the opportunity deserves their time.