What’s the value of bringing an outsider in to help your team get ready for an interview? There’s a lot, actually. In today’s post, Pete recounts the ways it’s such a good idea.
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You’re considering bringing in an outside perspective to help with a major interview—and that’s a fantastic idea. Let me add some fuel to that fire by walking through why this decision consistently pays off for AEC teams preparing for high-stakes interviews.
An outside consultant brings a completely new point of view—someone who doesn’t think like your team, doesn’t know your blind spots, and can see your project the way a selection committee would. This creates sharper strategy, clearer messaging, and more confidence across the board.
Adding a new person to the process always introduces ideas your team wouldn’t have generated on its own. A fresh brain expands the creative range of your interview story—how you talk about the project, how you differentiate, and how you respond in Q&A.
When someone from outside your organization shows up with a process, expectations, and deadlines, the entire team steps up. People follow through more consistently because the accountability isn’t coming from an internal colleague—it’s coming from a new voice who’s here to help you win.
As the internal leader, you can lean on this. You get to say, “Hey, our consultant needs this by Tuesday,” and suddenly it actually happens.
Bringing in an outside coach signals to the team that this interview matters. People focus more. They rehearse more. They bring more energy and more willingness to stretch outside their comfort zone—because they don’t want to let down the group or the guest in the room.
When you bring in outside support:
Even if you don’t win this project, the selection committee will notice—you will rise in their estimation. They’ll remember your professionalism, polish, and presence. And that raises your chances of being hired in the future.
Outside support elevates the entire experience. The team gets better. The message gets better. The energy gets better. And in a world where “apples to apples” is the norm, this move helps you stand out in a meaningful way.
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