Aristotle was a pretty smart guy, and figured out quite a bit about how to communicate effectively. Interviewing is a crucible where effective communication is crucial. You have to figure out how to be as memorable as possible without wasting a moment to rote repetition. In my latest post, I share our formula for how to update Aristotle’s advice and apply it to the interview.
Learn more here about how we can help with your interviews.
In an interview, the single most important thing is that your selection committee walks away with a small number of key points you’ve clearly communicated. The challenge is, you don’t have much time—typically an hour for the entire thing. That means you have to be punchy, pointed, and structured.
When we work with clients, we help them identify their main points, expand on each one with supporting detail, and then distill it back down to a single, focused recommendation. This isn’t a new idea—it comes straight from Aristotle, who said, “Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them.” In other words, you introduce your point, elaborate on it, and then return to it clearly and concisely.
Here’s how that looks in practice: start with your point—your key message or recommendation. Then expand by explaining what it means, offering examples, or sharing a relevant success story from your past work. But don’t stop there. Once you’ve elaborated, come back to your main point and summarize it as a single, memorable statement. If you skip that last step, your message will fade. Too much time passes between your opening and the end, and the committee may forget what mattered most.
So when you prepare for your next interview, structure each message this way: make your point, expand on it, and distill it down. It’s a timeless process that ensures your ideas stick—and your audience walks away remembering exactly what you wanted them to.
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