What Matt Abrahams has said about Job interviews and hiring

Abrahams argues that when put on the spot, one should commit to an answer and connect it to the bigger picture.

“I think the answer is you commit and you try to connect what you say to the broader, bigger picture”

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: 712: Matt Abrahams - How to Become a Better Communicator: Speaking With Confidence, Structuring Your Message, and Thinking Fast on Your Feet (Oct 25, 2026) · Listen from 5:15

Abrahams says he prefers warm calling over cold calling, both teaching at Stanford and when interviewing, and considers blindsiding candidates unfair.

“When I teach at Stanford's Business School, I don't believe in cold calling. I believe in warm calling”

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: 712: Matt Abrahams - How to Become a Better Communicator: Speaking With Confidence, Structuring Your Message, and Thinking Fast on Your Feet (Oct 25, 2026) · Listen from 7:46

Abrahams recounts asking greeters how candidates treated them, having found many are rude to staff yet polished with the hiring manager.

“I have found many people treat the folks who are greeting and moving them around very rudely”

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: 712: Matt Abrahams - How to Become a Better Communicator: Speaking With Confidence, Structuring Your Message, and Thinking Fast on Your Feet (Oct 25, 2026) · Listen from 10:09

Abrahams says he coaches candidates to answer the question, give an example, and connect it to the job, which dramatically improved his interviews.

“I want you to answer the question. I want you to give me an example so I can really understand what that means”

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: 712: Matt Abrahams - How to Become a Better Communicator: Speaking With Confidence, Structuring Your Message, and Thinking Fast on Your Feet (Oct 25, 2026) · Listen from 10:55