Ivy league professor reveals 90-second interview hack that could define your career success amid AI's rise
Forget the old belief that
first impressions
are formed in just seven seconds. According to
Columbia Business School
professor Michael Chad Hoeppner, the truth is a bit more forgiving—but just as crucial. In his new book Don't Say Um: How to Communicate Effectively to Live a Better Life, Hoeppner uncovers how the first 90 seconds of a job interview can define your future.
The 90-Second Window: Why the Beginning Holds Power
Hoeppner, who also trains political candidates, explains that while the "seven seconds" myth may be overly rigid, time is still very limited. 'People's
attention spans
are worse than they've ever been,' he told CNBC Make It. 'They've been hijacked entirely, and so we tend to have less time to actually make an impression.'
In an age of short attention spans and endless digital distractions, he argues that the first answer you give in an interview might be the only one that truly lands. That makes your response to questions like 'Tell me about yourself' your most powerful tool. 'You have a tremendous amount of latitude with those questions,' Hoeppner says. 'And you often can take them anywhere that you want to.'
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According to Hoeppner, many candidates unintentionally sabotage themselves by becoming overly formal or robotic in tone. 'They speak in a more monotonous voice, they restrain their hand gestures and they anchor eye contact unblinkingly forward the entire time,' he says.
Instead, he urges candidates to be themselves—but polished. That means relaxed posture, natural gestures, confident voice, and real eye contact. These small tweaks can be more powerful than a perfectly worded response. In fact, how you say something can often overshadow what you're saying.
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The Secret to Nailing Your Interview
To prepare, Hoeppner swears by a method he calls 'loud drafting.' The idea is simple: choose an open-ended question and answer it out loud repeatedly until it sounds natural. 'The first time you do it, it will be bad,' he assures. 'That's fine. Do it again, do it again, do it again.'
The problem with jotting down perfectly crafted statements, he explains, is that written language doesn't translate well when spoken. 'Often, people open their mouths in interviews and a bunch of polysyllabic pablum comes pouring out,' he adds with candor.
Why Speaking Skills Will Matter Even More in the Age of AI
With AI tools now able to churn out endless streams of information, Hoeppner believes one skill will stand out above all: how you express your ideas aloud. 'What determines whose ideas get paid more attention?' he asks. 'Very likely how you say them.'
Whether it's in the boardroom, a client pitch, or a job interview, communication is no longer a soft skill—it's a make-or-break factor for success. As Hoeppner puts it, even the most brilliant professionals often get overlooked if they can't communicate their ideas effectively.
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So, the next time you walk into an interview, remember: you don't just have to be smart—you have to sound like it too.
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