You’ve got the technical skills. You can explain a binary search tree in your sleep. You’ve got years of experience building high-scale systems. But the second you step into a technical interview, something changes.
You become a walking calculator.
You’re so focused on getting the syntax right or explaining the O(n) complexity that you forget one tiny, massive detail: The person across from you is a human being.
They aren't just hiring a coder. They’re hiring a teammate. A problem-solver. A person they actually want to spend forty hours a week with.
When you get bogged down in data and lose that human connection, you stop being a candidate and start being a commodity. And commodities are easy to pass over.
If you want to stand out, you need to bring some life back into the room. You need to integrate Guess What Energy™ into your technical interview prep. ⚡
Technical Doesn’t Mean Boring
There’s a huge misconception that technical interviews have to be stiff. We think that because the subject matter is "serious", data structures, architecture, logic, our delivery has to be robotic.
Wrong.
The best engineers aren't just the ones who write the cleanest code; they’re the ones who can explain why that code matters. They can get someone else excited about a solution. They can communicate trade-offs without sounding like they're reading a manual.
If you show up as a script-reading robot, you’re making the interviewer do all the work. You’re forcing them to dig for your personality.
Instead, give it to them upfront.
The Secret Ingredient: Guess What Energy™ (GWE™)
So, what is GWE™?
It’s the vibe you have when you’re grabbing a drink with a friend and you say, "Guess what happened at work today?"
You don't start with a formal introduction. You don't read from a script. You’re animated. You’re present. You’re telling a story because you actually care about the outcome.
Guess What Energy™ is about shifting your mindset from "answering a question" to "sharing a win."
In a technical interview, GWE™ is the difference between:
- "I used Python to automate the deployment pipeline." (Boring. Robotic. Forgettable.)
- "So, guess what? Our deployment process was taking four hours every Friday. It was a nightmare. I jumped in with Python, automated the whole thing, and we got it down to ten minutes." (Engaging. Confident. Memorable.)
How GWE™ Works in Tech
Bringing GWE™ into technical interviews isn't about being "loud" or "fake." It’s about genuine interest.
When you’re explaining a technical decision, show the interviewer that you actually liked solving the problem. Let them see the spark. If you aren’t excited about your work, why should they be?
Less prep. More pep. More you.
Building Your Technical Brag Bank
The biggest hurdle to using GWE™ is not knowing what to talk about. You get hit with a question like, "Tell me about a time you handled a difficult technical challenge," and your brain goes blank.
This is where the Brag Bank comes in.
Most people try to memorize "perfect" answers. That’s a trap. Memorization leads to scripts, and scripts lead to freezing.
Instead of memorizing, you need to collect stories. Your Brag Bank is your personal library of technical wins.
Think about:
- That bug that kept you up until 2 AM (and how you finally crushed it).
- The time you had to tell a Product Manager "no" for a very good technical reason.
- The refactor that everyone was afraid of, but you led anyway.
When you have these stories ready, you aren't searching for words. You’re just telling a story you already know.
If you're struggling to find those stories, The Workbook is exactly what you need. It’s designed to help you dig through your experience and find those "Slayer Stories" that make interviewers sit up and take notice.
Stop Performing, Start Sharing
Interviews are conversations, not performances.
When you view an interview as a performance, you put yourself under immense pressure to be "perfect." And perfectionism is the enemy of personality.
When you’re in a technical deep-dive, remember: the interviewer is on your side. They want you to be the right person. They want to see how you think.
Use GWE™ to bring them into your thought process.
- "I was looking at the latency issues, and I realized..."
- "We had a choice between A and B, and here’s the interesting part..."
- "Actually, we tried that first, but guess what happened?"
By using this conversational language, you break down the wall between "candidate" and "interviewer." You start talking like colleagues.
The Technical Transition: From Data to Story
The goal of technical interview prep should be to bridge the gap between the "What" (the data) and the "So What" (the story).
You can have the most impressive GitHub profile in the world, but if you can’t tell the story of your work, you’re leaving money on the table.
If you want the full framework on how to do this: not just for the tech stuff, but for the entire interview process: grab The Pep Kit. It’s got 20 worksheets and 3 core pillars that teach you how to build that interview confidence from the ground up.
It’s built from the candidate's perspective, because we know what it’s like to feel like you have to be someone else to get the job. (Spoiler: You don’t.)
You Already Have the Experience
Here is the truth: You wouldn't be in the room if you didn't have the skills. The company has already seen your resume. They know you can code.
The interview is about presence.
It’s about showing them that you can take all that technical data and turn it into value for their team. It’s about showing them your energy.
Stop over-preparing for the "right" answer. There isn't one. There is only your answer.
If you want to dive deeper into this philosophy, my book Less Prep, More Pep covers exactly how to move away from rigid, scripted styles and toward authentic communication. It’s the roadmap for moving from "nervous" to "natural."
Ready to Own Your Story?
Technical interviews don't have to be a soul-sucking experience. You can show up with confidence, share your wins with GWE™, and leave the room knowing you gave them the real you.
If you’re feeling stuck or you have a high-stakes interview coming up and you need a specialized strategy, let's talk.
You can book The Confidence Call for a 1:1 coaching session. We’ll look at your specific technical background, dig into your Brag Bank, and make sure you’re ready to show up with that signature Guess What Energy™.
You’ve done the work. Now it’s time to talk about it.
Less prep. More pep. More wins. ⚡
About the Author
Ebonee is the founder of Less Prep, More Pep and the creator of the Guess What Energy™ method. After years of seeing brilliant professionals freeze up in interviews, she decided to flip the script. She teaches candidates how to communicate their experience naturally, helping them land roles at Fortune 500 companies without the burnout of over-preparing. Less prep. More pep. More wins. ⚡