Imagine interviewing at a tech company that builds the brains behind smartphones and computers.

You’re competing against industry experts with Masters Degrees, many with PhDs.

You have no industry experience.

But you land the job anyway.

That’s exactly what happened to my friend Pramit. He used a simple but powerful interview strategy that made his background work in his favor.

I’m going to break down that strategy, step-by-step.

Here’s what else we’re going to cover today:

• Why the conventional approach to interviews fails most candidates

• The 6-step Briefcase Technique to outshine more experienced competitors

• And more!

Let’s jump in.

♠️ An ace up the sleeve for interviews

Pramit has a decade of experience in product development and program management. He’s launched a NYT bestselling book and multiple 8-figure products.

He’s an accomplished dude.

But semiconductors? Chip design for AI systems? He had no direct experience.

Still, he landed a coveted Program Manager role at a major semiconductor IP company.

How?

His ace was called The Briefcase Technique, a strategy we learned from Ramit Sethi.

🚷 The problem: the conventional job hunting playbook

Here’s what the conventional job hunting playbook looks like:

1. Submit your resumes

2. Hope for interview calls

3. Answer interview questions

4. Pray your experience speaks for itself

But this approach falls short when:

• You’re competing against stronger candidates on paper

• You lack direct experience in the industry

You blend into the pile of resumes without a way to stand out.

The answer is simple but powerful:

Make them see you as the solution… not just another candidate.

This is where The Briefcase Technique comes in.

🧠 Stand out with Briefcase Technique (6 steps)

The Briefcase Technique flips the script. Instead of telling interviewers how capable you are, you’ll show them.

It works because:

• Differentiation: You present a custom solution, making yourself memorable.

• Drive: It shows initiative and preparedness—qualities every employer wants.

• Reframe: The discussion moves from “why you’re qualified” to “how you’ll solve their problems.”

Here’s a step-by-step guide I’ve refined over a decade of using this technique:

1/ Do your research

Start by researching the company thoroughly.

Look at:

• Current projects

• Recent announcements

• Main business challenges

Your goal? Understand what matters to them right now.

Focus on how the company operates, not just its mission statement.

Most importantly, touch their product firsthand. If it’s a software product, sign up. If it’s a service, try it out.

💡 Example: Before every interview, I do 3 things: First, I sign up for the company’s product and study every onboarding flow. Second, I talk to at least one current customer. Third, I listen to any podcasts with the CEO. This direct research is priceless.

2/ Identify opportunities

Look at the problems the company is trying to solve. Then think about how your specific skills could help fix those problems.

The key? Find opportunities where your strengths match their needs.

If you’re applying for a product role and notice their low trial conversion rate, outline how you’d run experiments to boost conversion by playing around with levers like scarcity, urgency, and personalization.

Or let’s say you’re applying for a hotel manager position. You notice that their breakfast service reviews are atrocious. Think: 1-2 stars all over Google Reviews.

You could present a plan showing how you improved guest satisfaction scores by 40% in your previous role by revamping the breakfast program.

💡 Pro tip: The way to crush this is to find the sweet spot where the company needs help AND where you’re outstanding. When you can frame the conversation about topics you’re an expert on, you naturally stand out as the best person for the job.

3/ Prepare a proposal

Create a proposal that shows exactly how you’ll help the company succeed. Keep it simple and visual—a few slides or a one-pager works great. Hit three key points:

• The problem: A specific challenge the company faces (e.g., “40% of users churn in the first week” or “Support team is overwhelmed with basic questions”)

• The solution: Your specific plan to fix it (e.g. “an improved onboarding flow with X, Y, and Z” or “building out an AI-powered knowledge base”).

• The expected results: Measurable outcomes (e.g. “reduce churn by 25% in 3 months” or “decrease support tickets by 40% within 90 days”)

💡 Example: My friend Eric interviewed for a leadership role. For his Briefcase Technique, he created a detailed 90-day roadmap. He showed exactly how he’d build key relationships in month one, tackle the most pressing issues in month two, and set up long-term wins in month three. The hiring team was blown away—they could already picture him succeeding in the role.

4/ Present during the interview

Here’s the key moment: after discussing your background, tell them you’ve prepared something beforehand. Whether it’s a physical document or digital slides you show over Zoom, this is your chance to shine.

The timing here is critical. Don’t send it beforehand—you want that “wow” factor when you reveal it live.

Bring it up early in the conversation, right after initial pleasantries. This allows you to frame the conversation around what you’ll do in the role versus why you’re a good fit for the role.

💡 Script: “I’m excited about this opportunity, and I’ve prepared some thoughts about how I could contribute from day one. Would you be OK to walk through it? I’m happy to walk through them now, or we can discuss whenever works best for you.”

5/ Walk through the proposal

Walk through the key points of your proposal. Focus on how your ideas solve their specific challenges. Keep it simple – you don’t need to explain every detail since they’ll have the document to review later.

The real power is showing you cared enough to do this before the interview.

This approach naturally shifts the conversation from “Why should we hire you?” to “How will you help us succeed?”

6/ Follow up

After your interview, send a follow-up email. Thank them for their time, and briefly remind them of your main ideas. You can attach your proposal too, as a digital “leave behind.”

💡 Pro tip: Including the proposal in your thank-you note gives you another chance to stand out. Most people will send generic “thanks for your time” emails. Yours will remind them what you’re going to do when you start.

🤯 “This sounds hard”

It can be.

You know what’s harder?

Applying to 533 jobs in 216 days…

Or 150+ applications with zero offers…

These are just two of the LinkedIn headlines I read this morning.

They break my heart.

It’s hard out there.

The Briefcase Technique makes it easier.

💫 The Bottom Line

The Briefcase Technique isn’t just a neat technique—it’s a mindset.

It shows that you:

• Understand their challenges

• Have the drive to solve them

• Are ready to contribute from day one.

Whether you’re up against seasoned professionals or breaking into remote work, these six steps will help you stand out.

You can check out the source for the Briefcase Technique here.

🤝 3 ways I can help you with remote work: