Bezos, Musk & Nadella’s favourite interview questions (and the science behind them)

One of my favourite quotes is from Elon Musk:

“It’s ok to have your eggs in one basket as long as you control what happens to that basket.”

Finance and risk managers are probably screaming right now. Diversify! Spread the risk!

Nah. Elon threw this playbook out the window. He does whatever the hell he wants.

Get this: after selling PayPal, he made $100M. Most people would’ve bought an island. But in classic Musk style, he put every dollar into Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink. All in. With zero backup plan.

That “all-in” mindset isn’t just how he invests. It’s how he hires too. Musk doesn’t waste time with “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” junk. His favourite interview question is built to expose whether you can actually think. And he’s not alone. Bezos has his own killer question. Nadella too. Let’s break them down.

Elon Musk: The Truth Detector

“Tell me about some of the most difficult problems you worked on and how you solved them.”

Sounds pretty standard, right? Musk has been using this exact question for years, and there's actual science behind why it works.

This falls under something called "Asymmetric Information Management" (AIM). Fancy words, simple idea:

• People who actually did the work love diving into details. They’re proud of the messy, nerdy stuff.

• People who are BS’ing? They stay vague. Specifics = landmines.

This question is a BS detector. Musk uses it to separate builders from pretenders.

"The people who really solved the problem know exactly how they solved it. They know and can describe the little details. Usually, someone who really had to struggle with a problem, they really understand it, and they don't forget."

Cheat sheet to crush this question

• Walk into every interview with 3–5 real problems you actually struggled with (no fake “challenges” that were secretly easy wins).

• Be ready to share your thought process; the dead ends, the failures, the messy middle.

• Drop in specifics: tools you used, people you leaned on, resources you pulled from.

• Bonus points: admit what didn’t work at first, then show how you course-corrected.

Jeff Bezos: The Luck Question

“Are you a lucky person?”

When Dan Rose, a former Amazon executive, revealed this was Bezos's go-to question, people thought it was weird. Turns out, there's a method to the madness.

Bezos wants to screen for three things: humility, optimism, and the ability to recognise opportunity. People who acknowledge luck tend to have all three.

The psychology behind "luck": Research shows that "lucky" people often create their own fortune through their mindset and behaviour. They're more likely to notice opportunities, take calculated risks, and bounce back from setbacks.

Cheat sheet to crush this question

• Admit you’ve been lucky. Everyone has.

• Talk about how you turned that luck into progress: took the chance and made it count.

• Bonus points if you can show optimism: “I’ve learned even setbacks bring lucky lessons.”

What not to say: “I’ve never been lucky.” Dude, if you’re sitting in front of Bezos, or any other interviewer for that matter, you’re already lucky.

Satya Nadella: The Empathy Test

“You see a baby crying on the street after falling down. What do you do?”

Legend says that Nadella got hit with this exact question in his Microsoft interview back in 1992… and yeah, this is how he responded.

"I'd run to the closest phone booth and call 911."

… Like, really? A crying baby and your brain jumps straight to emergency services?

The interviewer just stared at him and said:

"You need to develop empathy. When a baby falls, you pick them up and hug them first."

Nadella still got the job, but he has mentioned the moment stuck with him. He realised pure logic isn’t always the answer; sometimes, human instinct and emotional intelligence matter way more.

As odd as it sounds, this question isn’t really about babies. It’s meant to be a litmus test for leadership. Do you lead with empathy, or do you default to systems and processes? Both have their place, but Nadella learned early: empathy is the foundation of innovation.

Cheat sheet to crush this question

• First tip: pray you don’t get asked this.

• But if you do, fight the urge to blurt out the first thing that pops into your head.

• Take a beat. Breathe. Think. That pause is what saves you from a “phone booth + 911” level disaster. Then answer in a way that actually feels natural to you

My mini playbook for your next interview

You won’t be interviewing with Musk, Bezos, or Nadella anytime soon. But the only way you clear your next interview is if you take it just as seriously.

On that note, here’s a mini playbook of the most important lessons I’ve picked up—both from my own interviews and from coaching students through theirs.

1. Take the day off. Don’t sandwich an interview between shifts or lectures. Most people show up underprepared—don’t be one of them.

2. It’s fine to ask for the question again, take a moment, or circle back later. Thoughtful > rushed.

3. Prep doesn’t start with the invite. Start now. Six months early isn’t overkill.

4. Be yourself. Funny, witty, serious—whatever. Fake “interview mode” kills authenticity.

5. Use “I,” not just “we.” It’s about what you did while still giving credit to others.

6. Talk in points: “Three reasons why…” or “I did two things…” Clear > rambling.

7. Move before you meet. Gym, run, walk—physical activity burns nerves and sharpens focus.

8. Mirror their language. Steal phrases from the job description and company site. Instant alignment.

9. Do a mock with someone who’ll roast you. Comfort feedback won’t make you better.

10. Have one “mic drop” story you can bend to any question. Your ace in the pocket.

Until next time,

Utkarsh