The Goldilocks Problem Every PI Candidate Faces

Too short and you seem unprepared. Too long and you seem like you can't organize your thoughts. After conducting and observing 500+ mock PIs, I can tell you that answer length is one of the easiest things to fix - yet most students never consciously work on it. They wing it and wonder why interviewers look disengaged or keep interrupting them.

Here's the truth: there's no single "correct" length. Different questions demand different depths. But there ARE clear guidelines that work across almost every PI situation. Master these, and you'll never second-guess your answer length again.

The 60-90 Second Sweet Spot

For most standard PI questions - "Tell me about yourself," "Why MBA," "Why this college," "Walk me through your resume" - your answer should land between 60-90 seconds. Not 30 seconds (too abrupt), not 3 minutes (too rambling). Sixty to ninety seconds gives you enough time to make 2-3 solid points with brief elaboration while keeping the interviewer engaged.

Time yourself right now. Speak for 60 seconds on any topic. That's longer than you think. Now speak for 90 seconds. That's your upper limit for most answers. Anything beyond and you're testing their patience.

The Question-Type Framework

Not all questions deserve equal time. Factual questions like "What's your CGPA?" or "Which company do you work for?" need 5-10 second answers. Don't elaborate unless asked. Opinion questions like "What do you think about remote work?" need 45-60 seconds - state your position, give one reason, maybe one example. Story questions like "Tell me about a challenge you faced" need the full 60-90 seconds to set context, describe action, and share outcome.

The mistake most ramblers make? They treat every question like a story question. The mistake most one-liner candidates make? They treat every question like a factual one. Match your length to the question type.

The Traffic Light Method

Here's a technique I teach all my students: imagine a traffic light running in your head once you start answering. First 30 seconds - green light, you're adding value, keep going. 30-60 seconds - yellow light, start wrapping up your main point. Beyond 60 seconds - red light, you should be finishing your last sentence unless the question genuinely demands more depth.

This mental timer prevents both extremes. One-liner candidates learn to push through the green light instead of stopping immediately. Ramblers learn to respect the red light instead of running through it.

The "One More Thing" Trap

Know why most people ramble? They keep thinking "oh, I should also mention this" while speaking. Every "one more thing" adds 20-30 seconds. Three "one more things" and suddenly your 60-second answer is 2+ minutes.

The fix is simple: before you open your mouth, decide on exactly 2-3 points you'll cover. No more. If you think of something else mid-answer, let it go. You can always add it if they ask a follow-up. Discipline yourself to stop when you've covered your planned points. This single habit cuts rambling by 70%.

Your Calibration Exercise

Spend 20 minutes today doing this: answer 5 common PI questions and time each one. Write down the times. If you're consistently under 40 seconds, practice adding one more supporting point to each answer. If you're consistently over 100 seconds, practice cutting one point from each answer. Repeat tomorrow. By Day 5, your internal timer will be calibrated perfectly.

Record yourself, time yourself, adjust yourself. That's how you find YOUR sweet spot.

Happy Learning! 🙂