I totally get where you're coming from! I had the same struggle in my early interviews—figuring out how much detail to share without overwhelming the interviewer. What worked for me was the Challenge-Approach-Learning (CAL) method instead of just listing tools or diving straight into solutions.
Here’s how I structured my answers:
Challenge – Instead of saying, “I built a DeFi lending protocol,” I’d frame it as, “Borrowers were facing high liquidation risks due to crypto price volatility, and existing solutions weren’t efficient.” This immediately makes it clear why the project mattered.
Approach – I’d then talk about how I tackled the issue. Instead of just saying, “I used Rust and Substrate,” I’d say, “I chose Substrate because it gives more control over on-chain governance, which was critical for managing liquidations.” This keeps it focused on why I made certain choices.
Learning – Finally, I’d highlight what I took away from it: “I learned how to optimize gas fees and improve smart contract security, which helped me write more efficient code in later projects.”
For non-technical recruiters, I’d keep it high-level: “I built a blockchain-based supply chain tracker that cut counterfeit risks by 40%.” That way, they see the value without needing deep technical knowledge.
Hope this helps!
