Job interviews are tough, and while everything could be going well, if you answer one question wrong that could be it for you - at least according to this CEO.
Tech CEOs have given out their fair share of interview advice, from red flags to go-to questions that will help you stand out to any potential employer.
We've even see situations where interviewers claim one question can tell them everything they need to know about a candidate, alongside bizarre tests that are otherwise impossible to prepare for.
You could pass all of the tests in the world and give off the best impression, but the wrong answer for this specific question - that's often found near the end - could make or break your success rate.
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According to Gary Shapiro, current CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), giving the wrong answer when asked what your notice period or start date is could spell the end of your job hopes.
He outlined in an interview with CNBC Make It that if a currently-employed interviewee says they can start in less than two weeks time: "They don't get the job, because they'll treat us the way they treat that former employer."
While some might thing that starting immediately shows a desire and initiative to do well in your new job, in Shaprio's eyes this shows that you're not a committed worker overall.
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"I want an [employee] with a level of commitment to their organization - even if they don't love their job," Shapiro explains, "where they won't leave their employer hanging."
It's certainly worked well for him so far, as he's held his current post at the top of the CTA for over 33 years now.
He recalls also a time when an interviewee said that she needed six weeks notice to transition away from her current job into the new role.
Shapiro recalls that he was "very thankful" that she gave that answer - which many would consider a no-go - and said in response to her request: "That's perfect. You got the job."
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It might seem like a bit of a trick question for many, but Shapiro believes that this proposition is "like kind of a softball question that most smart people are going to answer correctly."
Regardless, it goes to show how often the answer you think would please your interviewer the most is often the opposite of what you're looking for.
Definitely something to consider before going for your next job though, and it could serve as the make or break moment that defines your success.