Gary Shapiro, the chief executive of the U.S. trade association Consumer Technology Association, employs a critical question for hiring decisions, indicating that he may decline candidates based on their response. The question arises after a potentially successful series of interviews when a candidate is asked, “When can you start?” While immediate availability might seem appealing, Shapiro cautions that indicating a start date within two weeks is concerning, suggesting a potential lack of commitment to their current employer. “They don’t get the job because they might treat us as they treat their former employer,” Shapiro remarked in a recent interview with CNBC. He seeks employees who demonstrate a strong level of commitment to their current organization, even if they are not completely satisfied with their job. Exceptions are made for unemployed applicants, to whom this particular question does not apply.
This loyalty criterion is equally applicable to departing employees at CTA. Shapiro, who has led the association for over thirty years, emphasizes the importance of notice periods, favoring candidates with more extended transitions from their previous roles. He exemplified this preference by referencing the recruitment process of CTA’s Chief Operating Officer, expressing gratitude when she required up to six weeks for a smooth transition—a factor contributing to her job offer. While the COO was not named during the interview, CTA’s website lists Glenda MacMullin as the current COO, suggesting Shapiro has employed this question for at least two decades. Additionally, CTA considers the manner in which former employees concluded their employment, including appropriate notice periods, when contemplating rehiring “boomerang” employees.
Alongside Shapiro’s tried-and-tested methods, the landscape of interview questioning is evolving, partly due to AI’s influence. Recently, an incident involving an applicant utilizing AI tools to navigate difficult interview questions was highlighted by Greg Yang, a co-founder of Elon Musk’s xAI. The candidate’s attempt to use a language model, Claude, was evidently conspicuous, demonstrating the growing challenges AI introduces into the hiring process. In response, some employers are rethinking their standard questions, opting for a more conversational approach. One employer suggested having candidates ask questions about the job to assess their depth of experience and knowledge.
For those interested in networking and insights into the business world, the Fortune Global Forum will convene on November 11 and 12 in New York City, featuring leading figures from various sectors, including Fortune 500 CEOs and seven-time world champion Tom Brady. Further details and the event agenda are accessible through Fortune’s official channels.
