# Never Give These 3 ‘Sudden Death’ Answers at a Job Interview, Says CEO — You’ll ‘Instantly Disqualify Yourself.’

1 Opinion August 27, 2025 CNBC ![suzy welch headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/2023-12/sw5936.jpg?itok=gHtcPLCO)By Suzy Welch

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I once had an MBA student who checked every box. He was whip smart, well-spoken, genuine, and clearly hard-working. He attended a respected college and spent two years at a top consulting firm. He was a typical top pick for the companies he was courting.

And yet, he kept getting rejected after job interviews. Something wasn’t adding up.

Finally, after asking him to do a mock interview with me, I quickly spotted the problem.

Read the full [***CNBC*** **article**](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/11/success-comes-down-to-just-3-thingscompanies-will-be-in-a-cage-match-over-you-ceo.html).
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*Suzy Welch is Professor of Management Practice at NYU Stern.*

## More from Suzy Welch

- [For Americans, Family Comes First—or Does It?](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/faculty-research/americans-family-comes-first-or-does-it)
- [They Love Self-Care, Hate Hustle, and Need a Job — a CEO’s Advice for an ‘Unemployable’ Gen Zer.](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/faculty-research/they-love-self-care-hate-hustle-and-need-job-ceos-advice-unemployable-gen-zer)
- [Is Gen Z Unemployable?](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/faculty-research/gen-z-unemployable)
- [Success Comes Down to Just 3 Things: Companies ‘Will Be in a Cage Match Over You,’ Says CEO.](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/faculty-research/success-comes-down-just-3-things-companies-will-be-cage-match-over-you-says-ceo)
- [One Stunning Data Point Explains the ‘Gen Z Stare’—and Why it’s Going to Backfire on Them.](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/faculty-research/one-stunning-data-point-explains-gen-z-stare-and-why-its-going-backfire-them)