Bach Seat

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a prominent player in the hiring process. According to a new survey over 40% of the surveyed firms plan to use AI in their hiring process by 2024. The study from ResumeBuilder.com reports that among the surveyed companies,

• 10% currently use AI interviews.
• 17% plan to implement AI interviews this year.
• 17% intend to start using AI interviews in 2024.
• 62% believe AI will eventually replace human hiring managers.

AI-assisted interviews can be text questions or video interactions that are later assessed by a company staffer or reviewed by an AI algorithm. AIs can also evaluate a pool of candidates to pick out the strongest one after being trained on a library of qualifications. The study found AI-assisted interviews serve various purposes in the hiring process, including:

• 65% use AI interviews as an ‘early screening tool.
• 17% say AI interviews are the ‘only step in the process.
• 14% use AI interviews as the ‘last step in the process.
• 15% of the firms reported that AI will be used to make hiring decisions on candidates without any human input.

65% of respondents believe artificial intelligence driven interviews increase hiring efficiency, 79% say it is ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ likely that AI interviews screen out worthy candidates more frequently than human interviewers.

Types of artificial intelligence interviews

There are four types of artificial intelligence interviews you may encounter during your job search. In each case, an AI bot will evaluate your performance and compare it to other candidates.

Chatbot Interview: You will interact with a chatbot via text or voice. The artificial intelligence will ask questions, provide feedback, and guide the conversation. AI evaluates your responses, assessing logic, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Video Interview: You record your answers to predetermined questions using a webcam or smartphone. AI analyzes your facial expressions, voice, language, and content to measure personality, communication skills, and suitability for the role.

Game-Based Assessments: These involve playing online games to test cognitive abilities. AI tracks your performance, behavior, and preferences to generate a profile of your strengths and weaknesses.

Skill Tests: You will complete online tasks simulating real-world scenarios or requiring specific skills like coding, writing, or designing. AI scores your work and compares it to other candidates.

How to Prepare for an AI Interview

Artificial intelligence driven interviews can feel automated, making it difficult for candidates to read facial cues for feedback. This can be challenging for job seekers. There are some steps you can take to improve your chances in an artificial intelligence controlled interview.

Research

Before taking an AI interview, do some research on the company, the role and the type of assessment you will face. Discover the skills and qualities they are looking for, what questions they might ask and what tools they might employ.

Consider trying Prepper from job search site Adzuna. It is billed as an “AI interview coach,” that generates questions related to whatever job description you feed it. James Neave, head of data science at Adzuna told CBS, “You’ll know if you’re prepared if you can answer those questions in a confident and accurate manner.”

Mine the job description for key words — and use them. Review the job description for keywords and incorporate them into your responses. AI interview tools often evaluate candidates based on the usage of keywords and phrases from the job description. Mr. Spencer explains, “There is a good chance the AI-interview tool will be ranking you based on your use of keywords and phrases from the job description.”

Test

Before your AI interview, ensure you have a stable internet connection, a quiet workspace, and a neutral background. Verify that your lighting and sound are optimal to ensure a clear video feed. Additionally, adjust your browser settings to prevent interruptions from pop-ups or notifications that might disrupt the assessment. Triple-check that your technology is functioning correctly.

Practice

Before the scheduled AI interview, practice your responses in a similar setting. Keith Spencer, a career expert at FlexJobs, told CBS you should treat the interaction as if you were conversing with a human. Some candidates struggle with responding to digital prompts, leading to rigid expressions and limited awareness of their non-verbal cues. He says candidates who have difficulty responding to digital prompts, “...get more rigid, their facial expressions become more stoic and they aren’t conscious of their non-verbals as much as their verbals. And AI programs are assessing non-verbals.”

To counter this, maintain eye contact with the camera, dress professionally, smile, and project confidence and friendliness.

Relax

During an AI interview, aim to relax and be yourself. Remember to smile, make eye contact with the camera, and speak clearly and confidently. Don’t be overly concerned about making minor mistakes or pausing to think – AI assessors are not seeking perfection but authenticity and potential. Finally, don’t forget to express gratitude to the chatbot or the interviewer at the conclusion of the assessment.

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While AI interviews may initially appear impersonal and daunting, taking proactive steps such as thorough research, technical preparedness, practice, and genuine engagement can significantly enhance your chances of succeeding in these assessments. Embrace the changing landscape of hiring, and AI may become your ally in landing your next job.

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Related article

• We tested AI interview tools. Here’s what we found. (Technology Review)

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.