If your interviewer is an AI agent, don’t panic, there are a number of ways you can prepare so you don’t lose your next big opportunity.
Technological advancement has created a world in which you can no longer assume that the ‘person’ interviewing you for a new position is actually human. Well-known companies, such as Amazon, Unilever and McDonald’s, are just some of the organisations that have outsourced recruitment to AI agents.
While it may be a more cost-effective and less time-consuming system for a company and its leadership, interviews driven by artificial intelligence may not be the fairest way to ascertain if a candidate meets the requirements of the job.
For example, AI, lacking sentience, nuance and the ability to read between the lines, is very likely to miss key opportunities to delve deeper in relation to an interesting response. Moreover, in not having the benefit of a wide array of person-specific colloquialisms or mannerisms, much can be misconstrued.
But such is the world we live in and the power that has been given over to machinery, while concerning, is also something that we as a society have to learn to leverage. So, how can a candidate ace an interview where an AI agent potentially has the final say?
Suspicious minds
It is a natural assumption that your interviewer is going to be either a person or a group of people, whose role it is to determine if your skills and ambitions align with the objectives of the organisation. But nowadays, you can’t assume anything. Once your application has been accepted and an offer of an interview extended, it is time to confirm the details, such as time, place, length of interview and the identity of the interviewer.
If it becomes clear that part or even all of the interview is going to be conducted using advanced AI, it is up to you to decide if you are comfortable with an AI agent having a strong influence over your future career prospects. If you are, then start to prepare, as this is going to differ from an interview conducted by a person.
Realised persona
Much like when you are conversing with a human, if you are speaking with an AI-powered chatbot, tone is everything. To ensure that you can be understood and that there is little room for confusion, speak clearly and concisely, with emphasis placed on the important words and remove anything from your answer that doesn’t add to the point you are trying to make.
That’s not to say that there shouldn’t be a bit of life or character to your voice. AI can be trained to detect when something sounds overly rehearsed or (ironically) robotic, just don’t be too animated. Speak as you would to a real-life interviewer, just a tad more clearly.
An AI interviewer will take into account many of the same behavioural signs that a real interviewer would. Models are trained to detect anything that stands out as correct or incorrect and to interpret that based on how they have been taught.
For example the emotional reactions on your face, choice of tone when you speak, the speed at which you speak and body language that might indicate how you are responding to the line of questioning. So make sure that you are well dressed, that you sit up straight, that you answer in a timely (but not suspiciously quick fashion) and that you smile and nod as a show of active listening.
Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security, simply because you aren’t talking to a real person. You are still under constant scrutiny and the consequences are real, even if the interviewer isn’t.
Know yourself
Artificial intelligence may well throw you a curveball and ask a random question based on the interests of the organisation it is designed for, however, it will largely test you on the materials that you personally provide. So, before the interview, make sure to review every document that you sent over and be able to account for all of the skills, qualifications and interests you said you had.
Anything that is now inaccurate, irrelevant or not a topic that you want to discuss should be taken away and replaced with an element of your educational or career history that you wish to highlight. Despite not being human, AI is more than capable of constructing a tailored interview based off of your CV and professional social media, so give it the best impression by being a representation of the documentation that landed you the interview in the first place.
Fight fire with fire
If organisations are using AI to simplify the hiring process, there is really no reason that you shouldn’t use advanced tech to improve your chances of earning that next big opportunity.
Online resources, for example, ChatGPT, Final Round AI and AI Apply, as well as the thousands of available podcasts and tutorials, are a great way to become more equipped with AI assistance. They also offer you the opportunity to practise speaking with ‘professional’ AI as well as providing tailored feedback.
Having an AI interviewer, while initially unsettling, is not 100pc different from having a real-world recruiter judge your suitability. If you look and sound the part, go in with the right attitude and have the credentials to back up what you are saying, your odds are good. At the end of the day it isn’t about the interviewer, it’s about you, which is something that is always within your own control.
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