It's Come To This: Advice On Aceing A Job Interview With An AI

Yes, it's come to this: we are being advised on how to succeed at being interviewed by an AI system, even as we understand some enterprising programmer will see this article, feed it into her AI and train it to counter the advice given. What a world we have permitted ourselves in which to become trapped, all in the service of 'efficiency and productivity.' As if.  

But it is the one we live in and, frankly, the advise proffered is mostly common sense. The guidance to not sound too robotic nor to keyword stuff is richly ironic, though probably worth noting and, pointing out that, if the system deems you worthy, a human will eventually review your recorded interview is useful. So have at it - or reconsider the opportunity to become a gardener. JL

Ray Smith reports in the Wall Street Journal:

In AI interviews candidates see a screen with a written question and their face in a camera frame with a prompt to respond. Sometimes the question will require a typed-in or multiple-choice response. “AI evaluates delivery, pacing, confidence and clarity, not just content,” so practice: record yourself answering questions. Then review on mute, watching your presence and body language. Next, play the audio-only, to listen for pacing, filler words and clarity. Don’t game it by keyword stuffing. AI systems are smart enough to detect someone being overly robotic.” Since a human will review your interview, look directly at the camera when recording responses in the same way you would look at a human during an in-person interview. AI are trained to note if a candidate is reading from notes or looking up answers. Dress professionally. Check your wifi, turn off phone.  

If you’re applying for jobs, you better get used to being interviewed by AI.

As the use of artificial-intelligence tools in hiring continues to expand, it isn’t unusual for job candidates to be interviewed by an AI platform rather than a human—at least initially.

In these AI video interviews, candidates typically see a screen with a written question and their face in a camera frame with a prompt to respond via video. Sometimes the question will require a typed-in or multiple-choice response rather than a video answer.

Just like with any job interview, the questions can be both basic (“What does good customer service mean to you?” ) or technical (“What approach would you take to identify the root cause of a $100,000 variance during the consolidation of three international subsidiaries?”).

You may have just one opportunity to rerecord an answer. If you flub that, there’s no taking it back. The platform usually provides no response beyond a matter-of-fact acknowledgment that your answer was submitted. But behind the scenes it is noting and scoring your answers for an assessment it will give to the hiring company. A human eventually reviews the submissions.

The experience can be awkward or unnerving for many candidates. So we consulted recruiters, career consultants and people who run AI hiring platforms for tips on how to ace an AI job interview. First off, they say, don’t act like a robot yourself. Here are some of their other tips:

1. Rehearse beforehand

Practice in the same manner in which you will be evaluated: on video with no one to look at and under time pressure. “AI is evaluating delivery, pacing, confidence and clarity, not just content,” says J.T. O’Donnell, chief executive of career-coaching site Work It Daily.

Candidates can easily fall into the trap of sounding too scripted or robotic because without facial cues from a human interviewer, they have no idea how their answers are being received.

“Even though candidates aren’t speaking to a person live, they should still prepare and communicate as if they are,” says Ben Sesser, chief executive officer of AI-interview platform BrightHire.

Record yourself answering six to eight common questions on topics such as leadership, conflict and customer handling, says Conor Grennan, CEO of AI consulting company AI Mindset. Then review the recording on mute, just watching your presence and body language. Next, play the recording audio-only, to listen for pacing, filler words and clarity. Finally, watch the video with sound on. Repeat until you feel you could respond this way in your sleep.

Some of the AI interview platforms offer practice sessions or coaches who work with job candidates in mock AI interviews. 

2. Avoid keyword stuffing

Many applicants try to load their responses with keywords they think the algorithm wants to see. That’s a mistake, experts say.

“You want to use relevant industry terminology naturally, but don’t game it by just keyword stuffing,” says Keith Wolf, managing partner at recruiting firm Murray Resources, adding that “most AI systems are smart enough to detect when someone is being overly robotic.”

Indeed, Willo, a job-candidate assessment platform, says it uses AI detection technology to note when applicants are relying on AI or keywords in their responses to win over an algorithm.

Try to speak naturally—not too fast or for too long—and focus more on the structure and clarity of your answers than how many keywords are in them. It’s all right to show personality or use appropriate humor. “Expressing personality, tone or emotion doesn’t confuse the system, nor is it considered a mistake,” says Prem Kumar, CEO of AI interviewing platform Humanly.

As with any interview, provide specific examples of skills you have, how you have used those skills to solve a problem, metrics to back up what your resolution achieved and how you would use those same skill sets at the company, advises Tessa White, founder of career-consulting company the Job Doctor.

3. Maintain eye contact

Executives from AI interview platforms say the systems generally don’t score job candidates based on eye contact or facial expressions. But since a human eventually will review your interview, career consultants and recruiters advise looking directly at the camera when recording responses—in much the same way you would look at a human interviewer during an in-person interview.

It may feel awkward at first, but it “makes a huge difference in how engaged you appear” overall, says Wolf

What’s more, some systems are trained to note if it appears a candidate is reading from notes or looking up answers. Looking away from the camera for extended periods could generate such concerns, says Teri Parker de Leon, executive director of the career management center at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. You don’t want to give the impression that you have a script or are cheating in some way.

4. Dress appropriately

AI platforms also don’t score candidates on attire, but career consultants and experts say dressing professionally for AI interviews can have its benefits.

“Your attire can be important for your general attitude and demeanor,” says Duke’s de Leon. “Putting on a suit or business-casual outfit may put you in the right ‘head space’ for the interview.”

In general, treat the video as if having a meeting with a human—after all, a human reviewer will see the video later. You wouldn’t show up to an in-person interview shirtless, would you?

5. Check your tec

 

This may be obvious but it bears repeating: Make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi connection, close tabs, turn notifications off and silence phones and other distractions before joining an AI interview. (More on glitches during video interviews.)

“Muffled audio is fatal,” says Grennan of AI Mindset. “If the system can’t transcribe you accurately, you get a zero on that question.” He recommends using a headset or external microphone for best results.

Make sure you’re in a quiet environment. The number of candidates who don’t do such digital due-diligence “is quite alarming to me,” says Euan Cameron, CEO of Willo. “I’ve even seen people doing them in the car or doing them on a moving train,” he says. “These aren’t good ideas.”

An AI interviewer generally won’t take note of your background or lighting. Still, it’s probably best to avoid anything weird or embarrassing since a human reviewer eventually will see it