Think video interviews are challenging enough, where the interviewer isn’t in the same room? Well, get ready for AI interviews, where there’s no human interviewer at all.
What is an AI interview?
An AI interview is a type of one-way interview (a.k.a. automated interview). In any one-way interview you log into a platform where you’re prompted with questions, you record your answers and they’re evaluated later. In the past, the evaluation was done by an HR representative. Now, it’s often done by an artificially intelligent program. That’s what we mean by an AI interview.
Weird, isn’t it? And that’s the challenge of this interview format: to be natural and engaging in such a weird situation.
How do you act naturally in an AI interview?
The key is to use your imagination: pretend an interviewer is present. If you do, you’ll feel more motivated and at ease. You’re also more likely to use the right body language.
AI can read and interpret body language, such as eye movements and tone of voice. While the developers of these platforms tend to keep mum about exact details, it’s probable that looking or sounding bored, annoyed or anxious will count against you. An interested, friendly and confident demeanor will increase your chances of getting past the “robot” gatekeeper to a human decision-maker. So forget about the machine, and talk through it to the real person who may be viewing later.
Can AI tell if an interviewee is lying?
The capability is there, although using it that way may create legal risks for the employer. In a lawsuit involving a HireVue interviewing platform, an employment candidate accused CVS Pharmacy Inc. with violating a state law prohibiting use of lie detector tests in hiring. HireVue stopped using the facial analysis tool involved. But who knows what they or other companies may do before long?
This is one more reason why it’s important to be honest in job interviews. Whether you’re talking to a live human or being recorded for later analysis, the best way to inspire trust is to be trustworthy. (There’s almost always an honest answer that will work for even seemingly impossible questions.) This is one of many ways in which success in an automated interview is based, to a large extent, on the same factors that will make you successful in a live interview.
What do you need to know about the one-way interview process?
Since an AI interview is a form of automated video interview, read my post Automated Video Interview Tips for Success.
Is AI interviewing a fad?
Don’t count on that. Artificial intelligence is here to stay. Learn how to pass an AI interview, so you can get into the room with the human beings—and get the job.
