The AI Take Over?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way companies recruit and hire talent. From screening resumes to conducting interviews, AI is automating many aspects of the hiring process and making it more efficient for organizations and arguably more objective. But what does this mean for job seekers? How can they stand out from the crowd and impress the bots as well as the humans?

Is AI more objective?

AI has recently been tasked with carrying out a wider range of recruiting and HR-related tasks. On job boards, keeping the job seeker safe from scams and protecting personal data is an important requirement. AI can help manage this process, using signals to identify and eliminate poor quality sites, job posts and scams.

It can also be used help reduce human bias. Take the relatively new technology of automated assessments, for example, which gives HR and recruiting professionals insight into how a candidate would perform certain job tasks.

Here’s an example of how it works:?A world-wide call center needed to to source multiple language specialists in one location.?Typically, a recruiter might have that person speak with a language specialist as part of the application process, however, doing evaluations with so many candidates and multiple different language specialists not only places a strain on resources, it also introduces a lot of subjectivity into the process.

Instead, the employer chose to use AI-powered language proficiency assessments. In this case, each candidate had a 10 minute phone conversation with the AI agent in that assigned language. During those conversations, the AI technology automatically evaluated the candidates' fluency and communications skills.

The result? A far more efficient, less stressful process. Not bad for a cold, impersonal machine—and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

As a leader in the recruitment market, let Visium Resources, Inc. share some insights and tips on how to navigate the AI-driven hiring landscape and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

1. Optimize your resume for ATS.

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are software tools that scan and rank resumes based on keywords, skills, education, and experience. To make sure your resume gets past the ATS, you need to use relevant keywords that match the job description, avoid fancy formatting or graphics that might confuse the system, and tailor your resume to each position you apply for.

2. Prepare for video interviews.

Video interviews are becoming more common, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Some video interviews are live, where you interact with a human interviewer via a video platform. Others are recorded, where you answer pre-recorded questions from an AI system that analyzes your responses. To ace a video interview, you need to dress professionally, choose a quiet and well-lit location, test your equipment and internet connection beforehand, and practice answering common interview questions.

3. Showcase your soft skills.

Soft skills are the interpersonal and emotional skills that are essential for any job, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity. AI systems are getting better at assessing soft skills, but they are still not perfect. Therefore, you need to demonstrate your soft skills throughout the hiring process, from your resume and cover letter to your video interview and follow-up email. Use specific examples and stories that highlight your soft skills and how they helped you achieve results in previous roles.

4. Research the company and its culture.

AI systems can also evaluate your fit with the company's culture and values, based on your online presence, social media activity, and personality traits. To show that you are a good match for the company, you need to do your homework and research the company's mission, vision, goals, products, services, customers, competitors, and culture. You can also follow the company on social media, read their blog posts and press releases, and reach out to current or former employees to learn more about their experiences.

5. Be yourself and be authentic.

AI systems are designed to detect lies and inconsistencies in your application and interview. Therefore, you need to be honest and authentic throughout the hiring process. Don't exaggerate or embellish your skills or achievements, don't use generic or cliched statements, and don't try to game the system by guessing what the AI wants to hear. Instead, be yourself and showcase your unique value proposition as a candidate.

AI is constantly changing the way we work and how we search for jobs. However, the current systems rely on human beings to apply and use that technology and ensure that everything runs smoothly. But there’s more to it than that: no matter how advanced the technology gets, recruiting will remain a fundamentally human activity. When job seekers and employers interact with great recruiters, like ours at Visium, they build trust, loyalty and a sense of teamwork—and this cannot be replicated by machines.

However, by following these tips and keeping in mind how AI is changing the game, you can adapt to the new reality of hiring and increase your chances of landing your dream job.