Interviewing... with ChatGPT

Introduction

As an engineer and technologist I've been?exploring emerging artificial intelligence capabilities and services. In previous articles,?I've used?ChatGPT?to generate a magazine-style Q&A, draft a technical role speciation, and prepare a corresponding cover letter and CV. This article demonstrates how AI can be used to fabricate a shortlist of applicants, generate interview questions and checklist prompts, and draft applicant responses all through a few short prompts (see below). It is clear that AI has great potential to inform, aid and change the way we all work. Awareness, reflection and discussion is therefore key across sectors. Why not drop your thoughts and comments below?

Candidate shortlist

Sarah Johnson

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Bristol
• Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) with the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
• 15 years of experience in systems engineering
• Proven track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget, with cost savings of $5 million on one project
• Experience working with clients in aerospace, defense, and transportation industries
• Effective communicator and team leader

Thomas Brown

• Master's degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Michigan
• Registered Professional Engineer in the state of California
• Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) with the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
• 12 years of experience in systems engineering
• Experience leading projects in the aerospace and defense industries, with a focus on mission-critical systems
• Strong technical background in system design and integration
• Excellent project management skills, with a proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget

Emma Lee

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore
• Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) with the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
• 10 years of experience in systems engineering, with a focus on embedded systems and IoT technologies
• Experience working with clients in the transportation and consumer electronics industries
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to develop and implement effective solutions
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with a proven ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams.

David Patel

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology
• Registered Professional Engineer in the state of New York
• Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) with the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
• 8 years of experience in systems engineering, with a focus on space systems and satellite technologies
• Experience working with clients in the aerospace and defense industries, including NASA and the European Space Agency
• Strong technical background in system design, integration, and testing, with a focus on reliability and safety
• Excellent project management skills, with a proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Interview questions (and checklist prompts)

1) Can you describe a complex systems engineering project you have led and how you applied systems engineering principles to ensure project success?

• Experience leading complex systems engineering projects
• Application of systems engineering principles to ensure project success
• Ability to articulate complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders

2) Can you discuss a situation where you had to handle a difficult stakeholder or team member and how you approached and resolved the issue?

• Ability to handle difficult stakeholders or team members
• Approach to resolving conflicts and disputes
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Problem-solving skills

3) Can you identify a key systems thinking concept and explain how you have applied it to a complex engineering project to improve its outcomes?

• Understanding of key systems thinking concepts
• Ability to apply systems thinking to complex engineering projects
• Ability to identify and address system interdependencies and trade-offs
• Ability to improve project outcomes through systems thinking

4) Can you give an example of a project where you had to balance multiple competing requirements and explain how you approached and resolved the challenge?

• Experience balancing multiple competing requirements
• Ability to prioritize and make trade-off decisions
• Approach to resolving complex technical challenges
• Ability to collaborate and coordinate with cross-functional teams

5) Can you discuss a situation where you had to make a technical trade-off decision and how you evaluated the options to arrive at a solution?

• Ability to make technical trade-off decisions
• Approach to evaluating options and making data-driven decisions
• Experience working with stakeholders to make decisions that balance technical and business needs
• Ability to make and implement well-informed technical decisions.

Note: The interviewer can use these checklist prompts to take notes and evaluate the candidate's responses during the interview.

Applicant responses

1) Can you describe a complex systems engineering project you have led and how you applied systems engineering principles to ensure project success?

Sarah: Yes, I was the Lead System Engineer for the design and implementation of a $60M Next-Generation Air Traffic Management System for the Federal Aviation Authority. I ensured project success by implementing a robust requirements management process and continuously conducting risk assessments and mitigation planning. This allowed us to proactively address any potential issues before they impacted the project schedule or budget.

2) Can you discuss a situation where you had to handle a difficult stakeholder or team member and how you approached and resolved the issue?

Sarah: Sure, on a project for the Royal Australian Air Force, I had a team member who wasn't meeting deliverable deadlines. I scheduled a 1:1 meeting to understand their challenges and worked with them to create a revised schedule that was feasible for both of us. This approach not only resolved the issue but also improved our working relationship moving forward.

3) Can you identify a key systems thinking concept and explain how you have applied it to a complex engineering project to improve its outcomes?

Sarah: One key concept is "emergence" where the behavior of a system is greater than the sum of its individual parts. On a project for the European Space Agency, I leveraged this concept to create an integrated system architecture that took into account all subsystems, ensuring a cohesive and efficient end-to-end solution.

4) Can you give an example of a project where you had to balance multiple competing requirements and explain how you approached and resolved the challenge?

Sarah: On a project for the British Ministry of Defence, I was tasked with balancing conflicting requirements such as cost, schedule, and performance. I used a multi-criteria decision analysis to weigh the trade-offs and present a recommended solution to the stakeholders. This approach allowed us to arrive at a solution that satisfied all parties involved.

5) Can you discuss a situation where you had to make a technical trade-off decision and how you evaluated the options to arrive at a solution?

Sarah: On a project for the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, I was faced with a technical trade-off between system performance and cost. I conducted a cost-benefit analysis and presented the results to the stakeholders, ultimately leading to a decision that optimized performance while staying within budget constraints.

My scripted prompts

Please generate a summary listing of fictitious candidates to interview including Sarah. List CV highlights for each candidate.

Please prepare a list of 5 interview questions based on the original role specification. Questions should be designed to test candidate knowledge, skills and experience. One of these questions should address relevant behavioural competencies. One of the questions should prompt the interviewee to identify a key systems thinking concept and summarise application or relevance to complex engineering projects. I would like these questions to be formatted with corresponding checklist prompts to help the interviewer.

Prepare succinct responses to each question for Sarah consistent with her CV and experience. Use a personable but professional tone.