What Is An Automated Job Interview And How To Prepare For It?

In a technologically advancing world, more and more job interviews are being conducted with the help of artificial intelligence. According to research published by the Harvard Business Review, around 86% of job interviews are conducted with the aid of technology. A sizable portion of these are automated video interviews, also called AVIs.

What is an Automated Job Interview?

Also called ‘asynchronous video interviews,’ automated job interviews rely on a technology developed for recruiters to be able to assess candidate profiles without having to conduct interviews in real-time. Interviews are then conducted via video interviewing software, where, in most cases, candidates answer preset questions while recording themselves within a stipulated time.

There is also a software that automatically schedules interviews for candidates, called automatic phone interview technology. One can refer to this as an on-demand version of a phone screening that takes place before an interview. This technology removes the back-and-forth that goes on between a recruiter and a candidate while trying to schedule an interview. Through automated phone scheduling, recruiters can screen multiple candidates in one go, and candidates can schedule interviews for when it is most convenient for them. This thus gets rid of the most time-consuming and harrowing process of trying to schedule an interview.

How Do You Prepare For an Automated Job Interview?

While the prospect of an automated job interview may seem beyond daunting, it will be easier to go through if a candidate is well-prepared. It is important to prepare before the interview begins to hit all the right notes during your interview.

• Before your interview, make sure that you have gathered all documents that have been asked for by your recruiter. This may include identity proof, address proof, salary slips, etc. Also maintain soft copies of such documents, in case your automated job interview tool asks you to present them before your interview begins.
• Run all possible technical diagnostics to ensure that everything is smooth sailing during your interview.
• Check to see that your hardware is compatible with the interview software.?
• Check for audio, video, and internet issues.
• Ensure a professional background. While it should not directly affect the outcome of your interview, it is important to create a well-rounded first impression. Keep your background tidy, not too busy, and ensure that the general ambiance remains pleasant.
• During your interview, act the way you would if your interview was being conducted offline, face-to-face with an interviewer.
• Maintain eye contact, keep a pleasant expression on your face, and use adequate hand gestures.?
• Questions in automated job interviews wherein your answers are recorded will most likely be timed. Be prepared to keep your answers succinct so you are able to get all necessary information in before time runs out.

Some Drawbacks of Automated Job Interviews

Often, there is unconscious bias in the judgment of a candidate’s profile from an interview. The aim of automated interviews is to try to remove some of this bias. However, there are issues that have come up with AVIs that need to be assessed and addressed before their practice can become mainstream.

Firstly, the technology that AVIs use itself can be hard to understand. While a candidate might be young, they might not be aware of the processes that an AVI operates on. The initial confusion surrounding how to interview with a non-human party might throw a candidate off. Furthermore, questions that a candidate has that they might want answered will also not be possible, because their interviewer is not human.?

This might make a demoralizing experience for the interviewee. There isn’t anyone on the other end to assess a human candidate’s emotions. There are no feelings of humanity in the interview. AI might not know how to assess candidates outside the frame that it has been set to do, which becomes confusing for the candidate in terms of how they can behave. Do they have to stay still and only move their mouths while talking? Are they allowed to move their body as they would if their interview was being conducted by another person? These questions remain unanswered in AVIs.

However, this does not mean that the technology surrounding automated job interviews cannot be made more conducive to use for everyone involved in the process. With the right support systems and the right usage of this technology, automated job interviews can become a commonplace activity for hiring processes.