Can synthetic intelligence assist you ace your subsequent job interview? On this publish I’ll provide you with my professional take—as an interview coach, not an AI guru!—on find out how to use AI to organize for an interview, together with notes on my tryouts of 5 well-known AI interview prep instruments.
Benefits of AI Interview Prep Instruments
As I see it, AI interview preparation instruments provide two vital benefits:
- They’re out there totally free or at low value.
- There’s no want for an appointment; you should use these instruments anytime, anyplace.
Disadvantages of AI Interview Prep Instruments
In some methods, “you get what you pay for.” In my humble opinion, machines nonetheless aren’t fairly as sensible, versatile and accommodating as a human interview coach or mock interviewer. Right here’s my view of the downsides.
The instance solutions supplied by AI instruments are useful as tips, however are bland and a bit stiff.
Writing in Harvard Enterprise Overview, an AI professional and professor of psychology shared the next instructed reply from ChatGPT to the query “Do you take pleasure in working with others?”
I do take pleasure in working with others. Collaboration can result in progressive options and a richer work setting. I respect variety in thought and perspective as a result of it usually brings recent concepts to the desk. Whereas I’ll have my very own opinions and values, I imagine in open communication and constructive discussions to seek out frequent floor and attain our targets collectively. Ultimately, I imagine that working as a crew permits us to realize greater than we might individually.
To my ear, this reply sounds right however not very genuine. It’s additionally boring, though it’d provide you with concepts for creating your personal genuine reply.
My very own method as a coach can be completely different: Slightly than beginning with a generic pattern reply, I’d begin by listening to the job seeker’s personal phrases, then assist them polish their reply as wanted.
AIs are recognized for “hallucinating.”
In different phrases, they generally make up nonsense. Within the HBR evaluation, the creator warned,
Don’t assume that each one info offered is bulletproof. Deal with something you be taught – good or dangerous – with a pinch of salt and wholesome diploma of skepticism . . . Deal with GenAI as one other software in your toolkit. Use it to the diploma that it’s helpful.
Some AI instruments solely analyze written solutions.
There’s some worth in getting suggestions in your written solutions, however this method doesn’t mirror how actual interviews happen, nor how interviewers make selections.
You’ve most likely heard that roughly 80% of communication is nonverbal–or 70%, or 90%. Whether or not or not these numbers are correct, it’s clear that interviewers rely closely on facial expressions, tone of voice and different physique language to “get a way” for the candidate’s trustworthiness, character, interpersonal and relationship-building abilities, confidence, honesty, “tradition match,” and so forth. These impressions are sometimes the deciding think about who will get employed. Even the place the instruments provide suggestions on nonverbals, they will’t probably see and listen to you in simply the identical manner an actual interviewer would.
Different instruments embrace audiovisual components, however these aren’t as straightforward to make use of.
I’m a more-or-less common consumer, however I discovered it awkward accessing the audiovisual instruments, as I describe beneath.
My experiences with 5 AI interview prep instruments:
I attempted out Adzuna Prepper, Huru.ai, Interview.ai, Interview Warmup by Google and ChatGPT.
Disclosure: I lack the endurance and frustration tolerance to be an early adopter, and it exhibits. Your individual mileage could range.
Spoiler: ChatGPT was my favourite of the bunch. Be at liberty to skip to the top of the publish for my feedback on this AI.
Adzuna Prepper
Adzuna permits the consumer to kind of their interview solutions and obtain suggestions.
After deciding on “Administrative Assistant” as my goal job, I used to be given three decisions for Interview Model: Simple, Laborious or Pirate. (Pirate? Dang, I ought to’ve chosen that one.) I selected “Simple.”
I typed my reply to a query about my degree of abilities in PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. I acknowledged that my abilities have been fairly fundamental however that I’m a fast learner. My reply earned a rating of 70/100 and the next remark:
The candidate has a fundamental to intermediate ability degree with PowerPoint and a fundamental to newbie degree with Excel. Though they’re rusty in utilizing Outlook, they declare to have used it extensively previously. Their enthusiasm to be taught is a optimistic attribute. Nonetheless, their ability ranges aren’t very robust total.
As an interview coach, my very own suggestions would have been extra like, “It’s fantastic to state your abilities ranges, however let’s focus most of your reply on examples of the great work you’ve executed with these instruments.”
Huru.ai
The method of making an account was a bit wonky, and once I tried to log in I initially acquired an error message. I attempted once more and it labored.
On the subsequent display screen, I used to be prompted to “Select from +2000 profession roles.” Beneath that I noticed 29 job classes, every with anyplace from 4 to 11 positions listed. Perhaps it’s simply me, however in my world 29 x 11 = 319, nowhere close to 2,000. Huh?
Anyway, I clicked the digital camera button to get began, and acquired an error message, a standing of “Analyzing your reply. Please wait…” and a whirling ball. I waited for greater than a minute, then gave up. Perhaps it’s my laptop. It’s usually gradual, however not often like this. I’m on an iMac with 3.4 GHz.
Interview Warmup by Google
The primary display screen requested “What discipline do you wish to apply in?” and supplied me six particular decisions akin to Information Analytics and IT Assist—all tech jobs!—plus “Basic.” I chosen “Basic.”
Once I tried to reply a query aloud, I acquired an error message, “Mic blocked.” Odd, as a result of I’ve been doing plenty of Zooms recently with no issues. I clicked “Mic Assist” however the recommendation didn’t match the issue I used to be having.
I began over, this time typing my solutions. I used to be then instructed what job-related phrases I’d used, what my most-used phrases have been, and whether or not my solutions had included Objectives, Expertise, Classes realized, Expertise or Pursuits. I didn’t discover the suggestions useful. I’d reasonably simply know what was or wasn’t efficient about my reply.
Interview.ai
On the house web page, I used to be supplied two decisions: “Enroll as a Enterprise” or “Schedule a Demo.” I virtually missed the small line below that, “In case you are a candidate or a pupil, strive mock interviews.” I clicked that, and was supplied a selection of job varieties, largely technical. I chosen one of many few non-tech roles, Workplace Supervisor.
However once I entered my electronic mail deal with to create an account, the location hung for 2 minutes. I gave up.
ChatGPT
I began by telling ChatGPT I wished to apply for a job interview. It requested me what the place was, and I replied “Admin Assistant” and pasted in a job description.
It then confirmed me ten typical questions and requested, “Would you love to do a mock interview the place you reply to those questions, or do you want assist crafting particular solutions?” I opted for a mock interview.
ChatGPT began exhibiting me really useful solutions for the questions. “Cease,” I wrote. “Please let me reply earlier than exhibiting me solutions.” The AI meekly adopted my request.
ChatGPT requested, “Inform me about your self.” I gave the next (fictional) reply:
I’ve 10 years of admin expertise, beginning with 5 years as a secretary with a small development firm, the place I supported the final supervisor and two different managers. I carried out largely information entry at first, however I ceaselessly volunteered for added duties, and after solely 8 months I used to be promoted to govt secretary. Then I moved to an environmental engineering agency, the place I used to be admin assistant for the entire agency. I dealt with bills, correspondence, databases, and extra. I coordinated the agency’s transfer to new workplaces, which went easily. Sadly the corporate goes out of enterprise so I’m in search of a brand new function.
ChatGPT’s suggestions was:
That’s an awesome response to the “Inform me about your self” query! You’ve offered a concise overview of your skilled background and highlighted key experiences that exhibit your abilities and capabilities. Listed below are a couple of factors of suggestions and strategies for enhancement:
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- Spotlight Achievements: You’ve talked about your promotions and the profitable coordination of the agency’s workplace transfer, which is great. Contemplate including extra particular achievements or outcomes out of your roles, akin to enhancements in effectivity, value financial savings, or profitable initiatives you’ve led.
- Relevance to the Function: Because you’re interviewing for an Administrative Assistant place, it will be helpful to emphasise facets of your expertise that immediately relate to the tasks outlined within the job description . . .”
And so forth. This is superb suggestions.
I then determined to strive a trickier query. I typed in:
I need suggestions on my reply to the query “Why did you permit your most up-to-date place?” My reply is: “I used to be fired from that function after a brand new supervisor changed my former supervisor. She had all the time preferred my work, however the brand new supervisor apparently wished to exchange the crew, together with me, with folks he had labored with earlier than.”
ChatGPT’s response was:
Your response offers a transparent rationalization for why you left your most up-to-date place, which is essential for transparency throughout the interview. Listed below are some factors to think about concerning your reply:
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- Honesty: It’s good that you simply’re being sincere concerning the circumstances surrounding your departure. It’s higher to offer a truthful rationalization reasonably than making an attempt to hide or sugarcoat the scenario.
- Give attention to Efficiency: You talked about that your former supervisor appreciated your work. If doable, spotlight any optimistic suggestions or accomplishments you acquired within the function to exhibit your competence and worth as an worker.
- Professionalism: Whereas it’s comprehensible to really feel annoyed about being let go, attempt to keep knowledgeable tone when discussing the scenario. Keep away from talking negatively about your former supervisor or the corporate, as this might mirror poorly on you.
- Future Outlook: After explaining the rationale on your departure, it’s useful to segue into discussing what you realized from the expertise and the way you’re approaching your job search shifting ahead. Emphasize your enthusiasm for brand spanking new alternatives and your dedication to contributing positively to a brand new crew.
Total, your reply offers an easy rationalization for why you left your earlier place. Simply bear in mind to deal with framing the scenario in knowledgeable and constructive method throughout the interview.
Once more, that is helpful suggestions.
If this job seeker have been my shopper, I’d take it additional. I’d coach the shopper to not begin their reply with one thing unfavorable like “I used to be fired.” ChatGPT raises level about specializing in what you probably did effectively previously function. Starting and ending the reply with such positives, whereas burying any negatives within the center, will typically make a greater impression. I’d additionally ask whether or not anybody else was fired when the brand new supervisor got here on board. Mentioning that others have been let go on the identical time can assist present that the termination wasn’t essentially performance-related. (Learn my publish about answering unfavorable and delicate questions.)
The most important draw back of interview prep with ChatGPT is that it’s text-only, whereas actual interviewers are strongly influenced by nonverbal communication. As they take heed to why you left a previous function, as an example, they are going to watch intently for indicators of lingering unfavorable feelings, which they’ll take as a purple flag.
As a coach, I too observe these indicators. I gently level out what I’m seeing, providing views and assist to assist the shopper let go of the troubling emotion and prepare to interview calmly and confidently.
An AI assesses itself:
I used to be curious what ChatGPT would “say” concerning the worth of a human coach. I quote its reply:
Benefits of a human interview coach:
Personalization: A coach can provide extremely customized suggestions based mostly on not simply what you say however the way you say it, together with your physique language, tone, and different non-verbal cues.
Expertise and Perception: Skilled coaches carry insights from particular industries and may share nuanced recommendation based mostly on present hiring developments.
Mock Interviews: Whereas I can simulate mock interview questions, a human coach can create extra dynamic simulations, work together in real-time, and supply in-the-moment steering and changes.
Emotional Assist: A human coach may provide encouragement and emotional assist, serving to construct your confidence by means of extra customized interactions.
So, whereas I generally is a very efficient software for making ready for interviews, combining this apply with occasional periods with a human coach might present the very best of each worlds, particularly for high-stakes interviews.
So there you’ve got it, straight from the horse’s–er, the robotic’s mouth. AI interview prep instruments may be helpful, however they don’t exchange human teaching. Which method will you’re taking–AI, a coach, or each?