Can synthetic intelligence provide help to ace your subsequent job interview? On this submit I’ll offer you my skilled take—as an interview coach, not an AI guru!—on how you can 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 supply two vital benefits:
- They’re out there without cost or at low price.
- There’s no want for an appointment; you should use these instruments anytime, wherever.
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 good, 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 pointers, however are bland and a bit stiff.
Writing in Harvard Enterprise Overview, an AI skilled and professor of psychology shared the next recommended reply from ChatGPT to the query “Do you get pleasure from working with others?”
I do get pleasure from working with others. Collaboration can result in modern options and a richer work atmosphere. I respect variety in thought and perspective as a result of it typically 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 workforce 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 would offer you concepts for growing your personal genuine reply.
My very own strategy as a coach can be totally different: Somewhat 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 identified for “hallucinating.”
In different phrases, they often make up nonsense. Within the HBR overview, the creator warned,
Don’t assume that each one data offered is bulletproof. Deal with something you be taught – good or unhealthy – with a pinch of salt and wholesome diploma of skepticism . . . Deal with GenAI as one other device in your toolkit. Use it to the diploma that it’s helpful.
Some AI instruments solely analyze written solutions.
There may be some worth in getting suggestions in your written solutions, however this strategy doesn’t mirror how actual interviews happen, nor how interviewers make selections.
You’ve in all probability 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 expertise, confidence, honesty, “tradition match,” and so forth. These impressions are sometimes the deciding think about who will get employed. Even the place the instruments supply suggestions on nonverbals, they’ll’t probably see and listen to you in simply the identical method 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 happy to skip to the top of the submit for my feedback on this AI.
Adzuna Prepper
Adzuna permits the consumer to kind of their interview solutions and obtain suggestions.
After choosing “Administrative Assistant” as my goal job, I used to be given three selections for Interview Fashion: Simple, Arduous or Pirate. (Pirate? Dang, I ought to’ve chosen that one.) I selected “Simple.”
I typed my reply to a query about my stage of expertise in PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. I acknowledged that my expertise have been fairly primary however that I’m a fast learner. My reply earned a rating of 70/100 and the next remark:
The candidate has a primary to intermediate talent stage with PowerPoint and a primary to newbie stage with Excel. Though they’re rusty in utilizing Outlook, they declare to have used it extensively prior to now. Their enthusiasm to be taught is a optimistic attribute. Nonetheless, their talent ranges usually are not very sturdy total.
As an interview coach, my very own suggestions would have been extra like, “It’s wonderful to state your expertise ranges, however let’s focus most of your reply on examples of the great work you’ve accomplished with these instruments.”
Huru.ai
The method of making an account was a bit wonky, and after I tried to log in I initially acquired an error message. I attempted once more and it labored.
On the following display screen, I used to be prompted to “Select from +2000 profession roles.” Beneath that I noticed 29 job classes, every with wherever from 4 to 11 positions listed. Possibly it’s simply me, however in my world 29 x 11 = 319, nowhere close to 2,000. Huh?
Anyway, I clicked the digicam 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. Possibly it’s my laptop. It’s typically sluggish, however not often like this. I’m on an iMac with 3.4 GHz.
Interview Warmup by Google
The primary display screen requested “What area do you wish to apply in?” and supplied me six particular selections comparable to Information Analytics and IT Help—all tech jobs!—plus “Common.” I chosen “Common.”
After I tried to reply a query aloud, I acquired an error message, “Mic blocked.” Odd, as a result of I’ve been doing a lot of Zooms these days 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 Targets, Expertise, Classes realized, Expertise or Pursuits. I didn’t discover the suggestions useful. I’d quite simply know what was or wasn’t efficient about my reply.
Interview.ai
On the house web page, I used to be supplied two selections: “Join as a Enterprise” or “Schedule a Demo.” I virtually missed the small line below that, “In case you are a candidate or a scholar, strive mock interviews.” I clicked that, and was supplied a alternative of job varieties, largely technical. I chosen one of many few non-tech roles, Workplace Supervisor.
However after I entered my e mail tackle to create an account, the positioning hung for 2 minutes. I gave up.
ChatGPT
I began by telling ChatGPT I needed 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 advisable 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 building firm, the place I supported the final supervisor and two different managers. I carried out largely information entry at first, however I regularly volunteered for added duties, and after solely 8 months I used to be promoted to government 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 places of work, which went easily. Sadly the corporate goes out of enterprise so I’m on the lookout for a brand new position.
ChatGPT’s suggestions was:
That’s an important 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 expertise and capabilities. Listed here are a couple of factors of suggestions and solutions 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 superb. Take into account including extra particular achievements or outcomes out of your roles, comparable to enhancements in effectivity, price financial savings, or profitable initiatives you’ve led.
- Relevance to the Function: Because you’re interviewing for an Administrative Assistant place, it might be useful to emphasise points of your expertise that instantly relate to the duties 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 allow your most up-to-date place?” My reply is: “I used to be fired from that position after a brand new supervisor changed my former supervisor. She had at all times preferred my work, however the brand new supervisor apparently needed to interchange the workforce, together with me, with individuals he had labored with earlier than.”
ChatGPT’s response was:
Your response offers a transparent clarification for why you left your most up-to-date place, which is vital for transparency in the course of the interview. Listed here are some factors to think about relating to your reply:
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- Honesty: It’s good that you simply’re being sincere in regards to the circumstances surrounding your departure. It’s higher to offer a truthful clarification quite than making an attempt to hide or sugarcoat the state of affairs.
- Deal with Efficiency: You talked about that your former supervisor appreciated your work. If doable, spotlight any optimistic suggestions or accomplishments you acquired within the position 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 an expert tone when discussing the state of affairs. Keep away from talking negatively about your former supervisor or the corporate, as this might mirror poorly on you.
- Future Outlook: After explaining the explanation to 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 new alternatives and your dedication to contributing positively to a brand new workforce.
Total, your reply offers an easy clarification for why you left your earlier place. Simply keep in mind to deal with framing the state of affairs in an expert and constructive method in the course of the interview.
Once more, that is helpful suggestions.
If this job seeker have been my consumer, I’d take it additional. I’d coach the consumer to not begin their reply with one thing unfavourable like “I used to be fired.” ChatGPT raises a superb level about specializing in what you probably did nicely prior to now position. 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 will help present that the termination wasn’t essentially performance-related. (Learn my submit about answering unfavourable 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 hearken to why you left a previous position, as an illustration, they’ll watch intently for indicators of lingering unfavourable 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 help to assist the consumer 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” in regards to the worth of a human coach. I quote its reply:
Benefits of a human interview coach:
Personalization: A coach can supply extremely personalised 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 Help: A human coach can even supply encouragement and emotional help, serving to construct your confidence by extra personalised interactions.
So, whereas I generally is a very efficient device for getting ready for interviews, combining this apply with occasional classes with a human coach might present the most effective 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 could be helpful, however they don’t exchange human teaching. Which strategy will you’re taking–AI, a coach, or each?
