Interview Stream is one of numerous AI programs that screen job applicants.

MIT Technology Review Adds Podcast for Advice on Dealing with AI in Real Life

In a new podcast called, “In Machines We Trust,” one of the most respected publications on new technology gives advice to job seekers on how to overcome AI hiring tech that often winnows out anyone who it perceives as different.

Testing it out on one hapless graduate, a story on technologyreview.com summarizing the podcast highlights that a young graduate taking a personality test said it was confusing and didn’t reflect her personality. To counter issues, the podcast sought out advice from career advisors and hiring experts, like Ian Siegel, co-founder of ZipRecruiter.

“In most cases, when candidates apply for jobs their résumés will first be processed by an automated applicant tracking system (ATS), Siegel says. To increase your chances of advancing to an interview, you should submit a résumé that the AI will interpret accurately.”

“Use short, descriptive sentences to help an AI parse your résumé, Siegel says. Clearly list your skills. If possible, include details about where you learned them and how long you’ve used them, plus any licensing or certification numbers that verify your expertise. ‘You want to be declarative and quantitative, because software is trying to figure out who you are and decide whether you will be put in front of a human’ he says.

Once an interviewee is in front of a person, they need to be able to give them a normal résumé that’s not loaded with keywords for AI. The story also advises job applicants to test their résumés with AI through such sites as Jobscan and VMock.

The story also advises job searchers to practice interviewing with AI, using platforms such as Interview Stream and Talk Hiring. Other AI interview services, like HireVue, Retorio, and Yobs, let users test out their platforms before scheduled interviews. Some will even allow them to view the personality profile they create based on their performance.

“When we’re interviewing with AI, it feels like a stranger, right? It feels like a stranger without a face. It’s a blank screen,” said Gracy Sarkissian, the interim executive director of New York University’s Career Center. “But rehearsing on these platforms allows you to become more familiar with the process: “You can practice, and the more you practice, the better you get at these things.”

read more at technologyreview.com