The growing use of artificial intelligence in job interviews is a major point of contention for many job candidates, with a significant number of professionals expressing a preference for remaining unemployed rather than engaging with AI interviewers. This pushback is rooted in a variety of concerns about the technology and its impact on the hiring process.
Job candidates have voiced a number of concerns regarding the use of AI in interviews, leading to significant pushback and a growing distrust of companies that rely on the technology. These concerns include:
Dehumanization and Lack of Human Connection: Many candidates find the experience of being interviewed by an AI to be impersonal and dehumanizing. They report feeling like they are "talking to a wall," which makes it difficult to gauge a company's culture and whether they would be a good fit. This lack of a genuine two-way conversation undermines the traditional purpose of an interview, which is to allow both the company and the candidate to assess each other.
Algorithmic Bias and Lack of Transparency: A significant number of job seekers do not trust AI to evaluate them fairly. AI systems are trained on data, and if that data is biased, the system will perpetuate and even amplify those biases. Candidates worry that factors like their vocal intonation, facial expressions, or cultural communication styles could be misinterpreted or lead to an unfair rejection. The "black box" nature of these algorithms means candidates are often left without any understanding of why they were rejected, which can be demoralizing and frustrating.
Unfair Assessment of Soft Skills: AI struggles to accurately assess crucial soft skills, such as empathy, humor, and critical thinking, that are essential for many roles. While proponents of AI claim it can analyze speech patterns and other data points to measure these skills, many candidates feel that a human interviewer is far better equipped to understand the nuances of their personality and potential.
Red Flag for Company Culture: For many candidates, a company's reliance on AI for initial interviews is a red flag, signaling a company culture that prioritizes cost-cutting and efficiency over valuing its employees. The use of AI can suggest to a job seeker that the company is not willing to invest time in a personal connection and may view its employees as easily replaceable.
Perceived Waste of Time: Job seekers often feel that AI-led interviews are simply another hoop to jump through, with little to no guarantee of a follow-up with a human. They feel that the time spent talking to a bot could have been better used applying for other jobs or engaging in other productive activities, especially if they are ultimately ghosted by the company...
