Artificial Intelligence (AI) can assist in preparing for a successful job interview, according to an expert. Jeremy Schifeling, who has worked as the head of the Education team at LinkedIn and was a partner at OpenAI during the launch of the AI chatbot ChatGPT, currently helps job seekers land positions at companies like Google, Apple, Amazon, or McKinsey through his career startup, The Job Insiders.
Schifeling advises using AI tools, particularly ChatGPT and a LinkedIn career platform feature, to prepare for interviews. These tools, if used correctly, can help applicants secure jobs at some of the most selective companies.
Job seekers should consider how interviewers make decisions regarding candidates. According to Schifeling, the decision is based on two criteria: competence and likability. Interviewers ask if the candidate can do the job and if they can imagine working with them.
Preparing for an interview should be different from preparing for a test. Memorizing answers to possible questions is not necessarily required. Instead, it’s important what you say, how you come across to the interviewer, and whether you can react and adapt to certain situations. AI can assist with these aspects, says Schifeling.
Schifeling suggests using the STAR method to provide convincing answers to behavioral questions. These questions often start with phrases like “Tell me about a time when you…” or “Describe an experience with…”. The STAR method is a guideline for formulating answers to seemingly vague questions. S stands for Situation, T for Task, A for Action, and R for Result.
ChatGPT can be used to design and perfect the STAR method by generating a list of likely questions for the upcoming interview. The AI tool can then create a STAR response for each question. The job description and the applicant’s resume must be provided to the chatbot. The goal is not to memorize the AI-generated answers but to enhance the ability to give complete and concise responses.
For coming across as likable, Schifeling suggests establishing eye contact, smiling, and speaking in an appropriate tone. To practice this, he recommends using a LinkedIn AI tool designed for interview preparation. This tool involves recording yourself answering AI-generated questions that might be asked during an interview. The AI tool analyzes the recordings and provides feedback on aspects like speech speed and tone variations.
This AI feedback aims to help job seekers naturally appear likable after regular practice, allowing them to focus on the questions and the interviewer during the actual interview.