Job interviews can really put people out of their natural element. Pre-COVID, job interviews typically meant going in to see a hiring manager in person, trying to find an unfamiliar office, perhaps dressing up more than usual, etc.
During the COVID pandemic, huge numbers of job interviews switched to a virtual format. Instead of finding the right office building, interviewees stressed over not having the right video conferencing app downloaded or their microphone or camera not working.
Well, job applicants should take note of a new interview format that promises to shake things up even further and add a brand-new source of stress and interview preparation: virtual reality.
Are You Ready for Virtual Reality Job Interviews?
Artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) technology mean that job applicants may soon be interviewed by a computer, writes Elizabeth Hotson in an article for BBC.
“Earlier this year students at Sandwell College in West Bromwich put on VR headsets to do some mock interviews. Their avatars—cartoon-like, 3D representations of themselves—were put through their paces by another talking avatar representing the AI software system.”
At the moment, the VR system being used by students—made by London-based company Bodyswaps—is used primarily for applicants to practice interviews, as opposed to being used by actual employers for actual interviews. But Hotson writes that other companies, like Swedish AI firm Tengai are already leveraging VR tech for conducting real-world interviews.
Potential for Bias Still Exists
VR and AI technologies may have interesting impacts on DEI efforts among organizations looking to add talent. While interviewing with a computer as an avatar may create the opportunity for “blind” hiring, it’s also important to note that these technologies are still developed by humans, and human biases often remain subtly and unintentionally embedded in such tools.
Lin Grensing-Pophal is a Contributing Editor at HR Daily Advisor.
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