Week 36: Using AI to Get Interviewed

The Experiment

I'm not looking for a job, but my curiosity was piqued when my friend Mel recommended I check out Jack&Jill.ai as an interview method. Then, in one of those confluences that make you think the universe is nudging you, I stumbled across a research paper titled "Voice AI in Firms: A Natural Field Experiment on Automated Job Interviews." Despite the zippy title I found it interesting. The study found that AI interviewers were significantly more effective than human recruiters—12% more job offers, 18% more job starts, and 17% better 30-day retention.

As someone eternally hungry to create content for my readers, this felt like an interesting avenue to explore. Could an AI really conduct a better interview than a human? Time to find out.

The Process

Here's how I tackled it:

1. The Setup The onboarding was simple. I signed in with LinkedIn, and straight into a conversation with an AI about my background, what I was looking for, and some clarifying questions about my preferences.

2. The Interview Experience The AI voice didn't feel very... AI-like. Good tone, thoughtful interview questions, and surprisingly natural conversation flow. I was expecting something stilted or robotic, but there was no "uncanny valley" moment. I've had worse conversations with human employment agents.

3. Probing the Process Here's where AI interviews shine for curious people like me—you feel comfortable asking your dumbest questions. I grilled it about how the platform works, where they source jobs from, how persistent they are with follow-ups. It patiently explained that they search the web and have people upload roles directly to their site.

4. The Results A few days later, an email arrived with job recommendations. These were mostly growth and product roles (exactly what I'd specified), and honestly, they looked better than what I typically get from human recruiters. The roles were more global, though that created its own problem since I don't want to work Eastern Time hours.

The Outcome

This was surprisingly effective. While I didn't need a job, I walked away with:

• A better understanding of current market opportunities

• Job recommendations that were actually relevant to my experience

• A genuinely pleasant interview experience that felt more thorough than recent human recruiter calls

The contrast with my recent human recruiter experiences was stark. Those were pretty uninspiring—limited follow-up, small pool of jobs, and a sense they were trying to adapt whatever they had to fit me rather than finding what I actually wanted.

Key Takeaway

AI interviewing isn't just a gimmick—it might actually be better than human recruiters for initial screening. You get a tireless, well-resourced recruiter who remembers exactly what you're looking for, doesn't get tired of your questions, and seems to cast a wider net for opportunities.

Pro Tips for AI Job Hunting:

1. Be Curious: Unlike human recruiters, AI won't get annoyed if you ask detailed questions about the process or probe how things work.

2. Set Clear Global Preferences: If you're not open to different time zones, be specific. The AI's broader reach means more international opportunities.

3. Leverage the Patience: Use the AI's unlimited patience to clarify exactly what you want—it won't rush you or try to fit you into existing slots.

What's Next?

• I've recommended it to my wife, who's looking to hire developers—curious to see how it works from the employer side

• I'm interested in how this compares to other AI recruiting tools as they emerge

• The research suggests this trend will accelerate—78% of applicants chose AI when given the option

Want to Try It Yourself?

• Jack&Jill.ai offers the AI interview experience I tested

• It's worth trying even if you're not actively job hunting—the market intelligence alone is valuable

• Come prepared to be honest about what you want; the AI remembers everything