The invisible force in your next job interview

More and more companies are turning to artificial intelligence in the job hiring process. Unilever. Urban Outfitters. Vodafone. The good ole fashioned resume just isnt as relevant anymore. Turns out a lot of data on a resume is not predictive of  future success, says Josh Jarrett, co-founder of Koru, a predictive  hiring startup based in Seattle. A top priority for many employers is hiring someone who’s a good cultural fit for the company. To that end, companies are now asking AI firms to design algorithms to look for intangible signals such as grit or rigor.   Depending on the corporate client, these algorithms can play a role at every stage in the hiring process: initial review of resumes, pre-interview questionnaires, and video interviews. Data analytics and predictive analytics on steroids is here to stay, says Dr. Olaf Groth, Hult International Business Schools Global Professor of Management, Strategy, Innovation Economics. Artificial intelligence is coming—and coming faster than weve seen before. Data analytics and predictive analytics on steroids is here to stay. Artificial Intelligence is coming—and coming faster than weve seen before. -Dr. Olaf Groth, Hult Professor of Management, Strategy, Innovation Economics Groth teaches Strategy, Futures, and Business Global Society courses at Hult where the impact of AI is a focus.   He is also co-author with Dr. Mark Nitzberg, Executive Director of UC Berkeley’s Center for Human-Compatible AI, of an upcoming book called Solomons Code: Power and Values in the AI Revolution. The right fit One challenge for employers is finding the candidate who adds diversity of thought yet gels well with a companys culture. Being a fit at Citibank is not necessarily the same fit for Barclays, says Koru’s Jarrett.  The startup has clients including Airbnb, e-commerce retailer Zulilly, and agriculture consulting firm K-Coe Isom. One of the traits Korus corporate clients often look for is grit, but this is something thats  hard to  measure. There are ways to impute someones grit from their past roles and achievements, says Jarrett. We dont start with the resume. We look for signals beyond the resume. A candidate is logged on a spider chart of important character traits. The firms methods include a 20-minute online pre-interview, where the algorithms look for signs of collaboration and compare candidates’ responses to patterns of people whove been successful in the past. Video interviews reveal 25,000 data points Utah-based HireVue creates algorithms for video interviews and analyzes 25,000 data points, including facial expression, intonation, and word choice. Before you stress out about whether you’re blinking too much, HireVue Chief Technology Officer Loren Larsen says, â€Å"Do we count blink rate? No. The algorithms are noting things that matter. We don’t put labels like â€Å"fear,† â€Å"anger,† or †lying.† We take all the data and run them through predictive algorithms. We’re looking for top performers and bottom performers.† The company partners with multinationals like Unilever and Mercedes Benz. The algorithms are only as good as the data and parameters given by the corporate client. And this is where things can get tricky. â€Å"We’ve declined making certain models because they propagate bias we’re uncomfortable with,† states Larsen. He says HireVue was once asked by an airline to design an algorithm for attractiveness in flight attendant candidates. â€Å"They wanted to bump the attractive ones to the top. We said we’re not doing that. Instead, we went back to the drawing board to find the other things that mattered.† Application stage in the job hiring process with Koru, a predictive  hiring startup based in Seattle. What happened to good chemistry? Artificial intelligence saves a company time and money. No longer does an HR officer need to spend days sifting through hundreds of resumes.   Machine learning can do the initial culling. But does this mean chemistry and a hiring manager’s intuition go out the window? In my opinion, AI is not about  substituting humans at all. Its about adding the possibility to succeed in terms of  what humans do, says Olga Maslikhova, managing partner of Phystech Ventures, which invests in early-stage tech companies using machine learning. A lot of things in the hiring process have changed. There are more tools available. Its more  about the extension of capabilities—not a substitution of process. Theres a balance. Both data and chemistry matter. Data has the opportunity to pair with human experience,† Koru’s Jarrett says, providing an example. â€Å"E-harmony is not going to find your spouse on the first date. Its the same kind of thing. We say: Heres the probable solution.   Now go make it happen.   Were in this transition between traditional hiring and predictive hiring, blending data and human traits. Were in the second inning of a 9-inning game. -Josh Jarrett, Co-Founder of Koru Monitoring the Wild West of AI Artificial intelligence is pervasive. It’s not just used in recruiting and e-commerce. It’s also finding its way into the U.S. criminal justice system. Courts in Wisconsin and Florida use AI software to decide bail and sentencing based on algorithms that measure a defendant’s risk status or likelihood of committing a crime again. Hult’s Professor Groth warns artificial intelligence is like the Wild West with no standard set of regulations. â€Å"We’ve got a lot of gunslingers out there who throw things at the wall to see if it sticks†¦until it doesn’t,† says Groth. â€Å"I am a techno-optimist. I believe AI has a vast positive transformational potential in society. In recruiting, it’s one valuable tool as we evolve our tool kit, but wherever we apply AI we need to ensure that humans are empowered by machines, not the other way around. We need to figure out how to monitor and govern it so it’s fair and transparent.† Firms at the center of the AI revolution take a different tack.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Should algorithms be regulated? I struggle with that,† says HireVue’s Larsen. â€Å"I struggle with that because I don’t think science should be regulated by lawmakers who don’t understand science.† Photography courtesy of Koru. Lead image courtesy of CNN Money. Find out more about Hults innovative program portfolio here. Pauline Chiou is a contributing writer for Hult International Business School. She currently covers global business, news, and politics for CNN International as a freelance journalist based in New York. She spent nine years in Asia as an anchor for CNN in Hong Kong and CNBC in Singapore. Follow Pauline on Twitter @PaulineChiou. Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog Hult launches first-of-its-kind job skills tool: Dream Job Mapper. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .