I was interviewed by an Avatar . . . .
As one
who hadn't looked for a new job since gas was about a buck a gallon and postage
to actually mail a letter was only 22 cents (mailing a letter alone should tell
you how long it's been) I realized that many things had changed but some
not for the better in the job hunting process.
Take for
example the role technology plays in the job search today.
Just
when I thought I had seen it all . . . I was interviewed by an
Avatar. Yep. An Avatar. Her name was “Ann”, she
wore a paisley scarf, and this is her story. Mine too, I guess but I
am sure the view from her perspective was far funnier than from mine.
Take a
deep breath, job hunters, as this gets a little painful. The
experience went something like this:
I sit
down at my computer at the scheduled interview time, thinking I am doing
another Skype interview which have become so popular. I log into the
appropriate site and wait. My computer screen opens and a cartoon
woman, an Avatar, if you will, is sitting at a desk with her arms folded.
"Hello, Carol", she said in a soft voice. "I'm Ann
and I'll be doing your interview today. Let's begin by saying your
name"
"Carol
Koepke", said I, thinking this was going to be interesting.
"Oh
c'mon.” she says. “You can do better than that. I can barely hear
you".
"CAROL
KOEPKE!" I scream at my screen.
"Thank
you", says she. "Now let's begin."
At this
point the first question comes up on the screen and the second I open my mouth
to answer it, the camera on my computer comes on and they record my response.
The second I stop talking? Zwoop. The screen goes black and
I'm back talking to "Ann".
Now
"Ann" is sitting on the edge of her desk. Legs crossed,
arms folded, looking like she is going to have a casual discussion with me.
"Thank you for that", says she and the next question comes up
on the screen.
I answer
and once again the screen goes back to “Ann”.
This time
“Ann” must clearly be thinking she has other things to do than talk to me, for
she is standing, and is pinching off dead leaves on a potted plant in her
office. She offers up some encouragement and then the next question pops
up on the screen.
At this
point I have decided I have had enough of this entire process, so I begin to
interact with "Ann", albeit a one sided conversation. I compliment
her on her paisley scarf, her perfectly coiffed hair, her practical work shoes
(not too high of a heel) and ask where her kids go to school. All the
while answering the interview questions and all the while knowing I was being
recorded. Unfortunately, “Ann” did not respond to my questioning but then
again, I really didn't expect her to.
After my
final answer, the screen goes dark and I sign off. And within 30 minutes
my phone rings and it's a live HR professional laughing and saying that my
interview was the funniest one they had seen and they needed to get me in for a
"real interview".
A
real interview, thought I? What the heck was what I had just done, and if
it wasn't real, why waste my time? But as I found on this transitional
journey, oftentimes, my time wasn't really valued. And what I really
found interesting is when did companies forget that interviews go both ways,
with both sides wondering if the "fit" is right?
So,
in the end, that job turned out not to be a good fit for me. I know I need to
be in an organization that values it’s people. And an Avatar doing an
interview? Doesn’t leave you feeling that way.
Who ever
created this software (and the companies that pre screen with it) get a failing
grade in my book. We're talking about people. We're talking about
people’s livelihoods, incomes that support families and make it possible for
things in life.
While I
love technology as it makes my life easier every day, I think technology in the
job search needs to benefit both sides. And in this instance, it was a
abject failure in this job hunter's opinion.
But know
that I wish “Ann” well in all of her future endeavors. And be sure to
tell her hi! if you meet up with her during your job search.
