It's stuff like this that's made me realize AI is like an invasive species: the system is so broken that it's got no defenses for mindless yes-man drones, and actual humans won't be able to compete.
Back in 2000s when I was applying for a retail job, the store manager, who like my interview and prior history working in a similar store, told me the last step was to complete their personality assessment. Paraphrasing, she said "I'm not supposed to tell you how to answer this, so I won't tell to give every question either a 1 or a 10 rating because anything in between will fail [same for the "less strongly / more strongly" kind of questions]. I also won't tell you to respond exactly like an outgoing hardworking person the company likes would respond to the questions." I followed her instructions and got the job. Every time one of those company personality tests has shown up, I've followed that advice. I'm guessing it's still true.
they are. and now they are using facial recognition software in pre-recorded interviews to track micro facial expressions and eye contact to do the same.
edit:
the documentary i first saw about this was in 2021: Personas: The Dark Truth about personality tests. The company in question is called HireVue. they are still around and have been challenged in the courts but no major victories against them yet. fair warning if you watch the documentary one of the main subjects commited suicide while the doc was being researched/filmed and his father continues to champion the cause in his memory, RIP Kyle Behm.
Well, that fucks me. I can't talk to a camera without being unbearably awkward about it.
EDIT: Really this whole process fucks me, since I've never been accepted for any job where an online assessment was needed. I even got auto-screened for one where I had four years experience with the same company and was literally asked to reapply.
And the autism community, since eye contact (or lack thereof) is a symptom of the condition. Unless you're in a job that requires eye contact (sales, arguably?) and a reasonable accommodation can't be made.
from what i remember it tracks eye movement(measuring eye contact), tone of voice, voice volume, and micro expressions on your face to determine how you actually feel.
afaik not all employers are doing this, but the tech exists, has been documented being used, and i don't believe employers need to disclose this (depending on what country you live in). i believe someone did try to bring a lawsuit about this but i cant remember the outcome or if it is still in the courts.
afaik the company i saw in the doc, HireVue, is still in business and has not had any major victories won against them in the courts. i should clarify that afaik this is a US problem so if you live somewhere with better labor laws this might now affect you.
What's funny is that that's pseudoscience, so if they are using it they are self-sabotaging themselves. People should maybe use whatever automated and generative tools exist to their advantage to fight those programs. So if there are real-time editing software, for example to edit your own micro facial expressions to be a better candidate, people wouldn't necessarily be wrong in using them.
i believe there are already AI tools to make you look like a different person during an interview. and ironically interviewers are upset and calling it a deceptive practice🙄
Bell does this , they make you do a pre record of yourself answering questions on camera. If you pass that then you may get a actual interview.
I am pretty sure telus does it as well.
The single most underemployed demographic is autistic college graduates. 90% unemployment rate. They have all the necessary academic qualifications, but they get rejected based solely on social skills.
Not related to personality assessments, , but the "sorry, but you didn't seem dynamic enough" wasn't sufficient, it seems.
Ironically, the most memorable reply I got in this category was for a QA position in gaming. What do you mean, a job requiring doing the same thing again and again isn't suited for autistic people?
I'm currently hiring and use an assessments and I weed out the extroverts. It all depends upon the job. My role is structured and boring, so I look for someone who will excel in that dynamic.
I'm a pretty normal, sociable, decent human being school teacher. I think I got weeded out by one of those tests because it asked if I was a rule follower, and if I ever bent the rules. And I'm thinking, "Yes, I will bend the rules to help a kid out and to keep them showing up." So I put "sometimes" and I think that must have made me a rebel renegade. Argh.
My autistic brother cruised into so many jobs with those tests while I never got a single call back. He's very rule/authority-oriented though while my answers were like "if i saw someone stealing i'd just talk to them first about their actions instead of immediately telling on them".
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u/[deleted] Aug 18 '26
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