Job interview with AI chatbot: one-third of Swiss ready for it

On behalf of XING, the market and opinion research company Marketagent Switzerland conducted an online survey of over 1,000 professionals in German- and French-speaking Switzerland (people aged between 18 and 65) on the topic of "artificial intelligence".

35 percent ready to interview with AI chatbot

Slightly more than a third (35 percent) of the professionals surveyed are prepared in principle to conduct a job interview with an AI-supported chatbot, either in writing or voice-based. At the same time, 23 percent would also necessarily want to be able to speak with a real person later in the application process; for 12 percent, this would not be absolutely necessary. A further third of respondents (32 percent) are rather negative about an interview with an artificial intelligence, but would consider such an interview if there were no alternative. Categorically ruling out an interview with an AI bot would be 34 percent of professionals.

At 39 percent, the openness to a job interview via AI chatbot is significantly higher among men than among women at 31 percent. If we differentiate according to age, the willingness is highest among Millennials (27 to 42-year-olds) with 43 percent. This is followed by Generation Z (18 to 26-year-olds) with 36 percent, Generation X (43 to 58-year-olds) with 31 percent and finally the Baby Boomers (59 to 65-year-olds) with 21 percent. At 39 percent, employees in managerial positions are more open to a job interview via AI chatbot than employees without managerial positions at 32 percent.

There are also differences between the industries. There are also differences between industries. For example, the general willingness to interview via an AI chatbot is lowest in the health and social care sector, at 26 percent. At 49 percent, professionals in the IT, consulting and communications sector are most attracted to the idea.

Sandra Bascha, XING Communications Manager for Switzerland, says: "A considerable proportion of Swiss professionals seem to have few reservations about the topic of AI in the application process. This openness can only continue if AI-based processes are perceived as fair by candidates. Therefore, the use of AI must be transparent. And despite openness to AI, it must not be overlooked that a face-to-face interview is still an indispensable part of the process for the vast majority of job seekers."

One third already used artificial intelligence when applying for jobs

32 percent of professionals who have applied for a new job in the last two years have admitted to having consciously used artificial intelligence for their application. Most notably, AI was used in writing application documents such as resumes or cover letters (20 percent). 11 percent relied on AI to gather information about the employer and 8 percent to prepare for an interview.

At 38 percent, men used AI in their applications significantly more often than women at 25 percent. Looking at the age groups, millennials (27 to 42-year-olds) were the most likely to use AI to support their applications, at 42 percent. By contrast, only 13 percent of Baby Boomers (59 to 65-year-olds) did so.

There are regional differences, just as there are professional differences: At 40 percent, people from the French-speaking part of Switzerland were significantly more likely to use AI in their applications than people in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, at 29 percent. At 44 percent, professionals in managerial positions made more frequent use of AI in their applications than people without managerial positions, at 26 percent. The least widespread use of AI for job applications is in the health and social services sector (22 percent) and transport, tourism and catering (23 percent). The frontrunner is the IT, consulting and communications sector. Here, 44 percent have already had AI help them with their job applications.

Increasing one's own performance through AI: Many foresee personal benefits

When asked who will benefit most from increased productivity through AI, 34 percent of professionals expect employees and employers to benefit to the same extent. 28 percent believe that their employer in particular will benefit, and 13 percent see the benefit primarily in themselves. For the remaining 25 percent, it is basically inconceivable that they will be able to do their work faster and easier in the future thanks to AI.

Professionals from the industry and waste disposal sectors are particularly likely to fear that the employer will benefit unilaterally if activities can be completed more easily and quickly thanks to AI (41 percent). Professionals in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors are most likely to expect a win-win situation for employers and employees (46 percent).

Source: www.xing.com