More companies are using automated recruiters to screen applicants before any human reviews the resumes. These bots ask about a person’s background, mistakes, and lessons learned. They also provide encouragement and take notes. Comedian Graham Dot Zip, known as @grahamdotzip, wanted to test how well the software listens. He shared the plot of The Lion King with an AI job screener. After Lead Stories fact-checked one of his viral videos in October, he clarified that his videos are staged but not scripted. He creates the context, and the bot improvises its responses.
In a September video that has gained significant attention, the automated recruiter, named Max, introduced herself as a talent partner for the position. She praised his résumé and asked him to share more about himself. He mentioned spending much of his career in the family business. When she inquired about a significant mistake he learned from, he described an important moment involving an uncle and wildebeests, followed by his father’s sacrifice. Max expressed sympathy for his loss.
She then asked what he did after leaving the family business. He explained that he spent time in a less structured job with two associates and adopted their carefree approach of no responsibilities, no worries. Max remarked that this seemed like an important change in perspective. He shared that returning to the business was a difficult choice but felt right after consulting external advisors and reflecting on his late father’s advice. Max did not ask further about the conversation with his father but requested two references. He mentioned a complicated situation where one reference had died at the hands of the other.
In the end, Max wanted to know what lessons he had learned. He humorously noted that he learned to always ask for an agenda before one-on-one meetings, especially in a canyon. The humor comes from Max’s sincere responses as she processed a story involving serious events, such as murder and family loss, but only focused on what he learned. Commenters pointed out how Max’s avatar appeared confused, with her eyes widening as she responded to shocking details, but losing her expression when he interrupted. One viewer even joked about having a new line for unexpected news.
You can check out more entertaining videos by following Graham on social media.
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Source: Upworthy, by Adam Albright-Hanna