Latest news with #FinalRoundAI
Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Times
Will a chatbot give me a job? I put AI recruitment to the test
The pot plant on the filing cabinet behind my interviewer's head needs water. Its curling leaves distract me as the floppy-haired recruiter in a crumpled black polo shirt poses his next question: 'In the role of tax consultant at McKinsey, balancing technical expertise with interpersonal skills enhances client relationships. Can you share an example of how your organisational skills and multitasking have benefited a specific task?' I gabble through my recent work organising a large charity auction in my spare time, while juggling work deadlines and three busy children. The interviewer nods, looking impressed. 'It's fantastic that you bring those soft skills to the table.' The grilling goes well until I hit some actual tax questions and stumble. My two decades in business journalism will not, it's clear, secure me a role as one of McKinsey's newest tax consultants. But thousands of words of post-interview feedback arrive seconds later, and they are gently encouraging. 'You demonstrated your ability to mobilise resources and engage others … but need to practise emphasising how your unique abilities will benefit the company.' Impressive — since the whole recruitment process was carried out by robots. For £70 a month, website Final Round AI offers mock interviews with a human-like chatbot. Its questions are honed to any job listing you provide plus your CV. McKinsey had no involvement with the process, but one of its applicants might well have practised here first. The CV I used was concocted by AIApply, which also makes cover letters specific to the demands of any job posting. A monthly subscription costs £23. Before interviews, it provided a list of likely questions alongside what it deemed perfect answers. No need to learn them, though; for £29.99 a month the Interview Buddy app offers 'real-time assistance during job interviews, helping you answer questions confidently'. Using this app during my mock video interview, it perfectly detects questions and rapidly bashes out uninspiring but detailed and accurate responses. Propping up my phone next to my webcam, I can easily reel off these AI responses to the, er, AI recruiter's questions: This may sound outlandish, but it's happening: TikTok hosts thousands of videos of candidates undertaking real interviews while using ChatGPT-fed answers. Human resources might need to be redefined as inhuman resources: hiring work often pits employers' AI systems against candidates' AI-generated responses. Amid the frenzied talk about how AI is going to transform our working lives, in recruitment, it already has. More than two-thirds of HR professionals use AI at work in the UK, according to research by tech firm The Access Group. That's far higher than in the EU, where it's only 38 per cent of firms, according to European tech firm SD Worx. Anyone who hasn't applied for a job in five years will find being hired is an entirely new process. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) now scan and rank CVs and cover letters based on the inclusion of set keywords to whittle down the number of candidates, meaning a human may never see the majority of CVs sent in for a role. Those who make it through may then face 'asynchronous video interviews', where candidates are filmed answering written questions that flash up like a PowerPoint presentation, before AI systems assess their answers, or chatbot-led interviews, like mine. Recruiters have the upper hand: the number of job vacancies in the UK has dropped from 1.3 million in 2022, to just 761,000 in the three months to April. The concurrent adoption of AI by employers and applicants has created a race to the bottom. Firms are receiving an influx of thousands of chatbot-generated applications, while candidates report feeling dehumanised by the process. 'It was awful,' communications manager Laura Andrews said of a recent AI-led job application for a UK water utility. 'After an automated email saying I had been shortlisted, I had a video interview with a slideshow of questions listed on screen. It was really strange not having any kind of response from an interviewer to know how it was going. Without human interaction, my personality didn't show, and I think for neurodivergent people, it would be very hard.' Weeks later, Andrews still hadn't heard back. 'I was ghosted, which is usual with roles now,' she added. 'I applied for more than 100 jobs in three months, and 80 per cent of the time I heard nothing at all. 'I couldn't contact the interviewer, as they didn't exist. When I chased with the recruiter, I was told it was a 'system error'. That's the flavour of the job search now: being AI-led, companies don't seem to care about candidates. The lack of feedback or even acknowledgement of applications that take hours to tailor felt isolating.' This is a common complaint, according to Amelia Miller, whose start-up, Ivee, helps women return to work after a career break. 'Recruitment used to be a human process. Now, jobseekers are up against AI algorithms. The current market isn't sustainable. Recruitment teams are drowning in job applications with features like LinkedIn's 'easy apply' [which allows candidates to submit their CV in just a few clicks], along with hundreds of emails and messages. I believe this will lead to the death of the job application,' she said. In the US, some recruiters have already moved to 'agentic AI', relying on bots to handle the admin of organising job interviews. But while some claim that AI's transformation of the job search removes human bias, others say it embeds it. University of Washington research used real CVs but varied names associated with white and black jobseekers into AI recruitment systems, and found AI favoured the white-associated names 85 per cent of the time. Female-associated names were picked only 11 per cent of the time. 'If we're not careful, AI will just automate discrimination at scale,' Miller added. Khyati Sundaram, chief executive of the ATS firm Applied, added: 'AI interviewers trained on datasets dominated by American speakers, for example, can be biased against candidates with different accents, non-native English speakers or individuals with disabilities that affect their speech. 'When assessing candidates' facial expressions, eye movement, hand gestures and tone of voice, biased bots can also favour those with a neurotypical communication style. Candidates who communicate differently can be ruled out of the running, regardless of [their] skills… reinforcing existing workforce inequalities.' Not all candidates despise the changes, however. Rachel, a jobseeker who did not want her surname published, said ChatGPT and its rival, Claude, were 'huge timesavers.' 'I used them to refine cover letters, tailor them to job descriptions, and insert the right keywords,' she said. 'Recruiters are using AI, so I need to speak their language to pass the screenings. ChatGPT stripped out my personal attachment to my CV and showed me what was key and what was fluff, and what recruiters would ask me. It takes the legwork out of applications.' To those returning to the job market after a long time, the recruitment landscape will 'feel very alien,' Miller acknowledged. 'The best thing you can do is learn how to use AI. Avoid applying for jobs on inundated sites such as LinkedIn and Indeed, and turn towards company websites and niche job boards to lessen the competition. Focus on building your network: ask for warm introductions and leverage the human element of recruitment as much as you can.' The job market is being taken over by algorithms, but for now, the human touch still opens some doors. 'The market's more competitive than ever and the sheer number of tools and platforms can feel overwhelming,' says Kevin Fitzgerald, UK managing director of recruiter Employment Hero. 'Your CV has to be AI-literate.' Here are his tips on how to get it right: Match the job description: Use the exact keywords and phrases from the job ad, especially for skills, tools and job titles. Keep formatting simple: Stick to clean layouts. Avoid graphics, columns etc, as they can confuse Applicant Tracking Software. Stick to Word or PDF. Use specific, hard skills: List tools or certifications relevant to the role such as Xero, Python, CRM management. Quantify your achievements: Add real numbers where possible such as 'cut costs by 15 per cent' or 'trained five new hires'. Avoid generic buzzwords: Terms such as 'motivated' or 'team player' don't help. Use language that's specific and meaningful. Tailor your CV every time: Make slight edits for each application. Use AI tools but edit carefully: ChatGPT and other AI tools can help draft or refine your CV, but always review for tone, accuracy and clarity. It should still sound like you.
CNET
6 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Is Final Round AI Legit? Ace Your Job Interview at a High Premium
If you've done any job interviews recently, you know how much preparation goes into them. Researching the company, prepping your answers to potential questions and figuring out how to express your skillset is all part of a good interview strategy -- but sometimes, the reality doesn't equate to what you prepared for. The jittery, anxious pre-interview feeling is all too familiar. Maybe, like me, you start to dissociate from the overwhelming conversation, losing a sense of connection with the person you're speaking to. Imposter syndrome can show up -- and take you down -- in seconds. Unexpected questions can throw you off. It would be nice to have support during the call to keep your confidence up and focus intact while pitching yourself to someone who has (likely) never met you in person. Enter: Artificial intelligence. What is Final Round AI? Final Round AI, a tool that helps you prepare for your interview and polish your skills. The suite of AI-powered tools offers real-time "on the fly" interview transcription and support, mock interviews and resume building across 100-plus roles in consulting, marketing, finance, software, product, data science and dev ops. It also offers resources like a blog with tips and commonly asked questions, plus guides that provide visual and written how-tos for common tech-related issues. Final Round AI is a new tool that joins the ever-growing number of AI-powered companies and platforms for job seeking — founders Michael Guan and Jay Ma launched it in late August 2023. While still in its infancy, Final Round AI is designed to offer many ways to support your career-related needs. If you're looking for an all-in-one job seeker-support system, this could be it — or, at least, a worthwhile attempt to navigate your professional journey (and inner turmoil). But after attempting to navigate the platform, my stance on it changed. How to use Final Round AI Screenshot by Carly Quellman/CNET Final Round AI's Interview Copilot allows you to create various types of interviews across multiple fields, and can access analytical reports for each one. Here's how to try it out: Log into the free version for Final Round AI with a Google, LinkedIn or Twitter account, or sign up with your email. Once you're on the platform, select Mock Interview. Here you will be prompted to upload your resume and select from the optional drop-down Role and Specialization menus. You will be asked to connect your credit card, even while on the free trial experience. This is when you'll learn that to access all aspects of Interview Copilot, you need a paid Premium account. How much is Final Round AI? We reached out to Final Round in June to check the latest pricing (which isn't made clear on its website unless you create an account), and the company gave us this breakdown of subscriptions: Interview Co-Pilot Plan: Starts at $60 AI Job Hunter Plan: Starts at $25 (but doesn't include access to the live interview copilot) (but doesn't include access to the live interview copilot) Pro Plan (3-Month Bundle): Billed at $96/month for 3 months for a total of $288 God Mode Plan (Semi-Annual): Starts at $81/month, and is billed every 6 months for a total of $486 White Glove Service: Premium custom support package starting at $7,000. Final Round didn't respond to a request for information on what's included in each plan. The company does have a scholarship program, which provides those who secure job offers with the help of Final Round AI's Interview Copilot to receive a "scholarship" that waives 100% off subscription fees afterwards (in the form of a $488 Amazon Gift Card). At the time of writing, Final Round AI is also offering 10% off any subscription for students, veterans, first responders and medical professionals, as well as anyone recently laid off. This can't be used for the God Mode scholarship offer, or your scholarship will be disqualified. Screenshot by Carly Quellman/CNET The actual free aspects of Final Round AI include access to potential interview questions, where you can enter a keyword concerning a company, job position and technical or general topic; an AI Resume Generator, which can provide Applicant Tracking System optimization (and is currently in beta mode); a ChatGPT-style AI Career Coach; and Guides, where it shows you how to launch a live or mock interview alongside a step-by-step visual example. While robust in quantity, I can't say these features offer anything incredibly innovative or new from other AI platforms. Who should use Final Round AI? I don't think a virtual interview can truly gauge if you're the right fit for a company — particularly when you're not in person. So while some may see aspects of Final Round AI's platform as a copout for knowledge and expertise, or a potential mishap (if the AI-generated text is incorrect), I see it as a real-time note-taking system with feedback. I have vivid memories of performing poorly in interviews because I was trying to do just that — perform to the best of my abilities rather than have a conversation with another human. This has made me a staunch advocate for anything that can alleviate overwhelming feelings attached to the unknown. Final Round AI attempts to do just that. However, my two issues with Final Round AI are… significant. The "bright and shiny" aspect of a new company that is innovative, yet potentially problematic. With the number of lawsuits that have circulated in response to other areas of AI like voice impersonations and copyright infringement, I am wary of the safety concerns that may arise when it comes to the company's Interview Copilot — an AI-powered tool that you can use on your end during your real interviews that gives you live tips on how to answer. For instance, if an interviewer isn't aware that artificial intelligence is listening and responding to their voice, where's the line between what's supportive and what's legal? And in the case of illegal use, who is liable — companies like Final Round AI or the interviewee? Secondly, its free versus paid membership service is misleading. Final Round AI advertises itself for its Interview Copilot, with a button referencing the ability to "Get Started [for] Free." Yet, as soon as you navigate to this part of the platform, you're unable to do more than upload a resume before being prompted to "upgrade your membership." I respect transparency. As someone excited to trial this portion of the platform, this turned me off as a potential customer. With its platform barely a year old, time will likely answer these questions and hopefully rectify its other challenges. (Final Round AI didn't respond to my request for comment by the time of publication.) Until then, I wish anyone job seeking well. May your resumes be immaculate and your interviews be handled with confidence and ease… with Final Round AI's help or not. (Remember: Meditation is, actually, free.) For more ways you can use AI (for free) to help with your job-hunting journey, check out CNET's pieces on how to use AI as a career coach, create a resume using ChatGPT, use Figma AI to design a resume, find the job of your dreams using ChatGPT, use AI to write a cover letter and negotiate a starting salary using AI.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
You Can Use AI to Help You Ace Your Job Interview, but There's a High Cost
If you've got a job interview looming, you know how much preparation will go into it. Researching the company, prepping your answers to potential questions and figuring out how to express your skillset is all part of a good interview strategy -- but sometimes, the reality of an interview doesn't equate to what you prepared for. The jittery, anxious pre-interview feeling is all too familiar. Maybe, like me, you start to dissociate from the overwhelming conversation, losing a sense of connection with the person you're speaking to. Imposter syndrome can show up -- and take you down -- in seconds. Yes, you can find ways to cope with anxiety through things like meditation and breathing. Yes, you can always refine your preparation practice. But it would be nice to have support during the call to keep your confidence up and focus intact while pitching yourself to someone who has (likely) never met you in person. Enter: Final Round AI, an artificial intelligence tool that helps you prepare for your interview and polish your skills. The suite of AI-powered tools offers real-time "on the fly" interview transcription and support, mock interviews and resume building across 100-plus roles in consulting, marketing, finance, software, product, data science and dev ops. It also offers resources like a blog with tips and commonly asked questions, plus guides that provide visual and written how-tos for common tech-related issues. Final Round AI is a new tool that joins the ever-growing number of AI-powered companies and platforms for job seeking — founders Michael Guan and Jay Ma launched it in late August 2023. While still in its infancy, Final Round AI is designed to offer many ways to support your career-related needs. If you're looking for an all-in-one job seeker-support system, this could be it — or, at least, a worthwhile attempt to navigate your professional journey (and inner turmoil). But after attempting to navigate the platform, my stance on it changed. Final Round AI's Interview Copilot allows you to create various types of interviews across multiple fields, and can access analytical reports for each one. Here's how to try it out: Log into the free version for Final Round AI with a Google, LinkedIn or Twitter account, or sign up with your email. Once you're on the platform, select Mock Interview. Here you will be prompted to upload your resume and select from the optional drop-down Role and Specialization menus. You will be asked to connect your credit card, even while on the free trial experience. This is when you'll learn that to access all aspects of Interview Copilot, you need a paid Premium account. Premium plans start at a steep $112 per month, but the company has a $10 million scholarship program to support job applicants. This provides those who secure job offers with the help of Final Round AI's Interview Copilot to receive a "scholarship" that waives 100% off subscription fees. This feels misleading and untrustworthy, considering how the platform advertises itself. It seems that when you subscribe to Final Round's "God Mode" plan (really?), you will be given six months of its cheapest subscription for "free" — though you're required to pay $672 upfront. If you land a job utilizing its AI-powered software, you can claim a 100% scholarship, which will refund up to $672 (scholarship amount undetermined) four to six weeks after submission. Terms and conditions for reimbursement include a copy of your job offer with details including position title, start date and salary. At the time of writing, Final Round AI is also offering 10% off any subscription for students, veterans, first responders and medical professionals, as well as anyone recently laid off. This can't be used for the God Mode scholarship offer, or your scholarship will be disqualified. The actual free aspects of Final Round AI include access to potential interview questions, where you can enter a keyword concerning a company, job position and technical or general topic; an AI Resume Generator, which can provide Applicant Tracking System optimization (and is currently in beta mode); a ChatGPT-style AI Career Coach; and Guides, where it shows you how to launch a live or mock interview alongside a step-by-step visual example. While robust in quantity, I can't say these features offer anything incredibly innovative or new from other AI platforms. I don't think a virtual interview can truly gauge if you're the right fit for a company — particularly when you're not in person. So while some may see aspects of Final Round AI's platform as a copout for knowledge and expertise, or a potential mishap (if the AI-generated text is incorrect), I see it as a real-time note-taking system with feedback. I have vivid memories of performing poorly in interviews because I was trying to do just that — perform to the best of my abilities rather than have a conversation with another human. This has made me a staunch advocate for anything that can alleviate overwhelming feelings attached to the unknown. Final Round AI attempts to do just that. However, my two issues with Final Round AI are… significant. The "bright and shiny" aspect of a new company that is innovative, yet potentially problematic. With the number of lawsuits that have circulated in response to other areas of AI like voice impersonations and copyright infringement, I am wary of the safety concerns that may arise when it comes to the company's Interview Copilot — an AI-powered tool that you can use on your end during your real interviews that gives you live tips on how to answer. For instance, if an interviewer isn't aware that artificial intelligence is listening and responding to their voice, where's the line between what's supportive and what's legal? And in the case of illegal use, who is liable — companies like Final Round AI or the interviewee? Secondly, its free versus paid membership service is misleading. Final Round AI advertises itself for its Interview Copilot, with a button referencing the ability to "Get Started [for] Free." Yet, as soon as you navigate to this part of the platform, you're unable to do more than upload a resume before being prompted to "upgrade your membership." I respect transparency. As someone excited to trial this portion of the platform, this turned me off as a potential customer. With its platform barely a year old, time will likely answer these questions and hopefully rectify its other challenges. (Final Round AI didn't respond to my request for comment by the time of publication.) Until then, I wish anyone job seeking well. May your resumes be immaculate and your interviews be handled with confidence and ease… with Final Round AI's help or not. (Remember: Meditation is, actually, free.) For more ways you can use AI (for free) to help with your job-hunting journey, check out CNET's pieces on how to use AI as a career coach, create a resume using ChatGPT, use Figma AI to design a resume, find the job of your dreams using ChatGPT, use AI to write a cover letter and negotiate a starting salary using AI.
Associated Press
30-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Final Round AI Secures $6.88M in Oversubscribed Seed Funding to Transform the Job Search Journey
Funding fuels global expansion, product innovation, and scaling of operations of the AI-powered platform to help job seekers land dream jobs in under 30 days SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Final Round AI, an AI-powered platform transforming how people find jobs, today announced the successful close of a $6.88 million oversubscribed seed funding round. With backing from Uncork Capital, Final Round AI is on a mission to become the 'Robin Hood of the modern recruiting industry,' making career transitions faster, smarter, and more equitable. Uncork is joined by HF0, Linear Capital, Ritual Capital, Mento VC, AltaIR Capital, Alumni Ventures, Goodwater, Hico Ventures, Soma Capital, iSeed Ventures, Level One, Sky9 Capital, and notable angels in Silicon Valley. Along with the funding, the company is announcing a $8 million scholarship program fund for 2025. 'This funding marks an incredible milestone for Final Round AI as we strive to redefine the job search process,' said Michael Guan, Co-Founder and CEO of Final Round AI. 'The success of the Interview Copilot has shown us the power of AI to create meaningful impact. With this support, we're positioned to improve our technology, build a world-class team, and extend our impact globally—helping individuals navigate the evolving job market with confidence.' The Interview Copilot™, Final Round AI's flagship innovation, empowers job seekers to feel confident and articulate their thoughts clearly by delivering AI-generated, real-time answers and insights during interviews. This revolutionary tool equips candidates with the resources they need to excel, leveling the playing field in the competitive recruiting landscape. Fueling Growth and Innovation Final Round AI's mission is clear: to leverage cutting-edge AI technology to guide job seekers through every step of their career journey, helping them land their next opportunity in under 30 days. By offering AI-native solutions, the platform simplifies job searches, creates seamless workflows, and delivers personalized insights, making job hunting an effortless and effective experience. Final Round AI will use the seed funding to achieve three primary goals: Enhancing the Interview Copilot™ and Other Products: Investing in technology to refine the Interview Copilot's real-time AI capabilities, ensuring seamless performance and personalized support for job seekers during interviews. Scaling Operations and Team Expansion: Building a top-tier team dedicated to innovation and research to push the boundaries of AI in the recruiting and hiring process. Unlocking New Revenue Opportunities: Developing partnerships with AI-first companies and hiring platforms to connect top talent with career opportunities, creating scalable and sustainable revenue streams. 'Final Round AI is a game-changer in the job search space, using AI to empower individuals impacted by workforce changes and automation,' said Tripp Jones, Partner of Uncork Capital. 'We're proud to support their vision and are excited to see the transformative impact this team will deliver.' The Future of Work Starts Here The funding comes at a pivotal moment as AI and automation continue to reshape industries and redefine the workforce. In a job market where competition has never been fiercer, 2024 revealed a harsh reality for job seekers: it takes, on average, 247 days and 294 applications to secure a role. Final Round AI's platform addresses these challenges by equipping individuals with tools like the Interview Copilot to excel in the rapidly changing job market. 'Our vision is to ensure that anyone navigating career transitions has access to technology that simplifies and accelerates their journey,' Guan added. 'The Interview CoPilot™ is just the beginning. This funding allows us to scale our reach and impact while building the foundation for long-term success in the rapidly evolving job market.' Introducing the Final Round AI Scholarship Program In addition to the funding announcement, Final Round AI is proud to unveil the Final Round AI Scholarship Program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower job seekers by making the process of landing a job more accessible and affordable. Backed by an $8 million fund, this program underscores the company's commitment to supporting individuals in achieving their career aspirations. The scholarship program aims to eliminate financial barriers for Final Round AI's Pro Premium members by offering a 100% refund on their membership fees when they successfully land a job using the company's cutting-edge tools. This initiative is not just about financial reimbursement; it reflects the company's mission to support job seekers in achieving their career aspirations. To learn more about the program, visit About Final Round AI Final Round AI is an AI-native platform dedicated to transforming how people find jobs. The company's flagship product, the Interview Copilot, delivers real-time AI-powered insights and answers during interviews, redefining the preparation and execution of job searches. By guiding job seekers through every step of their career journey, Final Round AI is on a mission to make career transitions smarter, faster, and more equitable for millions worldwide. To learn more, visit
