Friday, March 20, 2020

How to prepare for a job interview when the interviewer is a robot -TheJobNetowrk

How to prepare for a job interview when the interviewer is a robot -TheJobNetowrk In today’s job search, a lot of things have been automated or digitized. Your resume is now a PDF that can be sent anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice. Your network may be full of people you haven’t met in person but have developed professional BFF-ships through the many social media options. But even with all of that, it may not occur to you that the interview- the ultimate face-to-face part of the hiring process- might be automated too. As companies look for ways to make their interview process more efficient (and less prone to human error), you may find that your interviewer is†¦not human. If you know ahead of time that you’ll be getting the Westworld version of an interviewer (though with less mayhem, of course), here are some tips for prepping.Don’t worry about small talk†¦You’re not going to score points with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot if you try to find out if you went to the same summer camp or by complim enting their office space. So that’s one less thing to worry about! Ordinarily, we’d recommend brushing up on your handshake skills and your small talk, but such things are much less important when your interviewer doesn’t have†¦hands. An AI-based interview may include some pleasantries built in for basic politeness, but you don’t need to spend much time thinking about how to impress the bot with your small talk skills.†¦but do work on body languageIn many AI interviews, the candidate gives responses to a set of standardized questions while being recorded. That recording is then analyzed for content, and also for visual cues. So while you don’t need to worry about building a rapport with the interview bot, you do need to make sure your body language and speaking skills are on point. That means good posture, confident tone, and eye contact. It also means keeping a close hold on your expressions- cameras can see microexpressions and movemen ts that a regular human interviewer might miss (not having megapixel eyes and all), so poise becomes especially important.Focus on keywordsWhen you’re answering questions that you know will be analyzed by some algorithm before a human ever gets around to reviewing your interview, make sure you’re tailoring your responses. That means focusing on the job description and using words and phrases that relate directly to the job. Remember, you can’t rely on charm to float you through weak points in the interview, because robots don’t have the time or the inclination to bond with you. Before the interview, be sure to read not only the job description but also the company’s website/mission statement/About Us to see what kind of qualities they prioritize and the specific wants they have for this job.Don’t phone it inIf you’re interviewing with some level of AI (a chatbot, a video screen of an oddly perfect-looking humanoid, a voice call with a n automated caller, etc.), don’t act like it’s less important than if you were dealing with a human. It can be tempting to put less effort into a dehumanized interview process, but remember, at some point, a human will be reviewing your interview. If they think you’re not taking the preliminary robot interview seriously, you’re unlikely to get called back for the real-deal, in-person version.With more companies than ever turning to AI to simplify and improve their hiring processes, the odds are ever greater that at some point during your job hunt you’ll have a robot interviewer. It’s the same level of prep, just a different focus. And whether you’re talking to a human or a robot, the goal is always to emphasize the stellar skills and experience that got you the interview in the first place. Good luck!

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

The Crimes of Margaret Allen

The Crimes of Margaret Allen On February 5, 2005, Wenda Wright was cleaning the home of Margaret Allen when Allens purse containing $2,000 turned up missing. Allen was furious about the missing money and accused Wright of stealing it. When Wright denied it and tried to leave, Allen struck her in the head, causing her to fall to the floor. Determined to get the housekeeper to confess, Wright asked her 17-year-old nephew Quinton Allen, to bind Wrights wrists and legs with a belt. Allen then beat and tortured Wright for over two hours with bleach, fingernail polish remover, rubbing alcohol and hair spritz, which she poured onto her face and down her throat. Begging for Her Life Barely able to breathe, Wright begged Allen to let her go. Her cries for help woke up one of Allens children who walked into the room and witnessed what was happening. Allen instructed the child to rip off a piece of duct tape that she tried to put over Wrights mouth, but because her face was so wet the tape did not stick. Allen then strangled Wright to death with a belt. Allen, her nephew, and Allens roommate, James Martin, buried Wrights body in a shallow grave off the highway. Later Quinton Allen went to the police and confessed to his part in the murder and led authorities to where they buried the body.​ Margaret Allen was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. Autopsy Report During Allens trial, forensic pathologist and chief medical examiner for  Brevard County, Florida, Dr. Sajid Qaiser, testified about the results of the autopsy performed on Wenda Wright. According to the report, Wright had multiple bruising on her face, the front, and back of her ear, her left torso, and all over her left side, trunk, right hand, thigh, knee,  left eyebrow, forehead, upper arm, and shoulder area.   Wright’s wrists and neck showed signs of ligation, which meant she was hung or something was tied tightly around those areas. Based on these discoveries, he concluded that Wright died as a result of homicidal violence. The jury found Allen guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping.   Penalty Phase During the penalty phase of the trial, Dr. Michael Gebel, a neurological physician, testified that he had discovered that Allen suffered over the years from multiple head injuries. He said that she had significant intracranial injuries and was at the lower end of intellectual capacity. He went on to say that Allens organic brain injury likely destroyed her impulsive control and her ability to control her moods. Because of this, Dr. Gebel felt that Allen would be unable to see that her attack on Wright was a criminal act. Dr. Joseph Wu, a neuropsychiatry and brain imaging specialist, also testified that Allen was given a PET scan and that at least 10 traumatic brain injuries were found, including damage to the frontal lobe. A damaged frontal lobe affects impulse control, judgment, and mood  regulation. Due to this, he felt that Allen would not be able to follow the rules of society regarding conduct. Other witnesses, including family members, testified that Allen was subjected to a lot of abuse as a child and had a tough and violent life. Allen testified on her own behalf and recounted that she had suffered multiple head injuries from being beaten as a child. Victim Impact Testimony Wenda Wright’s domestic partner, Johnny  Dublin, testified that Wright was a good person and that Wright believed that she and Allen were good friends. Other family members gave impact statements regarding the impact Wrights murder had on the family. Despite the medical findings, the  jury recommended a sentence of death in a unanimous vote.  Circuit Judge George Maxwell followed the jurys recommendations and sentenced  Allen  to death for the murder of Wenda Wright. On July 11, 2013, the Supreme Court of Florida upheld the conviction and the death sentence. Co-Defendants Quinton Allen was found guilty of second-degree murder and received a 15-year sentence. James Martin was sentenced to 60 months in prison for his help in burying Wrights body.