You’ve sent in your resumé and cover letter, and now you’ve managed to get an interview to make your case in person. But you might want to consider the scheduling of your interview carefully, since recruiters are more likely to be unconsciously indulgent at the start of the day than in the afternoon.
This is the finding of a study conducted by organisational psychologist Shiran Danoch who, by analysing thousands of job interviews, observed a significant disparity in recruiters’ assessments.
“Specific interviewers have a consistent tendency to be harsher or more lenient in their scores depending on the time of day,” she told Business Insider. This difference could be explained by the effects of a series of exhausting meetings, for example, dozens of urgent emails, or simply mental fatigue.
Indeed, it has been proven that thinking intensely over long periods of time leads to the accumulation of chemicals that disrupt brain function, sometimes even altering mood. In a study published in the journal PNAS, Italian researchers explain that mental fatigue depletes the brain regions responsible for self-control and decision-making, which can impair judgement and reduce the ability to make rational choices.
This phenomenon is not new. A 2011 Israeli study previously revealed that judges tended to be more lenient at the start of the day or just after a break, pointing to the impact of mental fatigue on their decisions.
AI to the rescue?
Fortunately, it’s entirely possible to mitigate the effects: recruiters can adopt strategies to get around this kind of bias, such as having a coffee, taking a break before starting an interview, or reviewing their assessment methods, Danoch explained to Business Insider.
Artificial intelligence could also play a key role in mitigating the impact of human bias in recruitment. Unlike informal exchanges, AI assessments would ensure accurate and transparent documentation of candidate selection criteria.
But this approach is not without risks. In 2018, for example, Amazon had to abandon an automated application sorting tool, as it disadvantaged women applying for technical or web developer jobs.
To avoid such pitfalls, it’s essential to combine technology and human vigilance by putting ethical safeguards in place. Indeed, AI can reproduce human biases if it is not rigorously monitored, as Eric Mosley, CEO of the firm Workhuman, told Business Insider.
If you have a job interview coming up, remember that the human factor remains the key to success. Prepare yourself carefully to stand out from the crowd and, if possible, choose a time slot early in the day. This is when recruiters are likely to be fresher and more willing to give you their full attention.
In short, be an early bird to maximise your chances of success.