This article originally appeared on Business Insider.
Companies are struggling to attract talent, and wages are part of the problem. But salaries aren’t the only reason employers find it hard to keep workers on the job. Artificial intelligence could also be another factor.
Over the past few months, I have applied for five fast food jobs: Crumble Cookies, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Hardy’s and Waffle House. I got a part-time job as a server at Waffle House. It was the only company with a human point of contact during the application process.
Claypool started working at Waffle House 48 hours after the interview.Courtesy of Amanda Claypool
Shortly after applying for a job using the Waffle House website, a recruiter called me to schedule an interview in person. 48 hours after he reported to that interview, I was starting my first training shift.
Unfortunately, the job I ended up applying for using an AI chatbot left me frustrated and apprehensive.
McDonald’s Hiring Process
McDonald’s is using AI chatbots to automate the hiring process, but things got even more complicated.
I applied to McDonald’s and a chatbot named Olivia answered the questions I asked. Most of them were screening questions like “What is your name?”, “Are you legally allowed to work in the US?” and “When can you work?” Once the chatbot decided I was qualified, it was supposed to schedule an interview, but it didn’t.
Claypool communicated with a chatbot during McDonald’s pre-interview process.McDonald’s
Instead of setting up an interview, the chatbot asked how they could help me further. This confused me. When I asked again how to apply for a job at McDonald’s, he provided me with his general corporate email address.
Claypool did not receive any job applications from McDonald’s.McDonald’s
AI chatbots are still in their early stages. Even though applicants need to be guided through the process, it is still problematic and not everyone understands how to use AI. I can only imagine how applicants who are not tech-savvy or who do not speak English as their first language would feel in a similar situation.
Wendy’s Hiring Process
Wendy’s chatbot successfully scheduled an interview for me.
When I arrived at the Wendy’s interview, I realized that the chatbot hadn’t told the recruiter about my availability. This particular location was only recruiting breakfast shifts on weekends. I was looking for a night shift.
The interview was scheduled for 30 minutes. It lasted 5 times. The recruiter kept asking me if I really couldn’t work on Saturday mornings. I was sure Before I left, he wrote down my phone number and said he would call me if anything happened. he never called.
Crumbl Cookies Recruitment Process
The automated application process at Crumbl Cookies may seem short, but it wasn’t easy.
I applied to be a baker at Crumbl Cookies. This application was the shortest I applied. There are only 3 sections and the application portal only asked for my availability and contact information.
Many online job applications are complicated, but this put me at ease.
crumble cookie
Even though it was short, it wasn’t as straightforward as I had originally hoped. After filling out the form, I received an email instructing me to text my phone number. I was then sent a link to fill out another application.
Crumbl, like many companies I’ve applied to, uses third-party platforms for hiring. The second application asked me to create a general profile and fill out other fields such as a video cover letter for a recruiting platform.
high army
When my second application was submitted, I thought I was done, but it wasn’t. I received a warning email that I need to register a “Applicant Profile”.
It was a simple process at first, but it got more complicated as we went along. I was shocked to receive a third email outlining additional conditions, such as working a minimum of 18 hours a week for $9.50 an hour plus tip.
I was not informed of these requirements at any point during the application process and had to accept the terms before being interviewed. Had I known this information earlier, I would not have wasted my time applying.
About 30 minutes after applying, I decided not to proceed with the interview.
Hardee Hiring Process
I applied for a job at Hardy’s, which uses the same AI chatbots as Wendy’s and McDonald’s.
Hardee’s AI originally scheduled an interview with me on Friday afternoon. On the day of my interview, I received an automated reminder with the option to reschedule. I decided to change the interview time because I wanted to see what the experience would be like.
I rescheduled my interview for the following Monday, which happened to be Memorial Day. I was surprised that it was possible to reschedule the interview, especially on holidays.
My hunch was that the hiring manager probably wouldn’t be at the restaurant. i was right
When I arrived the employee said the manager wouldn’t be back until Wednesday. The employee schedules a chatbot. He doesn’t check the system or the manager’s availability, just tells me to come back Wednesday morning at 10am.
Other than the chatbot, there was no one I could contact to confirm new interview times. I decided it wasn’t worth the effort to come back hoping the manager would accommodate.
Automation seems like a good solution to many problems, but it’s not always the right solution
The national labor shortage is really a problem of connecting available workers to employers in need, but AI chatbots don’t always solve this problem.
To be fair, AI chatbots make it easier to screen applicants and schedule interviews. However, the chatbots I encountered made it difficult to schedule interviews, let alone land a job. I was confused and unsure about the status of her 3 applications at 3 different restaurants. This is no help for the manager.
Increasing, rather than reducing, human contact may be one way to solve the problem. At the very least, make it easier for applicants to apply for jobs.
