Not GPA Not Experience This is What Makes HR Immediately Take a Look
As HR, I am used to going through interview sessions like a morning coffee routine, bitter and predictable. The questions are always the same. The answers? Almost always predictable. Not GPA not experience. This is what makes me immediately see something real, something relevant, something that shows they’re ready to grow and contribute from day one.
Until finally, a candidate named Aditya came along. Fresh graduate with a simple CV. No overseas internship experience or spectacular certificates. But what made me pause for a moment was not what she brought on paper, but the way she answered.
As HR, I am used to sitting in front of dozens of candidates every week.
Standard questions like “Why are you applying for this position?” are often answered with safe sentences that sound like copy-paste from Google.
Typical answers usually range from:
“I want to gain experience…”
“I am interested in the work culture here…”
“I need a job.”
But a fresh graduate named Aditya answered the question in a way that made me pause for a moment:
“Before applying, I did some research on this division. I studied the workflow and how the team collaborates. I realize I might not be the best. But I know I can contribute to help this team grow further.”
I frowned. Not a poetic sentence. But honest, solid, and measurable.
I was curious. How did she know how our team’s internal workings work? After I dug deeper, the answer was: AI. But not to copy answers. On the contrary, for practice. The AI tools she used helped her:
Analyze job openings in terms of technical and soft skills
Identify gaps between herself and the ideal profile
Compose logical and relevant answer arguments
Practice responses through interactive interview simulations
Get automated feedback based on performance data
Elwyn.ai makes the learning process more meaningful, without real world pressure.
Interestingly, her confidence doesn’t come across as “know-it-all.” She doesn’t sell dreams. But she doesn’t beg for opportunities either. She knows her value, knows how to communicate it, and most importantly, she’s prepared.
In the journal “The Role of Interview Preparation in Employment Outcomes” (Smith & Nguyen, 2021), it is stated that candidates who do interview simulations have a 47% higher chance of making it to the final stage. They don’t just answer fluently, but demonstrate mastery of the context of self-value and readiness to contribute two things that recruiters are looking for.
AI, when used wisely, can be an augmented intelligence for job seekers. According to a McKinsey report (2023), this technology will be increasingly needed to support career readiness, especially in helping individuals understand job market needs in real-time and map their potential more accurately.
Aditya may not have spectacular work experience. But she didn’t come to the interview as a ‘confused beginner’. She comes across as someone who knows herself, understands her needs, and recognizes her unique contributions. She prepares herself like a professional. She knows what the team is looking for, strategizes personal communication, and delivers her answers with honesty and confidence.
Technology like AI is not meant to replace human effort, but to maximize it.
So, do you still want to go to an interview with just your intentions?