#Japan #Okinawa #Okinawa Cellular #Preferred Networks #Thaleska

AI Interview Service Integration by Okinawa Cellular

Introduction of Thaleska for Recruitment
Okinawa Cellular, a comprehensive telecommunications provider based in Okinawa, has recently adopted the AI interview service called Thaleska for its recruitment process targeting new graduates for the 2026 fiscal year (students graduating in 2028). This decision aims to better assess individual candidates and reduce bias in interview evaluations, which have often been influenced by subjective human judgment.

Challenges in Traditional Recruitment
Traditionally, it has been challenging to comprehend the unique qualities and values of candidates through the limited information provided in entry sheets. Moreover, due to Okinawa's geographical features, candidates living on distant islands or studying outside the prefecture faced significant burdens when traveling for in-person interviews. The integration of Thaleska seeks to address these issues, offering a tool that supports hiring managers while aiming for a fair selection process for all applicants, regardless of their location.

Feedback from Okinawa Cellular
Kijimuna Kinjo, the Chief of Human Resources Development Group at the General Planning Department, expressed gratitude towards the students during recruitment. Okinawa Cellular has always strived to consider each student seriously under the motto, "All Out for the Community!" The difficulty of identifying candidates’ unique traits within the constraints of entry sheet formats, along with the homogenization driven by the growing use of generative AI, highlighted the need for a more inclusive recruitment process.

With the new AI interview service, Okinawa Cellular evaluated five different service providers. Current job offer holders and HR team members conducted mock interviews via Thaleska to evaluate user experience. The service's seamless interaction and its ability to follow up on responses showed a promising engagement level—candidates felt adequately heard during the interview process.

Fairness in Selection
It is important to note that while Thaleska acts as a supporting tool for efficiency, the final hiring decisions will always rest with the recruiting personnel. Okinawa Cellular intends to maintain a genuine commitment to personal engagement in recruitment while leveraging AI to streamline the selection process. With the help of Preferred Networks, the company aims to design effective evaluation metrics and address necessary security requirements to ensure a smooth integration.

Aiming for Quality and Fairness
As a leading firm in the region's recruitment digital transformation (DX), Okinawa Cellular intends to refine its assessment methods continuously, seeking to achieve a more equitable and high-quality recruitment operation. By doing so, they hope to ensure that every qualified candidate from both within the prefecture and beyond has the opportunity to compete fairly in the selection process.

About Thaleska

Preferred Networks (PFN) launched the Thaleska talent recruitment support service in June 2023, transitioning from the previous Talent Scouter brand. This innovative service evaluates candidate aptitudes through intensive conversations with AI avatars, revealing insights that traditional selection processes might overlook, such as problem-solving skills and business acumen. Alongside the interview functionality, Thaleska also offers a role-playing service for training in various conversational scenarios, enabling employees to refine their skills in practical situations.

About Preferred Networks

Founded in 2014, Preferred Networks (PFN) is dedicated to making the real world calculable, thus co-creating a future filled with possibilities. The company integrates a value chain that encompasses generative AI foundational models, supercomputers, and semiconductors, developing products and solutions that merge software with advanced hardware across various industries, including AI processors and cloud services designed for AI applications.

With the growing need for innovative recruitment strategies, the collaboration between Okinawa Cellular and Preferred Networks reflects a significant step forward in creating an equitable and technologically driven hiring process in Okinawa.