As job seekers increasingly encounter artificial intelligence during the hiring process, many are preparing for interviews conducted by AI systems. Companies are leveraging chatbots and AI tools to streamline candidate screening through various formats such as phone calls, text messages, and video chats.
The rise of AI in recruitment comes as a response to the influx of applications from job boards. Recruiters are adapting to this trend, but many candidates express discomfort with the idea of being interviewed by a machine. Research from hiring platform Glasshouse indicates that more jobseekers are facing AI interviews, leading to concerns about the potential impact on candidate retention.
Recruiters have utilized AI-powered tools for assessing applicants for several years, with their use growing alongside technological advancements. Despite the unsettling nature of AI interviews for many, experts suggest that candidates can improve their performance through adequate preparation.
Amanda Augustine, a career coach at Careerminds, emphasizes the importance of familiarizing oneself with the job description and the company ahead of the interview. She advises candidates to be well-prepared to tailor their responses, even when engaging with AI.
First-time candidates may find AI interviews intimidating. An example from a demo interview conducted by TestGorilla illustrates this experience, where the AI presented questions without the customary rapport-building found in human interviews. Experts recommend that candidates practice their responses aloud to adapt to the AI’s requirements.
Priya Rathod, a workplace trends editor at Indeed, underscores the need for candidates to articulate their answers clearly, noting that AI interviewers focus more on the content of the responses than on tone or facial expressions.
AI interviewers frequently pose behavioral questions to assess candidates’ past experiences. Candidates should prepare specific examples that highlight their skills, utilizing the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to structure their responses effectively.
Rathod warns that vague answers can lead to lower scores in AI assessments, urging candidates to quantify their achievements whenever possible. She encourages the use of metrics to illustrate their impact in previous roles.
Even when interacting with AI, the physical setup for a video interview remains crucial. Candidates should ensure their audio and video equipment is functioning properly and that the lighting is adequate. Augustine suggests simple adjustments, such as positioning the laptop at eye level, to enhance the professionalism of their presentation.
While some candidates may consider using AI tools to formulate responses, experts advise against this approach. Rathod warns that AI systems can detect when candidates rely on automated assistance, which could lead to disqualification from the hiring process.
TestGorilla’s Mehak Chowdhary highlights that some questions are intentionally phrased to identify whether candidates are using AI to cheat. Candidates should focus on demonstrating their own capabilities during the interview.