Employers are increasingly embracing artificial intelligence over human recruiters to screen potential job candidates.
More than 8 in 10 companies use AI to review resumes, 40% employ AI chatbots to communicate with candidates, and roughly a quarter use AI to conduct interviews, according to a Resume Builder survey. Another 19% plan to add AI for conducting interviews this year.
“The technology has caught on so quickly that many people aren’t ready for it,” Jim Chaffee, an AI expert at the University of Iowa, told Yahoo Finance.
“Using AI early in the process to screen out candidates is a useful and time-saving tool for employers,” he said, “but chatbots are not properly equipped to get more in-depth with a candidate, at which point human participation is vital.”
Companies hiring right now are inundated with job seekers, which has escalated the use of AI interview assistants in recent months, Chaffee said.
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“The applicant count that we’re receiving every day is astronomical,” said Devin Jones, a senior associate at ROCS Grad Staffing in Washington, D.C. “We have hundreds and hundreds of resumes and applications to go through, and for every single interview that we complete, we’re using an AI tool.
AI-led interviews are especially common with roles that require hard skills or technical requirements — accounting, data entry, and administrative positions, Jones said.
In reality, AI has been part of the job hunting process for years now. Nonetheless, job seekers are not happy about it. Only a quarter of job candidates trust AI will fairly evaluate them, according to recent research by Gartner, Inc. More than 6 in 10 candidates said they are more likely to apply to a position if the organization requires in-person interviews.
In AI-assisted interviews, applicants log on to a hiring platform like HireVue or Ribbon AI, where they provide videotaped responses to questions that either pop up on the screen or are verbally asked by an avatar. The sessions are typically under 30 minutes, but can stretch to an hour, Jones said.
The AI algorithms scan the video responses, looking for facial expressions, keyword usage and tone of voice. A transcript of the interview is then sent to a hiring manager or recruiter along with the bot’s take on the candidate’s performance.
I talked to several career strategists about the advice they’re giving their clients and have included my own expert tips. Here’s what you need to know:
Your AI interviewer is looking for the same kinds of things that a human would look for, Chaffee said.
“Job seekers should approach every interview the same way, whether having a human or an AI conversation,” said Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at career platform Handshake. “This is critical because if you are qualified to move to the next round of interviews, chances are highly likely that a person will be reviewing your responses.”
“Introduce yourself and smile,” Jones said. “This is your audition tape.”
Candidates get nervous and clam up when there isn’t a person to talk to, she said. Turn the lights on so your face is brightly shown in soft light and your expressions and nonverbal cues are clear. Speak clearly and let your personality come through.
“It’s 10 times harder to let that shine through when you feel like you’re talking to yourself,” Jones added.
It really is more like acting than interviewing, so practice. If possible, practice with a friend or family member on the platform you’ll be using or something similar. With Zoom, for example, you can record it to review. This also helps with figuring out how loud to talk and how to position the screen and camera lens.
Watch and critique your recorded responses to improve your delivery. Keep your shoulders back and your hands quiet.
Workplace etiquette applies to all interview experiences, whether online or in-person, Cruzvergara said. “If you’re interviewing via video, keep your attire professional and your interview environment clear of distractions — no pets on the video.”
You’ll need a reliable internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone. Most computers and laptops have these built in.
Position your computer screen so you’re in the middle (horizontally) and the top of your head is near the top of the computer screen. You should be looking up slightly at the camera, a position that helps define your chin and subtly conveys a message of strength and confidence.
Chatbots are always on and always looking at you, so focus on speech clarity, facial expressions, body language, and eye contact because it will note these things in its report, Chaffee said. Try your best to look into the camera when talking. This can take discipline when you aren’t talking directly to another person.
These explore how you’ve handled work situations in the past. “Having examples ready will keep you from pausing too long, which sometimes triggers an AI to think you’re done answering the question,” Cruzvergara said.
Some bots are programmed to answer basic questions about the job or the employer, so go ahead and ask if it’s so equipped.
“Think of an AI interview not as a traditional conversation, but as a chance to do in-depth fact finding,” said Maggie Mistal, a career consultant and executive coach. “Unlike an interview with a person, you won’t be building rapport or camaraderie, but you can get solid information about the role, the company, and the skill sets they are searching to hire.”
Some of Mistal’s suggestions to ask the bot:
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For people hired at my level, what’s their general career path for promotion?
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How many years do employees typically stay at the firm?
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Is this department a growing part of the company?
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Which skill sets or experiences are particularly important for success in this job?
“Be factual in your responses to questions,” Mistal said. “Share specific details and add numbers where you can. For instance, don’t say, ‘I worked in sales and had success.’ Rather, say, ‘I closed a million dollars in sales, landed a large new customer, and was recognized for top performance by leadership with a bonus.’”
Sticky notes on your computer screen can prompt you with talking points to emphasize about your experience, why you’re a good fit for the job, and what questions to ask about the firm.
Have a question about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career-related? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon a note.
End your interview by saying a version of, “Thank you for considering me for the job. I look forward to hearing from you.” Smile, and continue eyeing the camera until the interview disconnects.
Then send a thoughtfully worded thank-you note to the hiring manager or recruiter who set it up.
“We receive the exact notes from thousands of candidates,” Jones said. “They’re all identical, carbon copies. Make your note unique, make it stand out. Refer to specific things you talked about. It’s an extension of the interview itself. If you send an AI written note that they’ve received before, you risk being immediately declined from that pipeline.”
Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including the forthcoming “Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future,” “In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work,” and “Never Too Old to Get Rich.” Follow her on Bluesky.
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