The Human Edge: How to Shine When an AI Interviews You
This year, we’ll see more and more companies begin to use AI interviews to select candidates for jobs. This means that after applying by sending your resume, you could well be invited to an AI interview. This type of interview catches many applicants off guard. An AI interview has several pre-selected questions you’ll need to answer in a one-way video. The AI tool then analyzes your attitude, micro-expressions, and vocal tone before a human ever sees your face.
This type of interview catches many applicants off guard. It feels cold. It feels clinical. It’s good to remember, though, that an AI interviewer is not trying to test you! On the contrary, it’s looking for the most grounded version of you. The trick is to maintain your energy and your authenticity when your first interview is by an algorithm, not a human.
Here are some recommendations to achieve that:
Shift Your Perspective
Most people tend to overperform when they know that they are being recorded. Remember the still photos where everyone’s smile was weird and overdone? People stiffen up or act nervously. Their voices change. There is no human ‘bounce’. No person nodding along. How can you prevent this and act like normal?
Refrain from staring at the camera! Imagine a supportive friend or mentor sitting behind your camera, and that you’re addressing that person. This will relax you. It will prevent you from staring. Instead, you’ll become more engaged and therefore more authentic.
Manage Your Vocal Rhythm
AI sentiment tools look for prosody, i.e., the natural rhythm and intonation of your speech. If your voice sounds too monotone, AI will consider you to have low confidence. If you speak too fast, AI will think you’re full of anxiety.
Make sure your voice sounds like it normally does. Take a deep breath before you answer a question. If this means there is a pause, don’t worry about it. It’s perfectly normal for people to speak with pauses. On a positive note, AI recognizes pauses as upper-level cognitive processing. A good thing, right?!
Natural Body Language
In today’s world, the AI interview algorithm doesn't just look at your smile; it looks at openness. To look natural to AI and later the human who will review it, here are some dos and don’ts.
When speaking to a camera, it is easy to become rigid, static, and perfectly still. None of these body postures comes across as natural. Instead, adopt the powerframe that shows your shoulders and upper chest to the camera. Use smallmovements within this frame, i.e., a head tilt or subtle hand gestures. This will tell AI that you’re comfortable and engaged. Lastly, speak to the camera 90% of the time. It’s ok to look away occasionally! This prevents staring, and it’s normal.
Authenticity is Your Competitive Advantage
It’s really tempting to think you can “game” the system by, for instance, using keywords. Remember, though, that there is not a person in the world who speaks in keywords! It’s unnatural. So, don’t do it. It will cost you. The algorithm is actually looking for a competent human. Be that human!
If you make a mistake, don't stop the recording and start all over! Instead, laugh it off, correct yourself, and keep going. Showing you can recover from a stumble is a data point for "resilience" that no perfect script can replicate.
Summary: Stay Human
The AI is not the final judge; it’s a filter! It’s a tool to help people find people! Your goal is to pass through that filter with your grounded energy intact so that when the human recruiter finally watches the interview, they see a person they actually want to have a meeting with.
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Feeling a bit nervous about the camera?
Click here to download my free AI Interview Checklist to help you master your one-way video interview!
