Blog, Career Advice, Global Jobs, Interview Tips, September 2026

Faith had led customer experience teams for eight years and interviewed comfortably dozens of times before. So when a company she’d applied to sent a link for a ‘video interview,’ she expected a normal conversation with a hiring manager on the other end. Instead, she found herself speaking to a screen with no interviewer at all — an AI-led assessment that recorded her answers to a fixed set of prompts, one after another, with no follow-up questions and no human warmth to react to. Faith, unprepared for the format, spoke stiffly, paused awkwardly between prompts, and later admitted she’d have answered completely differently if she’d known what she was walking into. She didn’t advance to the next round — not because her experience was lacking, but because she’d never prepared for the format itself.

Understand what kind of AI interview you’re actually facing

‘AI interview’ can mean several very different things: a one-way recorded video screening, a live AI-voice interview that asks follow-up questions, or a structured skills assessment scored automatically. Before your interview, find out — from the invitation email, the platform name, or a quick search — exactly what format you’ll be dealing with, so you’re not adapting in real time.

Pro tip: Search the platform name mentioned in your interview invite — most have publicly available candidate guides.

Treat the camera like a person, not a form

Without a human face to react to, it’s tempting to speak flatly, as though filling out a form. Consciously bring the same energy, eye contact with the lens, and natural pacing you would in a live conversation. The absence of visible feedback doesn’t mean the content or delivery matters less — if anything, AI-scored interviews often weigh clarity and structure more heavily.

Pro tip: Position your camera at eye level and look directly into the lens, not at your own image on screen.

Prepare for structure, not spontaneity

AI-led interviews are typically built around a fixed, structured question set with limited or no opportunity to ask clarifying questions or redirect. That means your answers need to be complete and well-organised the first time — there’s rarely a natural back-and-forth to fill in gaps. Prepare concise, structured responses with a clear beginning, example and outcome, rather than relying on conversation to get your point across.

Pro tip: Practise answering common questions in under 90 seconds, with a clear structure, since most AI interviews cap response time.

Test your tech and environment before you begin

A dropped connection, poor lighting or a noisy background can’t be smoothed over mid-interview the way it might be with a human interviewer who can adapt. Test your camera, microphone, lighting and internet connection in advance, and choose a quiet, well-lit space you can control.

Pro tip: Do a full test recording beforehand and watch it back before the real thing.

AI-led interviews are becoming a standard part of hiring, not an exception — and preparing for the format is now as important as preparing the content. If you have an upcoming interview and want to walk in ready for whatever format it takes, KETH’s interview coaching can help.

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