How to prepare for an AI interview
Published 5 October 2026
In short
AI interviews are becoming a normal step in some hiring processes. This guide explains what they are, what the numbers say about preparation, and where the evidence is thin.
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What an AI interview is
There are two common formats. A one-way recording asks you to answer set questions on video or audio without a live interviewer, in your own time. A chat-based screener is a text conversation with an automated assistant that asks screening questions. Employers set these up differently, so read the invitation for time limits, retakes and what is recorded. One industry source reports that 78% of companies use AI in talent acquisition (HRTech Outlook, 2025). That source is vendor-adjacent, so treat it as context, not proof.
How many people practise
A poll by Specialized Recruiting Group found 42% of respondents practise every time and 37% wing it. This is directional only. Treat it as a hint, not a measurement.
How many people use AI to prepare
The figures vary a lot because the sources ask different people different questions.
| Source | Who was asked | Figure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prospects at Jisc, Early Careers Survey 2026 | Early careers | 73% used AI in applications, and 47% of AI users used it for interview preparation | The 47% is of AI users only. |
| PeopleScout, 2025 UK survey | Job changers | 18% used generative AI, and 9% used it for pre-recorded interviews | The base for the 9% is not confirmed, so treat it with caution. |
Across these sources the range is 9% to 47%. The groups and questions differ, so the figures should not be compared directly.
What the evidence says about practising
A 2025 ACM paper on AI mock interviews found 80% of participants found them useful and 65% would use one again. The study had 20 participants, so it shows early promise, not a general result. A MyIQ survey of 1,428 applicants found 64% practised IQ-style tasks and reported an 18 percentage point rise in confidence. That survey covered assessment-style tasks rather than interviews, and it measured confidence, not outcomes. Neither study shows that practice leads to an interview or a job.
Start with your CV
Practice works best when your answers come from evidence you can stand behind. The first step is a CV tailored to the role.
Tailor my CVWhat this guide does not promise
Evident does not promise interviews, offers or jobs. The figures above come from surveys and small studies with the limits shown.
Sources: Prospects at Jisc (2026), PeopleScout (2025), ACM (2025), MyIQ (2025), Specialized Recruiting Group, HRTech Outlook (2025).