Instead of Using AI in the Job Interview, Do This — The HBCU Career Center

Dr. Marcia F. Robinson is a senior certified HR professional, diversity strategist, and curator of TheHBCUCareerCenter.com job board. She advises organizations on building inclusive talent pipelines and improving diversity recruiting outcomes.

I’ve seen the headlines and I’ve seen the TikToks too. Job seekers are using AI tools like ChatGPT in the job interview — in real time. Some applicants are feeding interview questions into a second device during Zoom interviews and reading responses off a screen like a teleprompter. At first glance, it sounds smart. It’s definitely resourceful, even. But let’s be clear: just because AI can help you answer questions, it doesn’t mean it should answer them for you. 

According to an article on ResumeBuilder.com, “29 % of job seekers who used ChatGPT say they weren’t hired once the employer discovered it.”

If you’re leaning on AI to get through your interview in real time, it’s likely because you don’t feel prepared. That’s understandable. 

Job interviews can feel high-stakes, especially when the pressure to perform is sky-high and the job market feels uncertain. I get it. But here’s the truth: an interview is not just about what you say—it’s about how you connect, how you show up, and how you demonstrate that you’re the right person for the job. Plus, I guarantee none of the job duties involve parroting what ChatGPT is giving you in real time.

And no AI, no matter how brilliant, can do that for you in the moment, in real time. Recruiters are still looking to hire humans.

Here are three ways you can use AI for job interview prep that won’t compromise your chances of getting hired.

Use AI Before the Interview, Not During It

If you really want to use AI well in your job search, start earlier. 

• Use it to get honest feedback on your answers. 

• Use it to help you refine your stories so they align with the skills and experiences the employer is looking for. 

• Use it to understand the role, the company culture, and how to ask better questions.

• You can even use AI to help you practice and script your answers ahead of time using proven techniques like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or my method—Interview Like a P.R.O. which is about telling stories that:

• Share past, personal or professional experiences.

• Focus on relevant, recent roles and responsibilities  or experiences.

• Speak with confidence about outstanding, observable outcomes. 

Know that the recruiter may even have used AI to draft the job description and the interview questions.  But, don’t bring your AI assistant into the live interview in real time and expect that to land the job. 

Employers are investing in AI to impact workflows and improve productivity etc, but they still want to hire someone they can trust, someone who can be present and engaged—not someone multitasking between two screens. That will NOT help you present your best self in the interview.

The Job Interview is a Relationship Moment

Let’s not forget: job interviews are not exams. They’re conversations. Not all the right answers are the same. Instead, job interviews are opportunities to show the person that you are, to build trust, demonstrate alignment, and show how you think on your feet. Employers are watching more than just your words—they’re watching your energy, your pacing, your presence. They are looking for who shows up! If the person who shows up is someone trying to create answers in real time using AI…well I would be surprised if that is who they were looking to hire. 

And here’s something else worth considering: if you can’t speak confidently about your experience without a script, will you be able to lead a team meeting? Solve a client problem? Represent the organization when it matters? Use the interview to prepare for these common business scenarios.

The Real Flex? Mastery.

The real flex isn’t hacking the job interview with live AI prompts. The real flex is preparation. It’s being so in command of your story and your value that you don’t need a crutch in real time. That’s the kind of confidence that earns job offers—and the kind of growth mindset that builds a lasting career.

So yes—use AI. Use it well. Use it early. But when it’s showtime, show up, take a breath, and show them who you are because algorithms and authenticity are two distinct things.