AI Is Conducting Job Interviews. Here’s How to Ace Them | Work It

CNA (Channel NewsAsia)
CNA (Channel NewsAsia)Jun 1, 2026

Why It Matters

AI interview tools accelerate hiring while demanding new candidate preparation skills, making transparent feedback essential for fair talent evaluation.

Key Takeaways

  • AI interviews analyze facial cues, tone, and word choice.
  • Preparation and camera eye contact remain crucial for AI assessments.
  • Platforms offer practice mode and feedback loops for candidates.
  • Human‑in‑the‑loop still decides final shortlist after AI scoring.
  • Both white‑collar and blue‑collar roles are screened via AI.

Summary

The Work It podcast explores how artificial‑intelligence platforms are replacing traditional face‑to‑face interviews, using video or avatar‑based assessments that evaluate facial expressions, tone, speech pace, and word choice. Companies such as Zopa’s AI hiring tool, used by Singapore’s DSTA and FairPrice Group, blend fully automated scoring with human‑reviewed shortlists, allowing employers to filter candidates before a live interview. Key insights include the spectrum of AI interview formats—from static video responses to interactive avatars—and the emphasis on content over background. Candidates often stumble by neglecting camera eye contact, failing to rehearse, or treating the AI stage as a low‑stakes exercise. The platform provides practice recordings, real‑time analytics, and optional feedback, mirroring the preparation required for human interviews. Prashan Sundaram, Zopa’s country head, advises job seekers to treat AI interviews like a performance: rehearse, watch recordings, and focus on clear, confident delivery. He notes that both white‑collar and blue‑collar roles are screened, with AI evaluating technical competencies for engineers and soft‑skill metrics for sales or cashier positions. Human recruiters still review AI scores or raw footage, ensuring a final decision incorporates nuanced judgment. The shift to AI‑driven screening promises faster hiring cycles and broader reach, but it also raises questions about candidate transparency and fairness. Without consistent feedback, applicants may feel trapped in a “black‑hole” process, underscoring the need for platforms to provide actionable insights that help candidates improve and for employers to balance efficiency with equitable assessment.

Original Description

More companies are using AI bots during job interviews to screen candidates before they ever speak with a hiring manager. But what exactly is the technology looking for? Can a machine really assess both technical knowledge and body language? In this Work It episode, Nat Fetalvero and Gerald Tan speak with Prashanth Sundaram, country head for Singapore at X0PA AI, about the biggest mistakes candidates make.
Highlights:
03:12 Can you pass an AI interview?
07:04 Common AI interview mistakes
11:48 How AI scores interview candidates
14:43 Do human recruiters still matter?
17:43 Is it possible to "game" an AI interview?
20:23 Will AI slow down hiring?
24:41 Which jobs use AI interviews most?
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