> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hellorecruiter.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Prepare for Your AI Interview — Tips & Best Practices

> Research the company, test your setup, and practice key tips to perform your best in a Hello Recruiter AI-powered interview.

Preparation is key to a great interview, whether it's with a human or AI. Here's how to set yourself up for success.

## Before You Start

<Steps>
  <Step title="Research the Company">
    Visit the company's website, understand what they do, and review the job description carefully. The AI may ask questions specific to the company, its products, and the role — candidates who show they've done their homework stand out.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find a Quiet Space">
    Choose a location with minimal background noise, good lighting (natural light facing you works best), and a stable internet connection. Avoid coffee shops, shared spaces, or anywhere you might be interrupted.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test Your Setup">
    Make sure your camera and microphone work before starting. Open your camera app and record a short test video. Close other apps (especially Zoom, Teams, or Slack) that might compete for your camera or drain bandwidth.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Have Your Resume Handy">
    You may be asked about specific experiences, projects, or roles listed on your resume. Keep it nearby for quick reference — but don't read from it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Prepare Your STAR Stories">
    Think of 3–5 specific examples from your career using the **Situation, Task, Action, Result** format. The AI will ask behavioral questions, and having concrete stories ready makes a big difference.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## During the Interview

**Speak clearly and naturally.** The AI understands conversational speech — you don't need to speak slowly or robotically. Talk as if you're having a professional conversation with a colleague.

**Be specific.** Vague answers get vague scores. Instead of saying "I'm a good leader," give a concrete example:

<Tip>
  **Weak answer:** "I have strong leadership skills and enjoy managing teams."

  **Strong answer:** "I led a team of 5 engineers to deliver our payment integration 2 weeks ahead of schedule. I ran daily standups, unblocked a critical API dependency by coordinating with the vendor directly, and we shipped with zero P1 bugs."
</Tip>

**Take your time.** There's no rush. The AI is patient — pause to think before answering. A thoughtful 30-second pause followed by a great answer beats a rambling immediate response.

**Be honest.** The platform includes fraud detection — using AI tools to generate your answers or having someone else take the interview will be flagged to the hiring team.

**Ask questions at the end.** When the AI asks if you have questions about the role, use it. Thoughtful questions signal genuine interest. Ask about team structure, what success looks like in the first 90 days, or what projects you'd be working on.

## What Not to Do

<Warning>
  **Don't use AI tools** (like ChatGPT) to generate answers during the interview. Hello Recruiter's bad actor detection system monitors for this and will flag it to the hiring team.
</Warning>

<Warning>
  **Don't have someone else take the interview for you.** Impersonation detection is built into the platform. This will be flagged and will likely disqualify your application entirely.
</Warning>

<Warning>
  **Don't read from a script.** Brief reference notes are fine, but reading pre-written answers word for word sounds unnatural and may be flagged. The AI is looking for authentic, conversational responses.
</Warning>

## Quick Preparation Checklist

| Step               | Details                                        |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Research company   | Website, job description, recent news          |
| Quiet space        | Minimal noise, good lighting, no interruptions |
| Tech check         | Camera, microphone, internet speed (5+ Mbps)   |
| Close other apps   | Especially video call apps and heavy downloads |
| Resume nearby      | For quick reference, not reading               |
| STAR stories ready | 3–5 specific examples from your experience     |
| Water nearby       | Stay hydrated during the conversation          |

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="During the Interview" icon="play" href="/candidates-guide/during-the-interview">
    Step-by-step walkthrough of the interview experience.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Technical Requirements" icon="laptop" href="/candidates-guide/technical-requirements">
    Make sure your setup meets the minimum requirements.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>