Job Seekers Are Using AI During Interviews – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels)
As artificial intelligence reshapes the hiring landscape, a notable portion of candidates now turns to the technology for real-time support during job interviews. A recent survey captured this trend, revealing that 22 percent of respondents used AI to answer live interview questions.[1] This development coincides with employers ramping up their own AI tools in recruitment, prompting job hunters to adapt in kind. The shift underscores a broader evolution in how technology influences the high-stakes moments of job searches.
Insights from the Latest Job Seeker Survey
Resume Genius conducted a survey of 1,000 active U.S. job seekers in March 2026, shedding light on evolving strategies amid hiring frustrations.[1] Launched on March 16, the study balanced responses across gender and age groups through Random Device Engagement. Researchers found that 38 percent of participants already incorporated AI into their application processes, while 40 percent expressed willingness to do so, totaling 78 percent openness to the tools.[1]
Interview assistance emerged as a key application. Beyond the 22 percent using AI for live questions, 34 percent applied it to interview preparation overall.[1] Other common uses included writing resumes at 59 percent and crafting cover letters at 48 percent. These figures highlight AI’s role not just in preparation but in the heat of the moment, as candidates navigate competitive markets.
AI’s Expanding Role Across the Application Process
The survey detailed a range of AI integrations that job seekers employed. Editing applications ranked high at 40 percent, followed by job discovery at 34 percent.[1] Such tools helped address persistent pain points, including a lack of responses after submissions, cited by 55 percent as their top frustration.
- Writing resumes: 59%
- Writing cover letters: 48%
- Editing job applications: 40%
- Finding jobs to apply for: 34%
- Preparing for interviews: 34%
- Using AI to answer live interview questions: 22%
- Completing skills tests or assessments: 19%
Yet concerns lingered. Eighty percent of respondents voiced some worry about AI automating jobs, with 28 percent describing themselves as very concerned.[1] This tension reflects a dual-edged adoption: practical benefits tempered by future uncertainties.
Employers’ AI Push Fuels Candidate Responses
Meanwhile, companies accelerated AI in their hiring. Greenhouse’s 2026 Candidate AI Interview Report, based on 2,950 job seekers across multiple countries, showed 63 percent of U.S. respondents had encountered AI interviews, a 13-point rise from six months prior.[2] Transparency issues abounded, with 70 percent unaware beforehand in their latest experience. Thirty-eight percent abandoned processes featuring AI interviews, often due to undisclosed pre-recorded videos or monitoring.[2]
Candidates perceived similar bias risks from AI and humans alike, such as age discrimination noted by 36 percent in both cases. Only 21 percent trusted most employers to handle AI responsibly.[2] Preferences leaned toward balanced use: 22 percent favored more AI with human oversight at decisions, while 21 percent sought current levels with better disclosure.
What This Means for the Hiring Landscape
These surveys point to a feedback loop. As AI streamlines employer screening – evident in ghost job suspicions affecting 67 percent of Resume Genius respondents – candidates countered with their own tech aids.[1] Mental health strains compounded the dynamic, with 49 percent reporting negative job search impacts.
Read the full Resume Genius 2026 Job Seeker Insights Report and Greenhouse’s 2026 Candidate AI Interview Report for deeper data. Employers face pressure to clarify AI roles, while job seekers weigh tools that boost efficiency against authenticity risks. The process grows more tech-saturated, demanding adaptation on both sides to maintain fairness and trust.
In this environment, transparent communication emerges as the steadying force, ensuring technology enhances rather than erodes human judgment in hiring.