Decide what the interview is for
Pick one job for the interview to do. Good ones:- Check the two or three criteria that profiles rarely prove, such as how someone approaches a messy problem.
- Hear how a candidate explains their own work, before a person spends 30 minutes on a first call.
- Give every applicant the same first conversation, at a time that suits them.
Write the instructions for the AI
Instructions for the AI is what you’d tell a human interviewer before the call. Only the AI sees it. Include:- The two or three topics to cover, in order.
- What a strong answer sounds like, so it knows when to dig.
- When to push back, for example “if an answer stays general, ask for a specific project”.
- What to avoid, such as salary negotiation or questions about personal circumstances.
You’re interviewing for a senior frontend role. Cover three topics: a component library they built or maintained, how they handle accessibility, and a disagreement with a designer and how it ended. For each, ask for one concrete example. If the answer stays general, ask what they personally did. Don’t discuss salary or notice period.
Write the instructions for the candidate
Instructions for the candidate is shown before they start. Set expectations: how long it takes, what it covers, and that there are no trick questions. Candidates who know what’s coming give better answers.This is a 15-minute conversation about your recent frontend work. We’ll ask about a component library, accessibility, and working with designers. Take your time. There are no trick questions.
Pick the method
- Chat suits written roles and candidates who prefer to type. It doesn’t record audio.
- Voice is closest to a phone screen. Pick a Voice and a Speaking speed that sound natural in the Language you chose.
- Video adds a camera recording on top of the conversation. Use it only if you’ll actually watch it.
Set the length and tone
- Max length (minutes) defaults to 15. When the time is up, the interviewer wraps up. Keep it short enough that three focused topics fit comfortably.
- Interviewer tone has three options: Warm (curious, encouraging), Neutral (professional, structured) and Rigorous (probing follow-ups). Warm is the default and suits most first conversations. Rigorous suits technical deep dives.