Career Development

Leveraging AI for Interview Preparation- Audio

ChatGPT Voice Mode

ChatGPT Voice Mode is a powerful tool for interview preparation, offering convenient, on-demand mock interviews that simulate real-time conversations. With on-the-spot feedback for your responses, it helps you refine your answers and improve your delivery. Each mock interview is recorded and transcribed, giving you both written and audio versions to review and continue strengthening your interview skills over time.

When to Utilize:

  • Alongside in-person or virtual Mock Interview Career Coaching appointments to practice areas you received feedback on.
  • Quick refreshers or focused practice when you are short on time before an interview.
  • On the go interview preparation.

How to Utilize:

Step 1: Start a New Chat and Make Your Request

Open a new chat in ChatGPT. You can request a mock interview in two ways:

  • Type your request in the message field, including details about the job, your resume, and any specific areas you want to focus on.
  • Click the microphone icon in the bottom right corner to use Voice Mode and verbally make your request.

Step 2: Provide Key Information

For the most accurate and helpful interview, be sure to include:

  • The job description and your resume.
  • Your preference for feedback (after each question or all at the end).
  • Any specific areas you want to improve (e.g., behavioral questions, technical skills, or the "Tell me about yourself" question).
  • Qualities you want to highlight (e.g., communication skills, specific technical proficiencies, or creativity).

Step 3: Complete the Mock Interview

If you're not already in Voice Mode, click the microphone icon to start speaking. The interview will begin once you start talking. Engage in the conversation as you would in a real interview.

Step 4: Access Your Interview History

When you're finished, click the X at the bottom of the screen to end the session. The full transcript of your interview—including the questions, your responses, and the feedback provided by ChatGPT—will be saved in the chat history for you to review at any time.

NotebookLM Studio

NotebookLM Studio's audio generation function turns interview materials into engaging, podcast-style discussions. Using two AI voices to analyze uploaded sources, it offers a creative and highly effective way to prepare. This unique tool deepens an individual's understanding of the job description and strengthens their grasp of their own application materials, helping them walk into an interview more confident and well-prepared.

How to Utilize:

  1. Gather Sources: Begin by gathering the core documents for the interview. Upload or link the following materials to NotebookLM project:
    • The Job Description: Outlines the responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications the employer is seeking.
    • Resume: Details professional experience, skills, and accomplishments.
    • Cover Letter: Narrative that connects one’s experience directly to the specific job and company.
  2. Create a Custom Audio Overview: Utilize the audio generation function to create a podcast. Here, tailor the experience to specific needs. Use the customizable instructions to guide the AI hosts on what to focus on. Effective strategies:
    • Role-Playing Scenarios: Instruct the hosts to "act as a hiring manager and a senior team member." The "hiring manager" can discuss the role's requirements from an organizational perspective, while the "senior team member" can offer insights into the day-to-day responsibilities and team dynamics. This helps one understand the different angles from which one might be questioned.
    • Simulated Q&A: Ask the platform to "discuss the connections between my resume and the job description, highlighting potential interview questions." The podcast can then generate a dialogue where one AI poses questions based on the job description, and the other uses the uploaded resume and cover letter to formulate a strong, data-driven answer. This can inspire practice framing responses.
    • Strengths & Weaknesses Analysis: Instruct the platform to "analyze my resume against the job description and identify my key strengths and any potential gaps." The discussion can focus on how to effectively articulate one’s strengths and how to strategically address any areas where one’s experience may not perfectly align with the job's requirements.
  3. Listen and Learn: The resulting podcast provides a dynamic and comprehensive overview of preparation materials. Listening to the AI voices discuss the uploaded documents assists:
    • Internalize Key Information: Hearing the core themes and keywords from the job description and resume spoken aloud helps reinforce understanding.
    • Identify Connections: The discussion will highlight direct connections between skills and the job's requirements that one may not have initially considered, strengthening ability to craft compelling answers.
    • Boost Confidence: By hearing a well-structured analysis of one’s fit for the role, one can gain confidence in qualifications and be better prepared to articulate value to the interviewer.

By using NotebookLM Studio, you move beyond simply reading your materials and engage with them in a new, interactive format. This ensures you are not just memorizing facts, but truly understanding the narrative you need to present to succeed in your interview.

Limitations to Using These Platforms

  • Lack of Human Nuance and Real-Time Feedback
    • The AI-generated audio is a script based on uploaded or included documents. It cannot adapt in real-time. It will not pick up on subtle cues like body language, eye contact, or a shift in tone, meaning crucial feedback regarding key aspects of in-person communication that a human mock interviewer are not provided.
  • Inability to Simulate Realistic Interview Pressure
    • Listening to an audio track is a low-stress activity and does not replicate the pressure of a real interview, which involves managing anxiety, thinking on one’s feet, and building rapport. This method does test the ability to recall information clearly and calmly under pressure.
  • Limited to Practiced Responses
    • The AI is excellent for rehearsing answers to predictable questions. However, it does not account for unexpected follow-up questions or sudden shifts in conversation that can occur in live interviews. The AI's analysis is confined to the content of uploaded documents and cannot provide insights beyond that scope.
  • Potential for Inaccuracies and Misinterpretation
    • The AI's analysis is only as good as the information it is given. If the resume or cover letter contains unclear language, the AI may misinterpret it. This could lead to a flawed understanding of one’s experience and a false sense of preparedness. These tools also cannot account for personal attributes like personality, soft skills, or motivation, which are critical in an interview.