Artificial intelligence is changing the skills recruiters look for in candidates and the interview questions job seekers have to answer.
AI-related questions are becoming more common in interviews for job seekers seeking technical roles, but as more companies adopt AI and ethical concerns about the technology grow, candidates seeking non-technical roles can also expect to discuss the use of AI.
A September 2026 survey of more than 1,500 U.S.-based workers by job site ZipRecruiter found that 82.5% of workers utilize AI to some degree in the workplace, but only 62.8% reported receiving AI training from their employer. Non-technical jobs that mention AI in the description are also on the rise, accounting for 4.3% of all jobs on ZipRecruiter at the time of reporting, up from just 1.9% in 2025.
Lisa Dubler, director of career services at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, said job seekers can expect to have questions about “how to use AI in the workplace.” And like any other interview question, preparing answers to AI-related questions in advance can help candidates impress decision makers.
Regardless of the role, Dubler says there are three categories of AI-related questions that job seekers should be prepared to answer before an interview. “Candidates need to be ready to talk about how they use AI, candidates need to be ready to talk about how they use AI in their specific role, candidates need to be comfortable talking about the use of AI as it relates to safety and ethics aspects,” Dubler explains.
Interviews are also an opportunity for candidates to assess their stance on AI compared to the company’s expectations for the role.
“Always be honest” when researching companies
Dubler said AI-related questions generally assess a candidate’s ability to think about jobs they haven’t yet secured. “Recruiters are really looking for insight into how someone thinks about the use of AI in relation to the job they’re interviewing for,” Dabler explains, keeping AI safety and ethics top of mind.
As AI rapidly evolves, staying on top of industry trends is becoming increasingly important to successfully address the AI skills that employers are looking for in candidates. Nicole Bashaw, labor economist at ZipRecruiter, suggests candidates research how successful companies in their industry are implementing AI in the workplace. Industry leaders may share information about their AI integration plans directly on their websites. This allows candidates to identify the most in-demand AI skills within their industry and tailor their interview responses to the role.
“Only around 10% of workers have AI skills prominently listed on their resume when looking for a job,” says Bachaud. “So even though it’s something that employers are very interested in, workers still don’t know exactly how to market those skills, even if they have those skills in some capacity.”
In the interview, Dabler reminded candidates to “always be honest” and used examples from past projects to highlight how AI has supported their work and how those skills will apply to their new roles. References to specific AI platforms and their various capabilities will also help candidates succeed.
If you feel like the interview questions are too broad, career coach Frieda Thomas recommends asking candidates clarifying questions. One way to ask for clarification, says Thomas, is to say something like, “Can you give me the framework you want me to answer for how you use AI? Can you give me some background on what kind of asset you think AI will be based on your organization’s growth strategy?”
For candidates who haven’t used AI in their current or past roles, experts recommend exploring free online resources like LinkedIn Learning and YouTube’s AI courses to develop a basic understanding of the technology.
“AI is a hot topic”: Use interviews to ensure value alignment
Despite the rapid integration of AI into most workplaces, workers are divided on its use. According to a survey by ZipRecruiter, 52.6% of workers say the integration of AI in the workplace has made their job more enjoyable, 17.6% say AI has not impacted their job, 5.5% say the use of AI has made their job less enjoyable, and 24.2% say AI is not used in their role. At the same time, a quarter of workers say they want to quit their job due to AI-related concerns, and a third want to reduce the use of AI in the workplace.
When preparing for an interview, Thomas says candidates should be prepared to “interview the company the same way they interview you.” Job seekers need to know what current employees are saying about the company and whether its culture and AI policies align with their goals.
Many executives are sharing their thoughts on AI and industry trends online, which can help candidates predict what to expect on the job. Executives from major technology companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Apple openly discuss AI with reporters on company earnings calls and blogs. Small business owners also frequently post on LinkedIn about their use of AI in relation to their work.
Experts say candidates can and should ask questions about a company’s AI policies and protocols during the interview stage. “Ask questions that demonstrate how the company has used AI and how it plays into the company’s priorities and policies,” says Dubler. “If we can get those pieces together, we should be in good shape.”
AI is shaping the way companies work, and “many employees are using it to raise their expectations about what’s going to happen next,” Bashaw says.
