No single sign proves that a candidate is using AI. Experienced interviewers look for several signs together and then ask questions that are hard to answer with help.
Signs to watch for
- A pause before every answer. A short pause before a hard question is normal. The same pause before an easy question, followed by a fluent answer, is unusual.
- Eye movements that look like reading. Watch for eyes that move left to right across one part of the screen, or that look down at the same spot before each answer.
- Answers that sound like summaries. The answers are tidy and general, often in lists, with few details from the candidate's own experience.
- Trouble with follow-up questions. The first answer is strong, but a simple question like "why did you choose that?" gets a vague reply or another long pause.
- Typing you can hear. You hear typing while the candidate isn't sharing anything they are typing into.
- Answers that don't match the résumé. The candidate gives detailed answers on a topic their résumé barely mentions, or short answers on the skill they list first.
Questions that are hard to answer with help
- Ask about a decision the candidate made in their own work, then ask what they would change.
- Change one condition of a problem after they answer, and ask how their answer changes.
- Ask them to explain their answer to someone new to the subject.
- Ask a short question and expect a short answer.
What to do if you're unsure
Make a note of the question, the time and what you noticed. If you use dontapplyai, mark the question in the control window during the interview, so your record shows which questions got a decoy answer, a long pause or an answer that didn't fit. Discuss your notes with your team afterward, and consider a follow-up interview before you reject a candidate.
