Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the responsibility of detecting cheating by candidates using AI during their interviews.
Elaine Varelas provides guidance on candidates using AI to cheat during virtual interviews.
Q. As a manager of software engineers, I regularly interview potential candidates virtually. The problem is that many candidates are using AI tools to cheat during these virtual interviews. I hate having the responsibility to make the call as to whether they are cheating or not. If I’m doing an in-office interview, it’s much easier.
A. AI-assisted cheating in virtual software engineering interviews has become a widespread and difficult problem for interviewers across the tech industry. Conducting technical interviews while not being face to face continues to be an ever-changing challenge. One of the first questions or mandates that any tech interviewer should lay down is that you expect the interviewee not to use AI as part of the interview process. Many people in interview mode often say, “Why does it matter if I use AI or not? What truly matters is that I solve the problem.” What’s not the case is that you may become more and more adept at using AI and less adept at being able to code or do any of the technical functions without the support of AI.
Advertisement:
Employers, via the use of technology, are increasingly capable of assessing whether people are using AI to solve any of the situational problems that they’re given during an interview. Similar instances of external support might occur when someone is sitting next to an interview candidate and can quickly send them potential answers or language to interview questions that they’re asked as well.
People often forget that while you might receive assistance in landing the job, the real question is what support you will have to maintain it. The interview is used to assess an individual’s potential for success. If you’re not the right match for a job, then your chances of being successful will be limited and you’ll find yourself looking for a job again.
Advertisement:
If you believe that your organization’s interview process is flawed, then you can certainly speak to your manager about why you think the process needs to be changed. But hiring managers may not want to to hear it. What they’re interested in is finding the candidate that can make the most significant contributions to the organization and to their group. They don’t want to hear that you think something is unfair. If your company doesn’t already have a policy in place with regards to using AI during interviews, this might be a good opportunity to suggest that.
Starting an employment relationship with lies or misleading someone about your capabilities is not going to position you for long-term success. If your manager or your interviewer believes that you’re using some kind of assistance, the interview process might be extended, and you’ll get additional chances to show how you can solve the problem by yourself or how quickly you can use AI.
Often interviewers will have you speak your way through the process rather than just do it, recognizing that AI won’t be able to help you. I’ve even seen interviewers say keep your hands visible in the screen so that I recognize that you’re not using any kind of additional support tools during the interview. Or some interviewers might ask the candidate to share their entire computer screen during the interview. Keep an eye out for any red flags, such as long pauses, frequently looking sideways, or perfect answers.
Advertisement:
Remote interviews may soon be phased out, much to the dismay of tech professionals, who typically prefer the flexibility of working-and interviewing-remotely on their own schedules.
Be civil. Be kind.
Read our full community guidelines.To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address